Danville, VA - The Danville Humane Society can't find homes for all of the hundreds of animals it serves, but with some help from a new program and the community, they hope they'll be able to give more animals the chance to find a home.

You may remember Marley. He was rescued in an animal abuse story we ran five months ago.  "When we first got him he was really matted and had hoof rot," Foster parent Amanda Cottrell said.

Now Marley doesn't even look like the same horse. Thanks, mostly, to the family that took him in, and gave him a foster home until he can be adopted.

"It's been a really rewarding experience making him a lot better than what he was," Cottrell said.

The foster care system is a new program at the humane society, allowing people in the community to temporarily care for animals out of their homes, giving animals a little more time to find an owner.

Paulette Dean, with the Danville Humane Society, said, "We think it is a good thing because it is another tool in our arsenal and the adoptable animals will be able to be held longer."

And hopefully, help lower the euthanasia rate. Especially, since some animals need a little help warming up to a home.  "We are hoping animals with special needs will be taken care of and animals can be socialized and then they will be a better prospect for adoption," Dean said.

Animals like Marley. Maybe not a looker when he came here, but just one of hundreds of animals, who needs a helping "hand" to become a pet.

"Now he looks great. His coat has shedded out, he's going to be a beautiful horse and he's actually a very sweet boy," Cottrell said.

Foster parents will need to provide a safe home and food for the animal. The humane society will cover medical needs. If you want more information about the program, call the Humane Society at 434-799-5306.

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