Rory, a honey-colored dog, was there with her new adopter and the woman who had fostered her. Jake, attired in his spiffy harness, was there and so was Topo with her person. Abbie was waiting patiently in her crate for a foster family to take her to their home in the country. Sammi was snoozing in the sun.

The occasion was the Life Savers Animal Rescue annual picnic honoring LSAR supporters, folks who foster dogs, and adopters. LSAR served sandwiches, cold drinks, and cookies to all the humans and dog snacks for canines.

Nancy Hemphill and Vicky Radcliff, LSAR staffers, visited with folks who brought their adopted furry friends to the event.

 “Oh, Jake, you look so handsome,” and “Sammi, I think this hat will work for you,” were some of the comments made as they greeted furry friends and their people.

In a post on Facebook, LSAR staff said, “We do think that foster homes as opposed to a shelter situation are the best for our rescue dogs because we are able to see how they do with a family in a normal setting.”

Hemphill said LSAR always needs more foster homes in order to save more pups and find them a forever home.

LSAR would also appreciate cash donations, crates, blankets, toys and dog food “so we can send a bag of dog food home with each foster.”

Those who have the space and time to foster dogs are encouraged to visit the LSAR web page at lsar.rescuegroups.org and fill out the fostering form.

Needing more people to foster dogs is also an issue for the Mission Valley Animal Shelter, located south of Polson.

MVAS usually has up to three foster families available, but the number of folks who love animals and want to help by fostering are split among MVAS, LSAR, and All Hearts Rescue.

The shelter itself “is always full,” said MVAS manager Raeva Corkhill.

Currently, the shelter has 22 dogs and 41 cats living at 36251 North Reservoir Road.

MVAS has had a record number of puppies and kittens “dumped” in their driveway this year, Corkhill said. And it’s a problem across the Mission Valley, where a large number of animals have been dropped at assorted locations.

Meanwhile, Corkhill said, dog adoptions have steadily fallen during the past two years.

“The average stay for dogs used to be five weeks, and now it’s 11 weeks,” she said.

Canine parvovirus (CPV), a dangerous and very contagious disease that attacks a dog's white blood cells and gastrointestinal tract, hasn’t been much of a problem this year. Three puppies had the disease but Corkhill caught it quickly, and they are now rambunctious and fine. 

The cost of housing and caring for dogs and cats stretches the shelter's budget, and Corkhill says MVAS would be happy to accept bags of dog and cat food, any brand, and dog toys or a donation to the food fund. For more information, visit www.missionvalleyanimalshelter.org or call 406-883-5312.

    Sammi, a Lifesavers Animal Rescue pup, enjoys the sunshine at Saturday's LSAR picnic. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)