June is National Foster a Pet Month, and while one month gets the spotlight, the need for fosters is year-round. Every day, foster volunteers make it possible for us to help more animals and send them home better than they came in.

Why Fostering Matters

Shelters are built for temporary stays, and some animals don't do their best in them. The noise, the activity, the unfamiliar surroundings, it adds up. In a foster home, pets get to relax into themselves. Their real personalities come out. And that matters for more than just their comfort: the more we know about an animal, the better we can match them with the right adopter.

Foster care also frees up space at the shelter, which means we can say yes to more animals who need us. When you foster, you're not just helping the pet in your home. You're making room for the next one.

Meet Pappy

Pappy is a prime example of how successful fostering can be. He arrived at HSSW through animal control, severely underweight and struggling to settle. The shelter environment was hard on him: the noise, the constant activity. What kept standing out, though, was who he was underneath all that stress. Gentle. Wiggly. Full of affection. He just needed space to feel safe.

That space came through a foster home. For 481 days, a dedicated foster gave Pappy exactly what he needed: stability, patience, and the chance to just be a dog. He discovered couch evenings and belly rubs, went on hikes and boating trips, rode in the car with the windows halfway down.

After 555 days in care, Pappy was adopted on April 8. His story is a good reminder that some pets need a little more time, and that the people willing to give it to them change everything.

Foster a Dog

Active dogs thrive with structure and enrichment that a shelter simply can't provide. A foster home gives them daily walks, a yard, a couch, and the chance to show adopters who they really are. Some, like Pappy, just need more time. You could be the person who gives it to them.

Or Help Out During Kitten Season

Foster need doesn't stop at dogs, and while we're in the midst of Kitten Season, we're calling for reinforcements. These kittens need round-the-clock care and the warmth of a home environment to grow healthy and strong until they're ready to be adopted. It's a short-term commitment, typically seven to eight weeks, with a lifetime of impact.

How to Get Started

We provide everything you need, including training, supplies, and ongoing support from our foster team and foster mentors. Whether you're new to fostering or a returning foster, there's a spot for you.

Become a Foster

On Wednesday, May 13, the clouds parted on an otherwise rainy day as we gathered at our Longview Campus with donors, supporters,  and municipal partners for the ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration of our Community Veterinary Clinic at the Longview Campus.

The building had a quieter life before this — an administrative space tucked behind the existing shelter. When we began operating the campus in January 2025, we converted it into a working veterinary clinic for shelter animals. In its first year, the clinic cared for 1,347 animals: spay/neuter, vaccines, microchips, the kind of care that gets a pet ready for adoption. But there was a gap we couldn't ignore — affordable, high-quality veterinary care for the broader community.

So early in 2026, we shifted. The clinic transitioned to a community medicine model, and in its first three months, it's already served 942 animals. Spay/neuter for owned and community cats, SNR and TNR services, vaccines and preventative care for cats and dogs – the Longview CVC is starting to fill a real need across Southwest Washington.

The Longview CVC is now open and accepting appointments. Whether you're scheduling a spay/neuter for a cat, looking for vaccines, or just need preventative care for your pet, you can reach our team by calling/texting 360.984.6070, emailing [email protected], or make an appointment online.

The new location is one piece of a larger effort. Visit our website to learn more about our community medicine services and find a location near you.

Community Medicine Services

A well-trained dog isn't just a joy to live with. Training is one of the most meaningful investments you can make in your dog's health, happiness, and safety. Dogs thrive when they understand what's expected of them, and the right training builds trust, reduces frustration, and opens up a whole lot more of life you can share together.

At HSSW, our certified trainers use positive, science-based methods to help dogs and their people find their footing, whether that's a brand-new puppy learning the basics or a reactive dog learning to navigate a world that sometimes feels like a lot.

The results speak for themselves.

What Clients Are Saying

For Diana Hernandez and her pup, it started with Puppy Essentials and grew from there. "Our trainer Cierra truly knows dog behavior," she shared, "and because of her I have patience and knowledge of my beautiful pup." The pair went on to complete Basic Manners together.

Arielle Pacheco came in with a reactive dog and left with a whole new toolkit. After completing Reactive Rover, she wrote: "The course gave us the tools to help our dog be her best. Now it's up to us to continue to practice with her." That shift in confidence, from feeling stuck to feeling equipped, is exactly what the program is designed to deliver.

Dante Rome and his partner had trained dogs before, but their pug puppy was a different story. "Our trainer helped us bridge a lot of gaps in our training process and taught us a lot more." They're already looking forward to future classes.

Gillian Pope has brought two dogs through HSSW training, completing five classes between them. "Our dogs have both enjoyed the extra attention and socialization, and we've enjoyed learning new skills and the confidence to continue working on them."

And for Jen Eckardt, the progress has been week over week: "I've seen huge improvements in my puppy's behavior and my own abilities as an owner. The cost is very reasonable and I recommend these classes to everyone."

Classes for Every Dog and Every Stage

Whether you're starting from scratch or working through something specific, there's a class designed for where you and your dog are right now. Puppy Pre-School and Puppy Essentials give young dogs a strong foundation during the critical socialization window. Basic Manners and Advanced Manners build real-life skills for adult dogs at any stage. Reactive Rover is a dedicated space for dogs and handlers navigating reactivity, with small class sizes and a supportive environment. Private training is also available for dogs who do best with one-on-one focus.

Training classes are offered at these locations:

The Swigert Family Behavior and Training Center
10501 NE Hwy 99, Suite 27
Vancouver, WA

HSSW Vancouver Campus
1100 NE 192nd Ave
Vancouver, WA

HSSW Longview Campus
909 Columbia Blvd
Longview, WA 98632

Register for Classes