June is National Foster a Pet Month, and for Riverside native Erin, fostering animals has become a way of life. Erin grew up in Riverside and got an early taste of community involvement through 4-H, Assisteens, and National Charity League. It didn’t take long for her to discover that volunteering with animals was her favorite way to give back.
Today, she works as a school counselor for Riverside Unified School District and continues to dedicate her time to animal rescue—primarily with the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. Erin began volunteering with MSRPAC in 2009 and served on the board from 2021 to 2025. She enjoys walking dogs and helping out at events, but her true passion is fostering.
Over the past 15 years, Erin has fostered around 900 pets—mostly moms and their puppies, though she likes to mix things up with the occasional kitten. A few years ago, she remodeled her garage into a dedicated puppy nursery, complete with an easy-to-clean floor and temperature control to make the fostering process even smoother. These days, friends don’t ask if she has fosters—they ask what fosters she has. The need is so constant that she’s often dropping off one litter for adoption and picking up another on the same day.
Erin often hears people call Riverside a “small town,” and that rings especially true in the foster world. She’s been able to connect with fellow fosters and adopters from all walks of life. One of her favorite things is when a casual conversation leads to the realization that someone’s beloved pet was one of her fosters—sometimes from as far back as seven years ago. For Erin, that’s one of the best parts of the “Riverside effect.”
What does Riverside mean to you? Growing up, it was instilled in me to have great pride in being from Riverside. It’s where I get to be surrounded by my favorite people. We might not always agree or share the same ideas, but everyone’s working toward a common goal: increasing quality of life and making our community the best city to call home.
What is your Mt. Rubidoux summit count (estimated) Probably less than 10. I usually have an energetic dog with me, so I tend to head to Sycamore Canyon where there’s less foot traffic.
What is your favorite Riverside small business? T3 Fitness. The team makes working out fun and keeps me strong enough to keep walking big dogs!
What is your favorite Riverside non-profit organization? Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center—because I love the support they give both pets and the people who love them. Selfishly, they also make fostering easy by providing supplies and having a well-organized system.
The Festival of Lights: Every year on opening night or maybe on a Tuesday? Definitely during the week. Opening night is fun to watch on the news, but it’s way too crowded for me.
What is your idea of a perfect weekend day in Riverside? It would start with MSRPAC’s PAC Walk. It’s remarkable to see the community show up to make sure every dog gets out of their kennel for a two-mile morning walk. Next stop is coffee from Kraemer’s, then home to hang out with the fosters.
Do you call it the Galleria or Tyler Mall? The Mall.
If you could put one message on a billboard on the 91, what would it be? Be a pet’s hero—foster!
Finally, tell us what you’re working on right now and how our readers can support your efforts—whether it’s a project, passion, or cause close to your heart! There’s always a list of pets in need, just waiting for a foster to say “yes.” For the past few years, I’ve been sharing my foster journey on Instagram @TheFosterHotel. My goal is to offer tips, education, and help make fostering feel less intimidating. I may have gone all in with a dedicated nursery, but I always remind people: 15 years ago, I brought home my first fosters and thought, “What now?” We all start somewhere. If you want to make a difference in an animal’s life and have the heart to help, you can be a foster. Senior dogs, shy cats, kittens, puppies, medical cases, dogs that just need a kennel break—there’s something for everyone.
