Rise and SHINE with Aluram
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Need a Friend During the Pandemic? Foster a Shelter Pet for Your Sake and Theirs
For many, sheltering at home during the Coronavirus pandemic can be a lonely, isolated time. At the same time, staff members at animal shelters are in short supply. This is the perfect time to consider sheltering a foster and it can be good for your health.
by Staff
March 20, 2020
Amber Batteiger and her foster dog Tux.
3 min to read
For thousands of years, our companion animals have been our best friends in good times and bad. Now, as we face one of the worst pandemics in modern history, accompanied by the fear and loneliness that come hand in hand with the isolation of mandatory quarantining, we have a chance to make a difference in the lives of millions of animals – and our own – by fostering a shelter animal.
“Shelters are swamped in the best of times, and with more and more staff in every sector of American life self-quarantining and falling ill, animals already abandoned and without homes are going to be increasingly vulnerable,” says American Humane President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert. “At the same time, so many of us, especially the elderly, are coping with the loneliness, stress and anxiety that comes with isolation and the sheltering in place so necessary during a pandemic. Why be home alone when you can snuggle up with a loving new buddy? You might save a life, improve your own during these trying times, and end up with a new best friend.”
Each year, some 4-6 million beautiful animals end up in U.S. shelters and more than one and a half million are euthanized. As shelter workers are affected by the virus and false rumors spread about the transmissibility of COVID-19 from animals to people (there is no evidence of this), shelter animals will need help more than ever.
The rewards of fostering a pet can be great for both people and animals. Animals facing uncertain futures can find the love, care and attention every living creature needs. And engaging with animals has been shown to be a remedy for stress. When people are in high-pressure situations, the hormone cortisol spikes in the body, making it a useful tool for measuring stress. Interaction with animals is proven to lower both cortisol levels and blood pressure, according to the National Institutes of Health. In other words, science backs up what many people know intuitively – they feel better after petting a dog or cat.
Amber Batteiger is a case in point. An American Humane Rescue worker who deploys year-round to save animals from natural disasters and cruelty cases, she is now enjoying the company of her new foster dog and “pandemic pal,” Tux, a two-year-old American Bulldog mix she fostered for a rescue group out of Coral Springs, Florida called “Bullies-N-Beyond.” She finds his company a welcome distraction from the news and he is enjoying all the extra attention, treats and playing with his three foster siblings that living with Amber gives him.
“If you have the time, the desire and the physical and financial ability to foster an animal from a local shelter or rescue for at least the next several weeks, it will be a much-needed and welcome way to help,” says Dr. Ganzert. “Please think about it and spread the word. You will be helping yourself and an animal in need…and best of all, only their unconditional love is contagious.”
About American Humane: American Humane is the country’s first national humane organization. Founded in 1877, American Humane saves, shelters, feeds, and protects some one billion animals around the world each year. For more information, please visit www.americanhumane.org. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Wellness
Wellness Watch: Expert Picks & Curated Essentials
Explore this curated selection of standout brands and essential products shaping today’s growing wellness and spa industry.
Shampoo, Rinse, Repeat: Salon Clients Face a Water Cycle Crisis of Mineral Buildup on Hair
Neutralizing the damaging effects of water benefits the hair from texture to shine to color longevity, and it’s the science behind Malibu C products.
Sponsored by Malibu Wellness
The Invisible Hazard in Every Nail Salon and How to Fight It
From acrylic monomers to airborne bio-dust, the air inside a nail salon carries risks most professionals never see coming. Aerovex Systems reveals the source-capture and room-purification strategies that are setting a new standard for salon safety.
Sponsored by Aerovex Systems
Stylists “Relish” the Opportunity to Prioritize Guests’ Scalp Health
Good hair starts at the scalp. But most salons aren’t offering services or products that address scalp health. Relish, a new product line from the founders of Signature Formulations, has everything salons need to deliver an effective head spa service and offer guests a robust at-home scalp care line.
Resolutions Rarely Work: Try a 'Life Switch'
A new book by Joel Steele shows that the most powerful change people can make is to think differently if they want different results. The author believes in the 'Life Switch' so fervently that he's willing to donate $1 million from book sales when he sells his millionth copy.
Harness the Power of Cytogen Masque: How Regenerative Science Is Transforming Salon Skin Treatments
In an era where clients demand visible results with minimal recovery time, salons and spas are redefining what professional skincare means.
Botox Still Tops the World’s Most-Searched Aesthetic Treatments as “Natural but Enhanced” Trend Surges
New global search data from beauty and wellness booking platform Fresha reveals that Botox remains the world’s most in-demand aesthetic treatment in 2025—but regenerative “tweakments” like polynucleotide injections, thread lifts and IV drips are seeing explosive growth across key markets.
New Book Challenges America's Mental Health Paradigm by Exploring 'Spiritual Emergency'
As rates of anxiety, depression, and substance use continue to climb across the U.S., conversations around mental health are more urgent than ever—yet one crucial perspective remains missing. In her captivating new book, Aymie Daniels introduces the little-known concept of “Spiritual Emergency” and opens a timely conversation about how America understands (and often mislabels) extreme psychological states.
A Blueprint for Living with Purpose in a World that Often Makes No Sense
Author and Lifestyle Coach Mark Reinisch's new book challenges the outdated 'work ethic' model, which values success over health, happiness, and the soul. His antidote: wellness ethic lifestyle design--a bold, practical approach to building a life that works for you, on your terms.
by Stacey Soble
Is It Hot Enough for You?
Water is a vital part of almost every process in the human body. Our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson shows you why staying hydrated is so important and offers helpful guidelines on how to do it.
Bringing Affordable Wellness to Gen Z Consumers
Located in downtown Denver, Sway Wellness Spa integrates the latest technology into services, offers accessible memberships, and brings a community setting to younger generations who yearn for a wellness experience that is not like their mothers'.
by Stacey Soble
Spa Day, Safe Day: Stop Fungal Infections in Their Tracks
As a spa or salon professional, your clients expect more than just beauty—they expect safety, hygiene, and peace of mind. Fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus are more common than you think, especially in environments where tools and footbaths are reused without proper sanitation. This blog covers how to stop these issues before they start, using proven infection prevention strategies for salons and spas.
Energy Healing 101
As the kids head back to school and the seasons shift, it might be time to clear your energy. Our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson talks about why it's important and illustrates some of the different methods involved.
Healthy Summer Eating: 7 Success Hacks and 7 Meal Prep Tips
Do summer barbeques and sweet treats to beat the heat have you relaxing your healthy eating goals? Here comes our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson to the rescue with some success hacks and meal prep tips that take advantage of the season's bounty.
A Simplified Approach to Wellness Using the 80/20 Rule
A new book, The Wellness Ethic, shares a game-changing method for thriving in life.
Meditation for Beginners
This month, our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson answers a number of questions about meditation and helps you get started.