Central Oklahoma Humane Society envisions foster program to be Stepping Stone to new homes

Foster homes provide a bridge between a city animal shelter and a permanent home. The Humane Society is relaunching its foster home program for dogs and calling it Stepping Stone.

Zeka-McFadden is just that for the four dachshund mix puppies she currently is fostering. There are about 100 foster volunteers in central Oklahoma. The organization would like to double that.

For Zeka-McFadden, fostering dogs is an excellent use of her time. Almost all expenses, including food and medical care, are provided by the Humane Society.

“There are no false pretenses,” she said. “You get attached to them, but at the same time you know when they get their permanent home, you can foster more dogs. I shed a tear for every one of them, but in a way it re-energizes you to do more because you see that it's working.”

Zeka-McFadden typically fosters special needs dogs that have birth defects or need ongoing medical treatment.

Most foster homes only keep dogs for several weeks, but she will typically have one for a longer period of time. She also has six dogs of her own that live with her on an acreage in Oklahoma County.