Foster caregivers help dog heal

Simon arrived at a shelter in Utah in need of help. He had terrible skin allergies that made him itchy and uncomfortable, along with an ear infection. He needed a place to heal, but the shelter was already stretched thin on resources and full of healthy dogs who needed homes.

Luckily, the shelter is one that has partnerships with other organizations, including Best Friends. That’s one of the most important ways that shelters across the country have reached no-kill — by working together to save pets who need extra care or time.

So when the shelter reached out to the Best Friends team in Salt Lake City asking whether they could help Simon, the answer was an immediate “yes.”

Best Friends veterinarian Dr. Megan McCarthy examined him as soon as he arrived at the lifesaving center and determined that he had a yeast infection in addition to a very severe ear infection.

He would need extensive care, including a daily regimen of 15 pills (yes, 15!) for a few weeks for his skin to clear up, and a foster home was the best next stop for him. There, he could rest and heal with care from his foster family.

[Skin Disorders]

When the Fouts family learned about Simon, they offered their home and their love without hesitation. They gave him medicated baths and lots of exercise in the backyard. And they made sure he took his medication every day as scheduled, which was tricky because he learned all kinds of ways to avoid swallowing his pills, such as stealthily hiding them under his lips and tongue.

After a couple of weeks with the Fouts, Simon returned to the lifesaving center for a checkup with Dr. Megan, who was impressed with how well his skin had improved while staying with them.

From there, it was time to pass the baton to a new foster caregiver, who helped Simon through the last phase of his healing. They made sure he got plenty of opportunities to play and hike, and he even accompanied his foster caregiver while they skateboarded.

Eventually, Simon caught the eye of a person who was looking to adopt a dog just like him. Today, he’s thriving in his new home, thanks to the care and dedication of so many people who helped him along the way.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill by 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.