When owners need addiction treatment, this group makes sure their animals stay safe

The group, “Fostering for Recovery,” quickly was created and calls were coming in weekly from people asking for Helvey and Kristall Morris to take in their dogs so they could go to treatment.

“Through all her struggles, that dog was with (Gabbard),” Helvey said. “That dog was with her when she lost her family, when she lost relationships, when she lost her home. The dog was with her. Bossy loved her unconditionally, no matter if they were living in a park or in a tent.”

Gabbard wasn’t allowed to visit with Bossy for a while, but Helvey sent her pictures that Gabbard printed out and placed in her binder and on the walls in her room. When the two were reunited, Gabbard said, “Bossy knew I was better.”

Gabbard successfully completed her treatment program, and has been reunited with her family and Bossy. She is one of nine people the program has helped get into recovery by fostering their pets.

“When we started advertising it, it really took off,” Helvey told the Herald-Leader. “We get several calls a week.”

In another instance, Helvey and Morris met a man who was about to be released from prison after 18 years. While in prison, he was partnered with a shelter dog to train the animal, and gain work experience and emotional support.

The man was accepted into a trade school with the stipulation he complete an inpatient treatment program prior to his release. While going through treatment, he needed someone to watch his dog until they could reunite again.

A foster took in the dog, and was later reunited with the man who successfully completed his program.

Finding fosters is the hardest thing, Helvey said. There are requirements that Helvey and Morris look for before allowing them to foster. There is only one treatment center in Eastern Kentucky which will take an emotional support animal when accepting clients, according to Helvey.

“We have had to turn people down because we don’t have fosters. That is our biggest need,” Helvey said. “It is really sad.”

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