This Challenge was all about strengthening the incredible bond between humans and pets through Foster Care. This Challenge was funded Michelson Found Animals Foundation, Maddie’s Fund® and Cuddly in collaboration with Adopt-A-Pet.com, Adoptimize, American Pets Alive!, ASPCA, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, Best Friends Animal Society, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), Community Cats Podcast, Greater Good Charities, HeARTS Speak, Humane Society of the United States, National Animal Care and Control Association, Petco Love, and PetSmart Charities.

Results

From May 1 to May 31, 2022, animal shelters and foster-based organizations across the country piloted new approaches to implement or expand their foster programs. The 247 participating organizations made their programs more accessible with easier applications and onboarding, long and short-term foster options and mentor groups, resulting in 28,805 volunteers fostering 11,344 dogs and 29,652 cats! Programs were expanded to include all types of animals from neonatal kittens to large dogs and fospice pets. Many of these included foster-to-adopt and Adoption Ambassador programs, with 6,738 animals adopted directly from foster homes.

Please help us congratulate our winners! Maddie’s Fund, Cuddly and Michelson Found Animals Foundation awarded prizes for Best Overall Efforts, Robust Programs, and Use of Practices, plus 10 Random Winners, as follows.

Best Overall Effort: $10,000

  • All Fur One Pet Rescue & Adoptions, Inc., Toms River, NJ
  • Memphis Animal Services, Memphis,TN
  • Nine Lives Foundation, Redwood City, CA

Robust Programs: $5,000

  • Animal Protective League, Springfield, IL
  • Española Humane Society, Española, NM
  • Grass Roots Rescue, Milton, DE
  • Humane Society of Scott County, Davenport, IA
  • Louisa County Animal Shelter, Mineral, VA
  • Muttville, San Francisco, CA
  • Pet Adoption League of Gem County, Emmett, ID
  • Sequoia Humane Society, Eureka, CA
  • The Animal Foundation, Las Vegas, NV
  • The Cat House on the Kings, Parlier, CA

Most Effective Use of Fostering Practices Prizes: $3,000
Foster program and processes/policies are equitable and inclusive of the entire community

  • Aloha Ilio Rescue, Keeau, HI
  • Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, Baltimore, MD
  • Friends of Strays, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Humane Society of Northeast Georgia, Gainesville, GA
  • Let Love Live, Cookville, TX
  • Lost Fantasy Rescue, Ceres, VA
  • Maui Humane Society, Puunene, HI
  • Portsmouth Humane Society, Portsmouth, VA

Marketing of foster program is equitable and inclusive of the entire community

  • Darlington County Humane Society, Darlington, SC
  • Kitty of Angels, Inc. LA, CA
  • Marin Humane, Marin, CA
  • Polk County Bully Project, Lakeland, FL
  • Pope Memorial Humane Society - Cocheco Valley, Dover, NH
  • Rocket Dog Rescue, San Francisco, CA
  • SPCA of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Three Little Pitties Rescue, Friendswood, TX

Foster program strives to keep pets and people together

  • Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE, Inc., West Allis, WI
  • Cortland County SPCA, Cortland, NY
  • Friends of Foothills Animal Shelter, Golden, CO
  • Humane Society of Mason County, Allyn, WA
  • Pawster Nashville, Nashville, TN
  • Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Philadelphia, PA
  • Pima Animal Care Center, Tucson, AZ
  • Souris Valley Animal Shelter, Minot, ND

Foster program supports the community by being inclusive of all dogs and cats in the organization’s care

  • Anna’s Angels, Lumberton, TX
  • Chula Vista Animal Care Facility, Chula Vista, CA
  • City of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
  • Erie County SPCA, West Seneca, NY
  • Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue, Denver, CO
  • Somerset-Pulaski County Humane Society, Somerset, KY
  • Tree House Humane Society, Chicago, IL
  • Tri-County Humane Society, Saint Cloud, MN

Organization creates partnerships with other community groups

  • Advocates for Abused and Abandoned Pets, Woodbridge, VA
  • CATNIP Foundation at Big Sky Ranch, Folsom, LA
  • Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, Menands, NY
  • Oahu SPCA, Wahiawa, HI
  • PACT for Animals, Gladwyne, PA
  • Pinal County Animal Care and Control, Casa Grande, AZ
  • SICSA Pet Adoption Center, Dayton, OH
  • Southern Pines Animal Shelter, Hattiesburg, MS

Randomly Selected Winners: $1,000

  • Animal Defense League of Texas, San Antonio, TX
  • Cabot Animal Support Services, Cabot, AR
  • Helping Hands Humane Society, Topeka, KS
  • Kern County Animal Services, Bakersfield, CA
  • Rescued Pets Movement, Houston, TX
  • Roanoke Regional Center for Animal Care, Roanoke, VA
  • Salt Lake County Animal Services, Salt Lake City, UT
  • San Diego Humane Society, San Diego, CA
  • Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center, Roseburg, OR
  • Saving Grace Rescue, Seattle, WA

Prizes from Greater Good Charities

Top shelter winner of in-kind animal care products: Louisa County Animal Shelter, Mineral VA

The following organizations received a $1,000 grant value of in-kind animal care products:

  • Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, Baltimore MD
  • Friends of Foothills Animal Shelter, Golden CO
  • Helping Hands Humane Society, Topeka KS
  • Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Philadelphia PA
  • Salt Lake County Animal Services, Salt Lake City UT
  • Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center, Roseburg OR
  • SPCA of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg VA
  • Somerset-Pulaski County Humane Society, Somerset KY
  • Three Little Pitties Rescue, Friendswood TX
  • Tree House Humane Society, Chicago IL

Prizes from National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA)

  • City of Charlotte, Charlotte NC: Feature in Upcoming 2022 NACA Animal Care and Control News Magazine
  • Jessamine County Animal Control, Nicholasville KY: One-year Agency Membership
  • Sand Springs Animal Welfare, Sand Springs OK: Scholarship Funds for Online ACO Certification

Prizes from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

The following organizations received a coupon for a free certificate course from The Association’s Learning Center:

  • Darlington County Humane Society, Darlington SC
  • Humane Society of Mason County, Allyn WA
  • Humane Society of Northeast Georgia, Gainesville GA
  • Oregon Coast Humane Society, Florence OR
  • Souris Valley Animal Shelter, Minot ND