All About Pets

H.A.L.O. giving every pet a second chance

AMY SCHRADER

When 67-year-old Oakley resident Starylne Thompson wakes up, she is greeted by 15 dogs waiting to be fed, walked and have their bellies rubbed.

From Yorkshire terriers to bichons, Maltese and teacup Chihuahuas, Thompson’s pets spend time each day socializing and being trained, loved and nurtured so they will be ready for adoption. As the dog manager for Homeless Animals Lifeline Organization (H.A.L.O.), East Contra Costa County’s oldest all-breed cat and dog rescue, Thompson not only fosters dogs but also places dogs in other foster homes to prepare them for adoption.

The organization is currently in need of more foster homes for dogs.

I believe every dog deserves a second chance in life,” said Thompson. “I love what I do and get more love and security from fostering than I’ve had my entire life.”

Since 2001, H.A.L.O. has been working with the community and city and county shelters to rescue cats and dogs in danger of being euthanized.

“Shelters contact us, and we pull animals that are going to be put down, which not only saves that animal’s life but also creates more room in the shelter for other animals,” said Antioch resident Gigi Boss, president of H.A.L.O.

H.A.L.O., an East County pet- and dog-rescue group, hosts adoption events every weekend at Pet Food Express and PetSmart in Antioch and Petco in Brentwood.

Photo courtesy of Gigi Boss

Once the animals are picked up from shelters, they are placed in volunteer foster homes. H.A.L.O. supplies everything for its fosters, including cages, food, litter and veterinarian costs.

“Fostering an animal is by far one of the most rewarding things you can experience,” said Pittsburg resident Jessica Shortridge, H.A.L.O. board member and volunteer coordinator. Shortridge has fostered sick, abandoned and malnutritioned kittens.

“You get to watch that kitten blossom from a helpless little animal to a confident, playful companion and send them off to their forever home,” said Shortridge. “It’s truly amazing and an indescribable feeling.”

Before H.A.L.O.’s pets are put up for adoption, each has a veterinary exam and is spayed or neutered, brought up-to-date with their shots and microchipped. After the pets have been through the entire fostering process, they are put up for adoption.

H.A.L.O. hosts weekly adoption events at Pet Food Express and PetSmart in Antioch and Petco in Brentwood. The nonprofit, charitable organization is run entirely by volunteers.

Our volunteers are everything to us, and we are always looking for more,” said Boss.

For more information about adopting a pet from H.A.L.O. or volunteering, visit http://www.eccchalo.org/, call 925-473-4642 or email contacthalo@yahoo.com. To comment, visit https://www.thepress.net/.