Marcia Piotter—along with a small group of animal-loving friends—launched a volunteer animal welfare and rescue organization in December 2010 to provide immediate care and forever families for homeless and abused animals.


The organization is a network of volunteer animal lovers and animal care professionals who are interested in the health of all animals. However, cats and dogs have been the organization’s main focus. Operation Pets Alive does not have a building and houses all its rescued animals in foster homes across Montgomery and Harris counties.


The group is committed to the no-kill philosophy and the 10 programs that make up the no-kill equation, Piotter said. She said most stray animals, especially those that are fertile, are often put down.


“We partner with lots of businesses and groups,” Piotter said. “We have something called the Big 6, which is one of the targeted spay-neuter programs. We’re currently doing that for dogs 40 to 70 pounds, so it’s for large dogs that would have big litters.”


Piotter said the Big 6 program partners with other local nonprofits and business to help Montgomery County animals. Operation Pets Alive has hosted numerous adoption events at popular stores, such as Whole Foods Market, PetSmart, Orvis, Define Fitness and Petco.


Foster parents are responsible for providing the animal with shelter, food and other requirements to maintain the animal’s wellbeing—this may even include basic training. On the other end, the organization will ensure the pet is prepared for adoption by handling medical needs and foster placement, Piotter said.


She said the animals typical reside in a foster home for four to six weeks. Pets can stay for much longer, but she said the ultimate goal is finding a permanent home as soon as possible. Piotter said it is common for foster homes to become permanent. There are some foster hosts who are passionate about helping animals with special needs and medical conditions like heartworms, she said. The team leaders try to pair the animals with the most compatible hosts with consideration to interest, availability and resources, Piotter said.


“The first thing you should do is review the foster care program on our website and see if that sounds like a good fit for you,” she said. “Then you can just email us, and we’ll get you in touch with our foster care team leads. They will figure out what you want to foster and how you want to foster endangered animals.”


P.O. Box 132104, The Woodlands.
www.operationpetsalive.org