November 2025 — Alexis Milkes
We love the start of a new month because we get to honor one of our fosters! Meet Alexis & Andrew Milkes, our November fosters of the Month!
Some words from them on fostering for OFOSA:
“Andrew and Alexis grew up with dogs, though Andrew also had cats, making him the resident feline expert in the household. Alexis wasn’t allowed to have a cat growing up, so she’s making up for lost time now with a full-blown teenage rebellion—just delayed a couple of decades.
They dated while at the University of Oregon, and bonded over their shared love of animals—especially cats of all shapes and sizes. (Go Ducks, go cats.)
At twenty-seven, they finally achieved a lifelong dream: getting to pet a litter of tiger cubs. #lifegoals
After health issues took both of their dogs and one of their cats, they began fostering in 2001. Their son immediately took on the official role of “Kitten Socializer,” and his friends regularly “help” out—mostly by playing with kittens and laughing a lot.
Now fourteen, he’s an old pro at fostering, and the family divides up the daily tasks between them. They haven’t met a cat they didn’t love, though a few have definitely pretended not to love them back.
Alexis occasionally helps design fun things for events using her “rusty” university design skills. How do design skills rust? Apparently by being left out in too many Pacific Northwest winters.
As of today, they have successfully fostered 59 rescue kitties.”
Please join us in showing appreciation for their commitment and work toward OFOSA’s mission! We are grateful!
If you are interested in a fun, flexible, family activity, please learn more here: https://ofosa.org/become-an-ofosa-foster/.
Foster Some Love!
October 2025 — Lynda Clark
Happy October! It’s time to honor another of our Foster Heroes!
This month, please join us in showing gratitude to Lynda Clark! A few words from Lynda on fostering:
“Hi there, my name is Lynda and I’ve been fostering dogs for about 10 years. When my beloved dog passed I felt that I would honor her by taking care of other puppers in need. I found OFOSA and have never looked back. They allow foster parents to meet and choose the best fit, which is crucial. Not all dogs are for everyone but they are definitely for someone! Over the years I have fostered several dogs and foster failed once. It is the most rewarding feeling to bring a dog into a safe environment and watch them blossom and get ready for their forever home.
My current foster was actually rescued from a non-reputable shelter in California and Arlene and team let me place him in their capable and loving hands. I am forever grateful to OFOSA for giving me the gift of fostering. If you are worried that you would never be able to give them to another home, believe me when I say…you know the forever home connection when you see it and it is worth everything. Foster if you can!”
Thank you, Lynda! You and our whole foster team are the REAL gifts!
If you would like to learn about becoming a foster like Lynda, click here https://ofosa.org/become-an-ofosa-foster/.
Foster Some Love!
September 2025 — Sarah Suitts
It’s time to celebrate and honor the most valuable volunteer position in our organizaton — our fosters!
Our Foster of the Month for September is Sarah Suitts!
Sarah says:
“Hi there, my name is Sarah and I’ve been fostering kitties for almost 4 years now. It is the most rewarding, selfless thing I get to do and it wouldn’t be possible without the help of local rescues. I love fostering with OFOSA because they’re focused on keeping the animals in foster homes while they await their furever homes. As someone who has always found it difficult to place my foster animals in a cage at a shelter and not know who ends up adopting them, I wanted to volunteer with a foster-based rescue.
With OFOSA, my fosters stay with me until a meet and greet is arranged, and then I even get to meet their future families. I am beyond thankful rescues like OFOSA exist, as they have made the fostering experience very fulfilling. I cannot wait to continue saving countless more lives through the gift of fostering!”
If you’d like to have this type of fulfilling experience, head on over to our website to learn more and fill out a foster application! It’s fun, flexible, and rewarding! We need fosters for dogs and cats! https://ofosa.org/become-an-ofosa-foster/ or at the link in our bio.
Foster Some Love!
August 2025 — Jennifer Bucnys
Please join us in giving big THANKS to our Foster of the Month!
Some words from Jennifer on fostering:
“Fostering with OFOSA has allowed us to help great dogs connect with their forever homes. It has been an extremely rewarding experience and has been a great way to teach our daughter love, respect, patience, and kindness as each foster comes into our lives and integrates into the family. OFOSA has provided support that goes above and beyond to ensure the dogs are cared for and have everything they need. It has been an amazing opportunity to join the extended OFOSA family.”
If you’d like to enjoy a rewarding volunteer experience, please join Jennifer on our fabulous foster team. You can learn more and apply here: https://ofosa.org/become-an-ofosa-foster/. Thanks, Jennnifer, for everything you do!
July 2025 — Shanae Strite
Join us in showing gratitude to our Foster of the Month for July — Shanae Strite!
Here are a few words from Shanae about their fostering journey.
