For the second year in a row, the Humboldt and District SPCA is running its "Foster for the Holiday" program.
"Last year was the first year we did this," said Wanda Price, general manager of the animal shelter. "We try and get foster homes for the animals over Christmas because we are so short-staffed during that period."
If you can open your home to a pet during the Christmas holidays, the Humboldt SPCA asks people to check its Facebook page to see a list and pictures of the animals that still need homes.
It's more difficult to keep up with things that volunteers do - like walking the dogs three times a day and cleaning out the cages - over the holidays when fewer volunteers are available.
Price says the shelter did this for the first time last Christmas with pretty good results. This year they have done the same thing - posting pictures of the animals in a Facebook "photo album," and the response has been even better.
Quite a few of the dogs have a foster home over Christmas already, and in some instances, the fosterers have had to choose a different dog because the one they originally picked has been adopted in the meantime.
Brenna is one dog Price and the other volunteers would really like to see have a "Christmas vacation" from the shelter. She has beautiful white-blond fur, looks like a cross between a Labrador and a Husky, and has a very warm and friendly personality.
But no worries, all the dogs would benefit from a special holiday home with a family, the Humboldt resident says.
Last year, more of the older cats were fostered because they didn't have as many kittens as have been brought in or found this year. So far, nine kittens have been fostered, plus two more people have committed but haven't chosen the kitten they will take yet.
There are some fine furry older felines to choose from, including Sooty, who wanders from couch to couch taking in the goings-on and hoping for a few extra pets. Because he is so laid-back, Sooty seems to enjoy special out-of-cage privileges during office hours.
The Facebook post says, "Just come in and pick the cat (or dog) you want to foster and we will supply whatever you need."
Foster for the Holidays dates are from December 21 to January 4, but you can come in before that to pick your animal.
