Amanda Threadgill said she's not adverse to opening her home to strangers.

The Hall County Animal Shelter employee has provided foster care to homeless animals for the past few years.

"They tend to follow me home from work," she said.
Threadgill said fostering can provide a better environment for animals that may need extra care, such as her latest addition, Macy.

The 3-year-old border collie disappeared from her home. When she returned, a wire was wrapped around her leg so severely the flesh separated from the bone.

Her owner wasn't able to pay the vet bill, so they had the animal picked up by Hall County Animal Control and taken to the shelter, where her leg was amputated.

Under Threadgill's care, Macy is making a good recovery.

"(Foster care) gives them a second chance, and you get to create a bond," she said.

The Hall County Animal Shelter has about 20 foster families, but more volunteers are always needed, said director Mike Ledford.

"It does take a time commitment. We've had people with full-time jobs volunteer. They provide care for the animals in the evenings and weekends," he said.

One goal of fostering is to make pets more adoptable, he said.

Animals can learn a routine and get used to being around people and other animals.

Foster care can also help animals find homes outside of the state, Ledford added.

For the past year, the shelter has partnered with local rescue organizations to transport animals to states such as Vermont, New York and Pennsylvania to help prevent euthanasia.

Vicki Truelove, who works with Angels Among Us Pet
Rescue, said to qualify for transport, animals must be removed from a shelter for two weeks, which is where a foster family can step in.

"They have to be out of the shelter to make sure they're free of infections. There can be problems with upper respiratory infections in shelters," she said.

Local rescue volunteers raise money for the transport, which occurs about every two weeks.

"(Foster families) can also learn about the animal and their personality. They could have separation anxiety or be energetic," Truelove said. "We can use that information to put it with the right home."

Ledford said volunteers are interviewed and may also be required to have a home inspection, depending on the type of animal they hope to foster.

"We also let them interact with the type of animal they're interested in. If it works out, they do a short-term foster," he said, adding that the commitment is usually about two to three weeks.

Threadgill recommends volunteers set aside time each day to interact with the animals, which will help them become more social.

She adds it's easy to fall in love with a foster animal. Some fostering have led to adoption.

"You have to know that your emotions can handle it," she said, as she gave Macy a pat on the head.

"Letting go at the end is the toughest part."