Felicia Tapia lets the two puppies tug at her ears, nip at her fingers and lick her face as much as they want. Eventually the tan-colored pup finds a snug place on her lap and falls fast asleep.

It's all in a day's work for Felicia, 14. As a longtime foster parent with the Santa Fe animal shelter, Felicia has helped more than 100 puppies and kittens find their way to someone else's heart. She and her parents, David Tapia and Caroline Lajoie, provide the young ones with a safe environment, needed socialization and a solid beginning.

As one of about 40 active foster volunteers with the shelter, Felicia plays an important role in helping animals find their footing, said Kelly Moore, coordinator of the shelter's New Hope program, which includes finding foster families.

"We want to give our animals as many options as possible," Moore said. "Foster families help make animals more adoptable in that they have a safe, loving environment out of the elements. That's really important."

Moore, a former shelter volunteer coordinator who returned to take on the New Hope program, hopes to build a corps of foster volunteers and form solid alliances with animal-welfare groups to help even more animals find homes.

Last year, more than 521 animals made it into the shelter's foster system. Many were young puppies and kittens that no longer had their mothers; others needed a home away from the shelter for healing from surgery or other veterinary reasons; some older animals needed hospice care; and still others needed a guiding hand to smooth out behavior issues or simply a break from the shelter.

Volunteers are especially critical now during the onslaught of young critters during puppy and kitten season. That's an easy call for Felicia, who has been fostering litters and individual critters since she was about 3.

"Puppy" might not have been Felicia's first word, but it was pretty close, said her mother. "She would always be saying, 'Puppy, oh, puppy,' But dogs need a 15-year commitment, so it was worthwhile to go to fostering."

Felicia also gets help with the kittens and puppies from the family dog, Canelle. The Springer spaniel is getting up there in age at 13, but remains a good role model for the foster animals, Lajoie said.

"She's a real trooper," Felicia said. "She doesn't mind kittens, even if they pull at her."

The family usually cares for the new arrivals for at least six weeks, sometimes longer. Once the family cared for a litter of nine puppies, and one all-white deaf puppy — Polar — stayed under their care for almost five months.

Dogs like Polar tug at the heartstrings, Lajoie said. But it's not possible to keep them all.

"We don't know where they go or how much love they'll get out after this," Lajoie said, "but we give them the best start we can so they can have fun after."

The fear of falling deeply in love with an animal does stop some people from fostering, Moore said. But most people understand they'll have the opportunity to help as many animals as possible.

Julie Luetzelschwab started fostering dogs in Utah in November 2001, shortly before moving to Santa Fe. At that time, she had one dog of her own and figured she had room for another.

"I wanted to do something for rescues, but I didn't know what," she said. "It was hard to make time to walk dogs or volunteer during the day and fostering was a way to help but on my own schedule."

Luetzelschwab, who takes in dogs from both area animal shelters and other animal-welfare groups, is now on her 53rd foster, Sabina, a Doberman pinscher from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. Sabina wasn't doing well in the shelter environment, but has become a completely different animal since becoming a part of her home.

"I try to look at the big picture," she said. "Fostering opens up a space at the shelter and gives the dog an extra chance. Some of them have been in confined places for long times and lack confidence. To see transition from nervous and sad to happy and confident — to see that transition — is very inspiring."

Luetzelschwab keeps a scrapbook of all her foster dogs. She also keeps in touch with several of the people who have adopted her foster dogs. Many even send her Christmas cards of the dogs.

Fostering animals, especially puppies and kittens, isn't always easy, Lajoie said. It's important to "puppy-proof" a home and be prepared for a lot of cleaning.

Health issues can also crop up with young animals. One puppy from a litter of five contracted parvo, a highly contagious and potentially deadly virus.

The puppy was rushed to a clinic and the family began sanitizing the house. The puppy survived and returned to the home about three weeks later.

The unknowns of fostering is one reason Moore has created a 24-hour support system and is working on building a mentoring program with seasoned volunteers. It's come in handy.

"The first weekend I started I was texting all night with a woman whose kitten had nonstop diarrhea," Moore said. "By the next morning we had the issue resolved. Fostering can be hard work, but it is worthwhile."

Moore, who makes home-visits to potential foster families, is careful to match the right animal with the right person. She hopes to build her volunteer base with people who want to stay committed to the program, something she sees as making a difference.

"I love how uplifting it is to help animals," she said. "It's makes a difference in my day. I have a purpose, a good purpose, in helping to find more resources for animals."

Felicia agrees. "I love puppies and kittens," she said. "I like doing homework and having puppies and kittens on me. They are always cute and they just make you happy."

BECOME A FOSTER PARENT

Those interested in learning more about the New Hope program may call Moore at 983-4309, ext. 270 or email foster@sfhumanesociety.org; or fill out a foster application online at the Santa Fe animal shelter website, www.sfhumanesociety.org.