Share Your Home for the Holidays...Fa-la-la-la-foster a Pet From Best Friends LA

With her frosted face and low-rider body, Florence has an endearing charm. When she’s not leaning in for cuddles, Florence likes to trot around the yard or enjoy a peanut-butter filled Kong (preferably while lounging on a very soft dog bed). 

While Florence is favorite at the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center, the staff is really hoping she can go home for the holidays...even if it’s just for a few weeks. 

Florence, as well as many other cats and dogs, will be available to “Fa-la-la-la-foster” as part of Best Friends “Share Your Home for the Holidays” campaign from Dec. 15 to January 6. The campaign encourages families to bring home a pet to give them a break from shelter life in conjunction with the Los Angeles school holiday break.  

The pets most in need of fostering are large breed dogs and adult cats, with a preferred time commitment of two weeks to one month. 

“Fostering is a wonderful way to give these pets a taste of home and the chance to blossom,” said Jose Ocano, Pacific Regional Director for Best Friends Animal Society. “It’s also great for us to see how a pet does in the home, so we can find them a successful adoption match in the future.” 

Since all the pets at Best Friends (and the majority of pets at NKLA) originate from Los Angeles Animal Services, fosters will make a huge impact for shelter pets in the city .“Fostering creates space for us to bring more pets into our centers and give them a second chance at finding a great new life,” Jose said.  

Best Friends provides fosters with everything they need while a pet is in the home, including food, collars, leashes, cat litter and tray, any necessary medications, behavior support, and a 24/7 emergency hotline.  

The Best Friends Pet Adoption Center will host a “holiday matchmaking” event on Saturday, Dec. 15 from  2:30 to 5:30 pm at 15321 Brand Boulevard in Mission Hills. A foster coordinator will be on hand to help find the perfect pet match so fosters can take a dog or cat home the same day. 

Whether you’re interested in the holiday matchmaking event or setting up a private appointment for another day over school break, potential fosters can get started by visiting www.bestfriendsla.org/foster to receive onboarding training. (Questions about the process? Email fosterla@bestfriends.org.). 

“Anyone with room in their hearts and their homes can help our pets have a wonderful holiday by becoming a foster,” Jose said. “It’ll make your holiday extra special, too.”