San Mateo County Health has started a program to provide foster care for pets of owners seeking medical, mental health or substance use treatment.

The Fostering Wellness Program aims to help encourage pet owners to seek medical care by offering a temporary home for their companions.

“There can be many obstacles to seeking behavioral health care, and this is one we have seen repeatedly,” said Jei Africa, county Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, in a statement. “By ensuring pets are safe and cared for, we help clients worry less about their animal companions and focus on their treatment.”

The Health Department’s Animal Control and Licensing program will manage the foster placement process, including screening foster families and inspecting homes. The program will try to place each pet in a foster home to help ensure a smooth transition.

Volunteer foster families will receive necessary supplies, including pet food and veterinary care. The county will coordinate placements, logistics and reunification.

San Mateo County also partners with dog walkers and boarding kennels in case a foster home is not available.

“We’re here to protect that bond and make sure families, including their animal companion, can be reunited safely,” Lori Morton-Feazell, the chief of Animal Control and Licensing, said in a statement.

The county is recruiting foster volunteers who live in the counties of San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda, and Santa Clara. Prospective volunteers can email fosteringwellness@smcgov.org.

Alise Maripuu is an intern at BCN with a focus on covering the Peninsula. Originally from San Carlos, Alise discovered her passion for journalism after studying abroad in Thailand during her senior year attending UC Santa Cruz. Her experience in Thailand taught her the consequences for democracy when living in a society with strict laws against free speech. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history, Alise took courses in journalism at Skyline Community College to learn how to write for news. As the Chief Copy Editor on Skyline’s student-run newspaper for the 2023-24 school year, Alise gained editing and managing experience leading a team of reporters. She covered hyperlocal stories affecting her campus such as the rise in food and housing insecurity. Alise wants to focus on data journalism.