Detroit Sheriff Raises Awareness About Fostering Animals

Oakland County Sheriff Deputy Harry Joseph dedicates his time to a cause close to his heart: fostering rescue animals. For 26 years, Joseph has been a presence in law enforcement, committed to the safety of his community. Yet, beyond his duties as a deputy, he has spent the last 15 years passionately fostering and finding homes for nearly 70 dogs.

Joseph’s journey into animal fostering began unexpectedly. “I was looking to adopt a dog, and the people hosting the event said, ‘We’d love for you to adopt a dog, but what we really need right now are fosters.’ I looked into it, signed up, and have been doing it ever since,” he recalls. This decision led him to collaborate with Happy Days Dog and Cat Rescue, a Metro Detroit nonprofit that has placed over 5,000 animals in loving homes.

Happy Days Dog and Cat Rescue operates without a physical shelter. Instead, they rely on foster homes to care for animals rescued from various situations—shelters, other states, and urgent cases where animals are at risk of euthanasia. Pamela Peterson, the founder of Happy Days, emphasizes the crucial role of fosters: “It’s the foster’s job to assess that dog, assess their needs, assess their personality, and then prepare that dog to be adopted and successfully adopted.”

Joseph shares the rewarding nature of fostering, despite its challenges. “It’s an experience, and it’s challenging, but just like most things that are challenging, it’s also rewarding,” he says. Seeing the transformation of these animals from difficult beginnings to thriving in their forever homes brings immense satisfaction. “To see these dogs blossom from terrible situations into lifelong homes and to know that you had a part of it, it’s rewarding,” he states.

The need for fosters is ongoing, and Joseph and Peterson both stress the importance of community involvement. Becoming a foster is a straightforward process that begins with an online application. Happy Days provides all the necessary supplies for caring for the animals, making it accessible for anyone who loves animals and wants to help.

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