The Humane Society of Southwest Missouri needs homes for some of the area's cutest residents, even if it's only temporary.

Kayla Harmon, the Volunteer Coordinator with the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri, said being a foster parent helps their staff out tremendously during the spring months, what they call kitten and puppy season. "Whenever we have all of the puppies and kittens come to the shelter we don't have enough space to hold them until they're ready to be adopted," said Harmon. The facility is currently at capacity with cats and kittens, and near capacity with dogs and puppies. Harmon said that status changes daily.

The Humane Society struggles every year to find enough foster families, but Harmon assures people all you need is a passion for animals and a kind heart. "We need people to open up their homes for these animals to be able to crash on their couch, even if it's just for a couple of days or for a couple of weeks," she said.

The Humane Society offers many options when it comes to being a foster parent. It is not a year-long commitment, nor does it cost the foster parent anything. "We provide all of the medical care and all of the supplies you need, so there's no cost to you," said Harmon.

Harmon also mentioned this can be a great test-run for families who have thought about adding a furry family member for a while. "If you're not sure if the family's really ready to commit to a lifetime of taking care of a pet, fostering is a great way to test that out," she said. "See how your kids do, see how you function with another animal in the house."

The application to become a foster parent is on the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri’s website.