Name: Millie Pozo Ramos

Position: Lifesaving Programs Specialist  

How long have you been part of the ARL team: I have been at the ARL since I was 15 and then officially started working here when I hit 18! So about 2 and a half years.  

Can you explain what foster care means and why it’s so important for shelter animals: Foster care is when the public opens their home to shelter animals in need of a safe place to land until they are ready for adoption or until they are adopted. It is extremely important because a foster home can change an animal’s outcome and get them adopted quicker.

How do foster homes help animals prepare for adoption success: Foster homes help us better understand each and every animal—here at the shelter, as much as we try, it’s not always possible to give each animal individual enrichment in the form of one-on-one time, foster homes make that possible! The more people, the better care each animal gets! 

How do you support fosters throughout their journey with ARL: We make sure to check in with families regularly and also offer 24/7 emergency phone support for all foster families. We supply all supplies needed for fostering as well to make it as easy as possible since at the end of the day, the foster families are doing us a huge favor by taking on these animals! 

What are some of the biggest challenges, and biggest rewards, of coordinating foster placements: Biggest challenges can change day to day really, I’d say currently it’s when last minute newborn kittens come in, and you have to really crunch to get them placed before you head home. Another is when medically unstable kittens come in and you send them home and just hope they are doing well overnight while anxiously waiting to see if a phone call comes in from the family who took them on. Biggest rewards are more common however, my personal favorite is always when fosters come to their appointments excited to tell me stories on how the animal is doing at home, listening to their wins and getting excited with them! Yes, I ALWAYS want to see pictures!!! 

Can you share a memorable foster story or animal that has stayed with you: Medically complex kittens always have my heart—the more complicated, the more I’m game for the challenge! Most recently, in 2025 we had a kitten, 2 weeks old, come in with two deformed back legs who had a very long and complicated journey. He had the amazing support of our vet team and after a double back leg amputation (an ARL first!), I am happy to say he is shockingly quicker than my 4-legged cat! I also ended up adopting him, his name is Walrus…of course.  

Honorable mentions include an 8-month-old kitten named Bergen who was barely 2 pounds at his highest, who chose to have fur on and off throughout his life and came to me from a dear friend. Arnie, a kitten who was blind and had super stretchy joints and to this day the chilliest cat I’ve ever met. And Gromit, a medical mess of a boy who had severe CH. All these kittens proved that they could, just because they had someone who believed in them. 

What keeps you motivated during the more difficult cases or busy seasons: Something that always motivates me is when the shelter is busy or stressful, and then you look into a cage to see a kitten playing. Despite their circumstances, they always find time to play, oblivious to everything crashing around them. I think we can learn a lot from that. 

What makes ARL special to you: I was practically raised here! I’ve known about the ARL since I was 8 and it was a dream to work here. I started to get more physically involved in the foster program when I turned 15, thankfully to our foster coordinators at that time who encouraged me to continue to come in, and then as soon as I was able to, I started working here at 18 years old. It truly became a second home when I was a volunteer and has always had a special place in my heart. 

What advice would you give to someone considering fostering for the first time: Just sign up! You do NOT need to take an animal right away, you can browse our available foster animals for as long as you need. We are also always willing to set up a meeting with you if you want to discuss before signing up. We are so flexible and willing since at the end of the day you are doing us a favor!  

Do you have any pets at home? Tell us about them: Um, of course I do! I have 3 cats, Toulouse, Walrus, and Moxie. 1 dog, Lucy, who has been with us for almost 17 years, we got her when I was 5 years old. A very spoiled ferret named Eloise Penelope III (who is actually the first but calling her “the third” felt right). And a couple birds, geckos, fish, and spiders! All but 2 are ARL alumni! 

If your pets could describe you in one word, what do you think they’d say: Frankly, “mummmmmy” is my word of choice hahah – Toulouse and Walrus just stare at me until they drool from purring so hard, and the others are all my little shadows. I love them all so, so very much.  

Final words of wisdom: My mantra for the last couple years has been “I will not accept a life I do not deserve.” and I try to continue to live by that every day. Happiness truly is a choice you can choose every day. Choose to see the good, choose to see the non-sun-bleached side of things. Love love love like your heart depends on it, because some days, it does.