Fostering Makes Rescue Possible.

At OKCO Humane Society, we don’t currently have a shelter building—a big part of our rescue operation runs on foster homes. That means nearly every cat and dog we save needs someone like you to step up, even just for a little while.

When an animal is out of time at the Okmulgee Animal Shelter, we can only say “yes” if we’ve got a foster home ready to catch them. No foster? No rescue. It’s that simple.

Fostering doesn’t cost you a thing. We’ll handle the vet care, supplies, and food—you just bring the love, the safety, and a soft place to land. Whether it’s a weekend or a month, your home could be their turning point.

Tales from the Foster Frontlines.

Because no one tells it better than the people living it.

Gypsy
My very first foster with Okmulgee County Humane Society, Gypsy, in 2019. I picked her up — from former Director Lyn — late on a Friday night after I was off from work. It was raining. She was scooped up and adopted by a cool couple in Tulsa!
--Aimee R.

Spunky Little Terrors
I took in three kittens recently. They were horrendously underweight, stunted in growth, and had horrible diarrhea. Even with intensive care, I lost the little girl in two days. I let myself be sad, angry even, that all the meds, procedures and care didn’t save her. But i still had the boys to take care of. It’s hard, I was up every two to three hours feeding and checking on them, cleaning them and blowing through wet wipes and shampoos. But it’s so rewarding. I cried with joy when they started eating from a plate, when they started eating solid foods, when they used the litter box, and when they started moving with purpose. They caught up in a matter of weeks and became the spunky little terrors they are today. We cried when they got adopted, we knew we would miss them but we also cried because they survived, they lived, and they went to a home together. And that's the importance of fostering, You’ll never know how much of a difference you can make in somethings little life. They were ROUGH when they came in, but our care turned them around for the better and now they have an adoring family and a comfortable life. --Marissa H.

Dutch
Here is our second foster, Dutch! He was adopted into a family who were both former canine unit police officers. They have two little girls. He would grow up to be absolutely adored. They have sent pictures the girls have colored of him and maintained in touch throughout the years. They once sent a photo of him eagerly going down a slide with his two girls!

My husband plays a huge role with our fosters as well.

It’s the best feeling and once you get them adopted out and the next one in, it’s not hard at all to foster. You’re just a temporary stop in getting them to their forever home. --Aimee R.

Bentley
I fostered Bentley for several months in 2025, and it was my very first foster experience. It ended up being one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.

There’s something incredibly meaningful about giving an animal a safe, loving place to land during a difficult and uncertain chapter in their life. Is fostering sometimes challenging? Absolutely. And yes, it can be hard not to fall in love and get attached. But seeing the animal you cared for eventually thriving in their forever home makes every bit of it worth it.

I would highly recommend fostering to anyone who loves animals and has the ability to help. It truly is life changing...not just for the animal, but for you too. Give it a try. You won't regret it. —Mike O.

Luci
My first-ever foster experience was with little Luci. and I just picked up foster # 8 today!

I wanted to keep this sweet Luci girl so bad (as have all fosters, I'll admit. haha) but knew her perfect family was out there. and now, 1.5 years later I still receive updates about her and constantly tell her adopters that they made it so easy for me to let her go. she has the perfect life in a perfect home. fostering is so rewarding. love all the appreciation we get from these pups while they wait for their forever, there's nothing like it. —Carrie H.

Bottle Babies
These three were my first bottle babies in 2019. I remember calling Lyn, our former director, and said we found three babies. She said we need a foster well guess what it was me. I was hooked! —Becky J.

Fostering Saves Lives
I did my first foster dog in January of 2025. I was the typical "I'm afraid I will get attached, I am afraid it will devastate me when they go to their new home" person. My first foster was Nugget, a little dachshund mix. He was such a great little dog and he was so shy and fearful but as soon as he came into my home, he thrived! He came out of his shell, he ran, he played, he loved my son and car rides! I was sad when he went to his home, but the joy overpowered the sadness because this family was so excited to meet him and take him into their family. I have since fostered 2 other dogs and NUMEROUS kittens and while yes, we do get attached, when they go to their furever homes, it allows me to take in another needed pet and opens a spot up at the clinic for another rescue to enter! You learn little pieces and quirks and details about these animals that can't be seen or observed while they are in boarding. This helps tremendously with their new families! Fostering saves lives! —Sarah C.

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Have a foster story of your own? We’d love to share it. Email us at [email protected] to be featured. 

This Is Where Second Chances Start.