“OFOSA is amazing. I haven’t been a foster for very long but in the short amount of time I’ve been volunteering, I’ve had such a positive experience. Being a veterinarian assistant at a specialty surgery hospital just wasn’t enough! Fostering is very rewarding and doing it for OFOSA truly feels like making a difference because it’s backed by a robust team who make sure these cats and dogs are well cared for and go to a good home. I’m so glad OFOSA exists and have helped so many families find their furr-ever companion. Thanks for letting me a part of it!”
Thanks, Shanae for your dedication to our mission! We are successful because of people like you!
You can make a lifesaving difference like Shanae, too! Join our fabulous team of fosters today! Learn more and fill out an application here: https://ofosa.org/become-an-ofosa-foster/.
Foster Some Love!
June 2025 — Melissa Wallis
A new month and it’s time to honor one of our Foster Heroes! Melissa Wallis is our Foster of the Month for June!
A few words from Melissa:
‘It’s been so great working with the OFOSA team. Everyone is so kind , capable and dedicated and I’ve loved the opportunity to be involved with so many darling animals. ‘
Thank YOU, Melissa! We simply can’t fulfill our mission without fosters like you!
If you’d like to spend time with darling animals and feel fulfilled, fill out a foster application and join our team! It’s easy and flexible and we provide everything you need.
https://ofosa.org/become-an-ofosa-foster/.
Foster Some Love!
May 2025 — Lisa Sanchez
Put your paws together for our Foster of the Month for May — Lisa Sanchez!
Fosters are a vital piece of our lifesaving mission…without them, we would not be able to rescue as many homeless animals.
A few words from Lisa on her fostering journey:
“My daughters convinced me to foster when they said “we will never know what it’s like to have a pet” even though we have a fish. We fostered 8 cats in about 7 months. All got adopted except Pip & Scout who are still waiting. It is such an amazing feeling to see them find forever homes. Our last 2 were Tia & Tessa , who a coworker and her partner adopted. They are spoiled, adored and very happy. They even bonded with the older cat they already had. It warms our hearts.”
If you’re looking for a heartwarming, flexible volunteer opportunity, please consider joining our foster team. You can learn more and fill out an application here: https://ofosa.org/become-an-ofosa-foster/ or at the link in our bio.
Foster Some Love!
April 2025 – Gwen Godfrey
We are so grateful for Gwen’s compassionate support of our mission! A few words from Gwen about their fostering journey:
“A Journey from Selfish Love to Selfless Rescue”
My journey into fostering began for purely selfish reasons—I simply love dogs and wanted to surround myself with them. Little did I know, that decision would change my life.
Our first foster, a wild little puppy, zigzagged between our legs so much that we named him Ziggy. He was full of energy, mischief, and endless love. I almost became a “foster fail” right out of the gate, but I knew I couldn’t adopt the very first dog we took in. Saying goodbye was tough, but seeing him find his forever home was even more rewarding.
Not long after, we welcomed Pepper, our second foster. He had a severely broken leg that required amputation, making him our first experience with a medically needy dog. Caring for him shifted my entire perspective on fostering—it was no longer just about having more dogs in my life, but about giving these animals the love, stability, and care they desperately needed. Sometimes, we were their very first real home. In the end, we couldn’t let Pepper go, and a year later, we couldn’t be happier with our decision to adopt him.
Though we’re still relatively new to fostering, with only five dogs under our belt so far, we know this is just the beginning. Fostering has become a lifelong commitment, and we can’t wait to continue opening our home and hearts to dogs in need.”
—————————————————————————————-
If you’d like to learn more about the rewarding volunteer opportunity of fostering, please click here: https://ofosa.org/become-an-ofosa-foster/.
Our fosters are our biggest asset, please join our team!!
Foster Some Love!
March 2025 — Chelsea Willis
We’re thrilled to honor Chelsea Willis as OFOSA’s March Foster of the Month!
Chelsea’s fostering journey is an inspiring one. She had always dreamed of fostering animals, and when she finally had the space and stability after buying her home in 2022, she wasted no time making that dream a reality.
She began fostering cats through Multnomah County Animal Shelter and soon expanded her efforts after seeing an emergency placement post from Portland Dachshund Rescue. From that moment, she was hooked! Chelsea’s passion for helping animals continued to grow, leading her to also foster through OFOSA and Cat’s Cradle Rescue.
In just two years, Chelsea has fostered 25 cats and dogs, giving each of them a safe place to heal and grow before finding their forever homes—though she admits to just one foster fail along the way.
“Each animal that comes into my home leaves a lasting impact, and while it’s never easy to say goodbye, I take comfort in knowing they’re going to loving homes where they’ll continue to thrive. Fostering has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life—watching them come out of their shells, heal, and find their forever families is a wonderful feeling. No matter how bittersweet the goodbyes, I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.” – Chelsea
Chelsea documents her fostering adventures on Instagram at @cantrip_fosters, sharing heartwarming stories of transformation.
Inspired by Chelsea’s story? You, too, can make a difference! Join our foster team and experience the joy of saving lives. Fill out an application today:
Become an OFOSA Foster
Foster Some Love!
