[Lauren Shelburne | The Banner]
For anyone interested in fostering a pet or wanting to make a difference in the life of an animal, a place that can make that happen is Foster Army Animal Rescue.
This nonprofit organization started in May 2015 and became a nonprofit in April 2016 with a goal to really live up to the name “rescue.”
This team makes it a point to only take in the sick and injured so that those animals will be taken off the euthanasia list.
Twelve Camacho, president of the organization, said he enjoys working at a place where he is able to share his passion with other people while giving animals a second chance at life.
“We all come from a shelter background, and being a part of a shelter, you become disappointed at times with policies and lack of leadership,” Camacho said. “There is definitely a movement going on here in the U.S. to try and eliminate needless euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals and that is my inspiration.”
The staff at FAAR is made up entirely of volunteers, which is a reason why Leslie Holzrichter, executive director, said she appreciates being part of the team.
She said she likes being different from most shelters when it comes to the animals they seek out.
“The animals that we focus on are the ones that are most vulnerable to be euthanized, which are the underage, disabled, elderly,” Holzrichter said. “Those are the animals that we really think need to have a second chance and we consider them adoptable.”
FAAR works with the University of California, Riverside, Riverside Community College and now with California Baptist University to allow students to foster animals.
They are a foster-based organization, so the more fosters they have, the more animals they can save. Although students at CBU are not allowed to have pets on campus, there are other ways to get involved.
“Students can volunteer and get involved with our events and spreading the word,” Camacho said. “Another thing that is a great need is finding responsible pet owners to adopt our pets because we want the cream of the crop pet owners.”
FAAR holds special adoptions at Kahoots Pet Store in Chino Hills every first and third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
