The Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) is the recipient of a $573,536, three-year grant to help create a large-scale, high-volume foster program that augments the center’s no-kill policy.

Maddie’s Fund, a California family foundation that works to create no-kill policies nationwide, provided the grant. It will help the center fund what it says are critical positions as well as purchase supplies.

“Our existing foster program targets very young animals as well as pets recovering from illnesses and injuries,” Kristen Auerbach, the PACC director of animal care services, said in a prepared statement.“This grant will allow us to help a population which isn’t typically considered for foster – healthy, adult dogs and cats.”

According to the PACC, the foster care program, dubbed "A Foster Home for Every Pet," will save pets' lives and decrease the length of stay for adult cats and dogs.

“This is a game-changing project for shelter pets,” Maddie’s Fund Director of Research Dr. Sheila D’Arpino said.  “PACC, under Kristen Auerbach’s leadership, was our first choice for implementing this project because she has a history of implementing and sustaining ground-breaking programs to save dog and cat lives. PACC is a leading municipal shelter and serves as a model for other municipal shelters around the country.”