Pet Foster Parent Program

There are several possible reasons:

• Some animals don’t do well in a shelter environment because they are frightened or need a little extra care.
• Young animals that are too young for adoption or surgery are at risk of illness in a shelter and need to gain weight in a place with fewer animals.
• Pregnant and nursing moms and their unweaned babies need a quiet place to grow.
• Some animals need a safe place to sleep while their owners recover from an illness or injury.

Whatever the reason, these animals need some extra love and care before they can be adopted or returned to their owners experiencing hardships. 

If you want to do something to help the animals, fostering can be a flexible, fun, and rewarding volunteer job. Here’s why:

• It’s a great way to enjoy a pet if you are not in a position to make that lifetime commitment right now. Fostering can be an excellent option for college students or military families.
• Would you like to add a dog or cat to your household, but you’re not sure? Fostering can be a great way to find out.

Taking animals into your home, loving them, and then letting them go requires a special kind of person. Your role as a foster parent is to prepare the animal for the next step in its journey.

The specific needs of the animal will determine how much time is involved. Newborn orphaned puppies and kittens, for instance, must be fed every few hours. A frightened animal who needs socialization or training will also require some extra time. Shelter staff can work with you to determine what kinds of animals you’ll be best suited to foster. Some animals need a foster for as little as a week. Others may need care for eight weeks or more.

Some of the animals most in need of foster care are those that require a little extra help or some training. Shy cats often need time to learn to trust and the quiet of a home environment. Dogs often benefit from a little obedience training. If you familiarize yourself with some basic training techniques, you can be a big help in preparing your foster dog for a new home.
 
Just by getting to know the animal, you’ll help the shelter learn more about her personality and needs.

The shelter will provide foster parents with all the necessary food and medication. You will also sign a contract that explains:

1. who to call in the event of illness or injury, and
2. what steps to take in the event of an emergency.  

You’ll want to consider how the animals in your household will adjust to having a foster pet. Some animals do very well with a temporary friend and can help socialize the foster animal. Other pets have a harder time with new animals being added to or leaving the family.
 
For the safety of your pets and the foster animal, it’s important to keep your pets licensed and up-to-date on vaccinations. Any medical costs for your own animals are your responsibility. In many cases, the foster pet will need to be isolated from your own pets, either temporarily or throughout the foster period.