Lindsay Patton
Now this is the kind of vacation we’re up for. A hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi offers its guests the option to foster dogs during their stay.
In 2018, this particular Home2 Suites by Hilton location launched its Fostering Hope program. Hotel sales director Teresa Johnston set up a partnership with the Humane Society of South Mississippi to bring in shelter dogs.
When guests check in, they have the option of fostering one of the dogs during their stay.
This particular hotel has a lot of extended-stay visitors, and everyone knows how much dogs help with loneliness.
“They have a lot of transient guests who stay for months at a time near our army and navy bases and that’s just enough time to fall in love with a dog,” shelter relations manager Bianca Janik told USA Today. “Teresa thought they needed to set their hotel apart and this was it. She wanted to have the business more involved with the community. It was a very out-of-the-box way to find our animals new homes so we were on board.”
Janik and the rest of the Humane Society’s staff and volunteers carefully select the dogs for the Fostering Hope program.
Knowing hotels can be busy, loud, and overstimulating, the Humane Society identifies dogs that are comfortable in these types of environments.
Home2 Suites Biloxi has dog kennels set up in its lobby and guests have the option to foster or adopt a dog on sight. When fostering, there is no commitment for the guests, just playtime and cuddles.