It isn’t just people who are affected by the coronavirus pandemic and by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order for all Californians to shelter in place. The animals in local shelters are also feeling the pinch as life changes for everyone they depend on.

With the stay-at-home directive, all but essential personnel are unable to visit the shelters and provide care for the homeless animals forced to live there.

During this public health crisis, the animals left behind will likely receive only minimal care for the duration of the emergency. And when the public can’t visit the shelter to adopt, these animals risk sitting in cages for weeks.

In response to the developing situation, Animal Shelter Assistance Program (ASAP) is immediately placing more than 35 of its shelter cats in foster homes, where they can receive loving care and quality of life.

Over the next weeks, ASAP, at 5473 Overpass Road in Santa Barbara, will continue to accept new stray and homeless cats, so more fosters will be needed.

Foster caregivers are provided with not just a cat chosen to match their situation, but with the essentials for the care of the cat. ASAP hopes to place almost all of its current shelter cats in foster homes.

Interested community members can inquire about fostering by emailing info@asapcats.org or calling 805-683-3368.

“This is an unprecedented situation, and it demands a creative response,“ said ASAP executive director Angela Walters Yates. “We need to do everything we can to help the animals in our care, while protecting the health of our volunteers, staff, and the general public.

“This is the best solution for all involved,” she said “And it provides an opportunity for residents required to stay at home to have additional love and companionship in their lives during prolonged social distancing.”

The mission of the Animal Shelter Assistance Program (ASAP) is to save the lives of cats in Santa Barbara County by providing shelter, veterinary care, behavioral support, adoption and foster services, education and community outreach.

For more information, visit www.asapcats.org.