b"group out of Queens called Heavenly Angels.Inthetwoandahalfyears since then, Hyden and her two kids have fostered over 50 dogs. Many of them were litters of pup-pies, explains Hyden. She says pup-piescanbelessworkbecausethey are more contained and dont require walking.Andtheyareusuallyfairly easy to find homes for.Finding homes for pets can some-times be challenging, but the people of SOMA make things easier. This is a very rescue-oriented community, says Lucky was found in West Virginia, aloneHyden. and severely injured after being carriedSOMA is so supportive that I of-off by a coyote. After intensive medical care, Lucky was transported north andten dont need to buy supplies. Several adopted; he inspired a group of peoplekidsinourneighborhoodhavehad in Connecticut to start an animal rescue group in his honor, luckydogrefuge.com. Rescue Pet Birthday Parties, where the kidsbringtreatsandtoystodonate and they socialize the puppies during supportsupplying a weekly pet foodthe party as I talk to them about pet bank, providing much-needed veteri- care. The kids have fun and its good naryandbehaviorsupport to pet owners, and helping to feed the citys community catpopulationinaddi-tion to the shelter network-ing work that weve always done. WhenHydenfirstcon-sideredfosteringpets,she wasconcernedherfamily didnothaveenoughtime totakecareoffosterdogs andcats.ShealsoworriedHyden's son with both their own dogs andsome herkidsmightseeinjuredfoster dogs.animals in pain or dying. So she started with snakes and rabbits.for the puppies too, says Hyden. But when Hyden saw a friend postHydenhastwofosterfails,or about an overweight epileptic dog ur- dogs she fostered and decided to make gently in need of a foster, she thought,a permanent part of the family. Our We can do this. That set the stagedogs are gentle with puppies and are for her getting involved with a rescuegood at teaching them how to dog, says Hyden.And how do her kids deal with pets leaving? Says Hyden, Its a lot to un-derstand. But they learn great lessons, like how to care for and socialize with pets, and how to engage with humans on a topic they feel passionate about.LimorLevylivesinMaplewood and has been fostering pets since 2008. She started by walking dogs for Heav-enly Angels in Queens when she lived there, but after she moved to SOMA, Blue the beagle mix was found in a ditchshe started fostering. She also fosters in West Virginia covered in maggots. HecatsandfrequentlyworkswithMiss was saved by ARTBAR (a grassroots res- PatsCatsoutofEastOrange(find cue in WV) and transported to a rescue up north to find his forever family.her on Facebook). Levy has a large fol-feature story /19"