Maddie’s Fund Stimulus Grant of $5,000 Aids Pets in Arlington Foster Care
By Carol Weemes, Animal Services
Posted on June 29, 2020, June 29, 2020

Woman feeding a puppy

Amid COVID-19, there are glimmers of hope for homeless animals in need of special care. Nationwide, there is an uptick in the number of shelter animals being cared for in the homes of animal loving foster pet volunteers.  

Maddie's Fund® is providing a helping hand for Arlington Animal Services’ foster pet program through a $5,000 stimulus grant award for provision of foster kits with food, crates, mats, bowls and toys to assist Arlington foster pet volunteers.

Pets in need of foster care may be too young for adoption, injured or recovering from surgery, or have other special needs. The average stay in a foster pet home is two to four weeks. Some animals may only need a few days of care, while others may need more than four weeks. 

“The biggest joy of being a foster is saving lives,” said Diane Greytak, foster pet volunteer, and 2019 Bill McCart Volunteer of the Year at Animal Services. “You get to play with kittens and puppies, and dogs – you get to have so much fun, and then they go away. It’s kind of like being a grandma – the kids come, you get to play with them and spoil them, and then they go home. It’s just fun.”

Animal Services created an online Foster Pet Program orientation during this time of social distancing, to help recruit new volunteers, and sustain this essential program.

Special appreciation to Maddie's Fund®, a family foundation created in 1994 by Workday® co-founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl, who have endowed the Foundation with more than $300 million. Since then, the Foundation has awarded more than $237.6 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, shelter management leadership, shelter medicine education and foster care across the U.S. The Duffields named Maddie's Fund after their Miniature Schnauzer Maddie, who always made them laugh and gave them much joy. Maddie was with Dave and Cheryl for ten years and continues to inspire them today.

Maddie's Fund is the fulfillment of a promise to an inspirational dog, investing its resources to create a no-kill nation where every dog and cat is guaranteed a healthy home or habitat. #ThanksToMaddie.

Woman feeding a puppy

News, Animal Services