Sometimes, man’s best friend needs a new friend and a temporary place to call home.
Since 2017, Clare’s House has been a lifeline for dog owners in the Greater St. Louis area who need someone to care for a furry family member.
The High Ridge-based nonprofit offers several programs including temporary foster care, Golden Leash dog walking and Clare’s House Cares Funds, which provide medical attention and dog grooming on a case-by-case basis.
Terry Economos, 66, of High Ridge, is the founder of Clare’s House.
She said the idea for Clare’s House came after her mother’s death in 2009.
“Clare was my mother…it was actually at my mom’s funeral, my Uncle Norm said, ‘I want to get a pet, but I don’t know who’s going to take care of it if something happens to me,’ and I thought, ‘Wow, that’s gotta be something that’s real.’”
It wasn’t until Economos began planning her retirement from her job as a hotel general manager in 2017 that she picked up the idea again.
“We were involved with the Second Chance Ranch, but that wasn’t really our mission,” she said. “Our mission was to always get the dogs back to the families so that if they were to have a medical hurdle they would be able to have someone take care of and foster their dog while they’re going through it, so they didn’t have to surrender them and they didn’t have to pay for kenneling. And if they didn’t have any family members, we would be the answer for them.”
Clare’s House purchased a home in Valley Park for dog fostering in 2024.
Economos said Clare’s House’s services are free of charge and are entirely supported by volunteers and donations.
She said the organization serves Jefferson, St. Louis and St. Charles counties as well as St. Louis City.
Life changing
John Parker, 65, of High Ridge said his experience with Clare’s House has been “life changing.”
“Several years ago, I agreed to foster a dog named Paco through Clare’s House while his owner was receiving care at a VA hospital,” he said. “The hope was that his owner would recover and be reunited with him. Sadly, that reunion never happened. Paco’s owner passed away, and Paco became part of my family.”
After Paco died, Parker found himself drawn back to Clare’s House and began fostering a dog named Minnie.
“What was intended to be another foster situation quickly became something much more. Minnie has turned out to be a wonderful dog and companion, bringing joy, comfort and laughter into my life every day.”
Parker, a special-education teacher at Rockwood Middle School, said he has spent his career helping people reach their potential.
“Clare’s House does the same for animals,” he said. “They provide hope, compassion and second chances — not only for dogs … but also for the people whose lives are enriched by them.
“Without Clare’s House, I would never have had the privilege of knowing Paco, and I might never have met Minnie. For that, I will always be grateful. Their work creates connections that last a lifetime, and I am living proof of the difference they make.”
Visit clareshousestl.org for more information.