Midnight & Stormy now Harry & Mini

Happy Foster Friday! Have you ever heard the term foster-to-adopt? We sometimes use this term in our adoptable pet profiles to describe the status of certain animals. We’re here to break down what this term implies and why we use it here at AWS. As it turns out, foster-to-adopt benefits everyone involved!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫
Majority of the time, foster-to-adopt is used for a pet who needs medical care that is scheduled at a later date. The adopter technically fosters the animal in their home with expectations to adopt later. In these foster-to-adopt situations, AWS will shoulder the cost of the medical expenses and oversee any recovery concerns. We’re happy to be able to cover the cost of medical care knowing that the pet already has a happy home lined up!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐭
For the animal, foster-to-adopt is no different than a regular adoption! The pet will still reside in your home and start to settle into their new life. Depending on the severity of their medical needs, you two can bond by doing normal owner and pet activities. To your new best friend, they just know they’ve found a loving and happy home where they feel safe and wanted. Then, after the scheduled medical care, you can sign the paperwork to officially adopt your pet. That means when it’s time to walk out the door from surgery, your pet will know they’re going back to their forever home. That’s why we love the ability to offer foster-to-adopt!

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As responsible pet parents, we know it can be hard to find a vet who suites the specific needs of small mammals like hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Luckily, here in our community, there is Southern Maine Hospital for Small Mammals!

Opened and operated by Dr. Ford, every small mammal adopted from AWS gets a voucher for a FREE wellness exam at his practice. Dr. Ford has been helpful and kind to animals here in the past, and we couldn`t be more excited to partner with him! Check out our newest blog post online as well to learn more about Dr. Ford, his practice, and how he helps us to better the lives of small animals in our community!

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We still have some early morning time slots open for dog, cat, and small animal cleaning volunteers! Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization and we couldn`t operate without them. Thank you to everyone who has already applied and filled two full days of volunteer work! Wahoo!

To learn more about being a cleaning volunteer and to register, please head to our website and click "Get Involved > Volunteer Opportunities!" ❤

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𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸! Make the most of this unique and tasty national celebration by preparing for this year`s Beer Garden at our annual Woofstock Festival!

Always a popular highlight, our Beer Garden features dozens of local beverage and craft brewing companies who are ready with samples of their seasonal and flagship products. This year you can look forward to tasting @afterharvestciderco, @apresdrinks, @batsonrivermaine, @blazebrewingco, @bissellbrothers, @brickyardhollow, @cornerpointbrewingco, @definitivebrewing, @footbridge_brewery, @freedomsedge, @lonepinebrewing, @luckypigeonbrewing, @olivepitbrewing, @warbrewingco, and @wfbrewery 🍻

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Hi there! What a pleasure it is to meet you! My name is Elmer and I`m an active and happy pup who is up for adoption here at AWS! I`m a `water bowl half full` kind of guy and I`m always smiling! Want to know my secrets to happiness? Check out my newest post on the AWS blog and and I`ll share them with you. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I want to help you stay happy and healthy... both inside and out! ❤

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