NOVELTY, Ohio — *Editor's Note: The video in the player above originally aired on July 23, 2019.
Rescue Village, Geauga County's Humane Society, is offering a new service to Geauga County residents beginning Friday, February 26.
The Community Guardian Program is a safety net service offered to Geauga County pet owners as an alternative to giving up a pet when life's obstacles leave pet owners temporarily unable to provide the tangible care their pets need.
Animals accepted into the program are placed into temporary foster homes with trained Rescue Village foster caregivers to provide love, care, and support to the pet.
Any Geauga County resident is eligible to request help from the Community Guardian Program.
Research shows that pet owners who face obstacles that would prevent them from caring for their pet such as fleeing from an unsafe environment or getting medical or substance abuse treatment, will postpone their own care to avoid having to give up their pet to a shelter or having to rehome their pets.
It's been proven that some people facing or experiencing homelessness will choose to stay with their pets and sleep on the streets over going to a homeless shelter because few homeless shelters allow pets. And rehoming a pet is traumatic and can addition stress to the person already in need of help.
The Community Guardian Program aims to resolve some of the afore mentioned issues by offering a safe haven to people who need temporary help for caring for their pets.
For more information on the Community Guardian Program, call Rescue Village at 440-338-4819.