A new organization in Niagara is trying to help pet owners when they run into unexpected troubles.
Fido Niagara has been running since September, offering emergency pet fostering for owners who are suddenly unable to take care of their animals.
Jessica Cohen with Fido Niagara says they get calls for many different reasons.
"We get calls every day. Some people are evicted, some people have to go to the hospital for anywhere from 3 days to 30 days, sometimes divorce happens and a woman is left homeless with children."
Cohen says they work with community partners to make sure the people using the service really need help.
"So we would need a referral call first from a licensed social worker, or a police officer, or a physician to justify the need so we can weed out people who - we have had calls from people who just want to travel for a few months and they want someone to look after their pets. That would not be considered an emergency."
She says Fido Niagara officials like to stay in contact with the person who gave the referral to make sure the animal will have somewhere safe to go after the fostering period has finished.
Cohen says they have about a dozen foster families across the region.
They are also hoping to collect donations of kitty litter and cat food.
Click here to listen to the full interview with Jessica Cohen.