Will Jones
Image Credit: I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue
There is a good reason why dogs are known as man’s best friend. They love unabashedly, feel deeply, and their joy is contagious. When you are sad around a dog, they can sense it and will do everything they can to lift your spirits. These profoundly empathetic little creatures want to see their humans happy and thriving alongside them. To this end, human owners must care for dogs in need as if those dogs were taking care of you.
I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue is a 501(c)(3) all-breed, no-kill nonprofit dedicated to saving dogs from euthanasia, abandonment, abuse, and neglect. The team provides rescue, rehabilitation, and loving foster care until each dog finds a permanent home, while also educating the public about responsible pet ownership and canine care. Their work is made possible through the dedication of volunteers, foster families, and generous supporters.
The Power of Fostering
Every dog rescued by I.C.A.R.E. must go directly into a foster home since there’s no physical shelter. On the one hand, this is a result of the practicalities of the work, which can make things difficult when it comes to timing. On the other hand, this indicates the effort’s entire ethos: dogs deserve a home, not a cage amongst a line of cages. Because of this, the more foster families that are available, the more dogs that can be saved from euthanasia, abandonment, and abuse.
Foster families receive comprehensive support from the team, including medical care, supplies, and a dedicated volunteer network ready to assist in any way possible.
The Temp Foster Option
In keeping with the organization’s overall approach, the team offers a temp-foster program to help foster families better understand the dog involved and how the process works. A temporary foster arrangement is when a foster goes on vacation or needs short-term support from their foster dog, and the dog stays with a temporary foster. These are volunteers who provide short-term fostering for the rescue. If people are not ready to commit to being a full-time foster (taking in a foster dog until adoption), becoming a temp foster is a great way to get started.
You can choose when to help as a temporary foster based on your schedule. For instance, a foster parent might post in the team’s private Facebook Group that they have a planned vacation from October 1–3 and need someone to care for their foster dog. If you’re available, you can volunteer to look after the pup for those days. Being a temporary foster is enjoyable because it allows you to meet various dog breeds, give them cuddles, and care for them before they go home.
The commitment is minimal and depends on the volunteer’s availability. The temporary foster also receives the same benefits as a full-time foster. If anything happens to the foster dog while under the temporary foster’s care, the rescue team is there to help or provide resources. The temporary foster will also be supplied with all the necessary items for the dog during their stay.
This is Ideal for those not ready to commit to a long-term foster situation, offering flexibility and the opportunity to meet and care for different breeds.
Image Credit: I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue
A Mission Driven by Heart and Experience
Founded in 2011, I.C.A.R.E. has been a labor of love, driven by a deep-seated passion for caring for dogs. In 2012, Michelle Rangel joined the team and was recently appointed as President of the rescue. She has helped the organization to further combine compassion with structured processes for matching dogs with the right families.
Michelle’s early days were buried in homelessness and loss. At her lowest point, she didn’t care if she lived or died, until one day, when a pit bull pup named Kyle gave her the purpose to move on. Throughout the years, Kyle was her source of love and hope.
Losing him was devastating, but it also planted the seed for change. Fostering became her way to honor Kyle and help other dogs find the love and safety they deserved. Since then, Michelle has fostered countless dogs and become part of a community that feels like family. “Every time I see a once-broken dog find their forever home, I see a little bit of Kyle in them. And I see a little bit of me, too,” she says.
For Michelle, every adoption is not just a victory for the dog. It’s a reminder of how animals can save people, too.
Michelle and the team also offer comprehensive training and ongoing support to ensure foster families feel confident and prepared.
How to Get Involved
You can become a full-time or temp foster today, donate (where 100% of funds go directly to dog care, especially for medical needs), volunteer at events, or help spread the word on social media.
Fostering a dog with I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue is a life-changing act that saves the lives of dogs in need and builds a compassionate community of like-minded individuals. By temporarily opening your home as a full-time or temporary foster, you directly contribute to the rescue’s aim of giving every dog a second chance.