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FOSTER PARENTS NEEDED Why do we need foster homes? The shelter is just not big enough to keep certain animals for weeks at a time. Getting the animals into a foster situation is the best way to insure they get individual care and socialization in a lower-stress environment. What kinds of animals need fostering? The situations are varied, but rest assured, you’ll never have to foster an animal you aren’t comfortable with. Underage kittens and puppies not yet ready for adoption: Underage animals need a place to fatten up and stay healthy until they are old enough for adoption. They are usually eating on their own and range from a single kitten/puppy to a litter. We do occasionally have foster kittens and puppies who need bottle feeding, but there is no requirement to foster a bottle baby. Mama cats and dogs with a litter: If the babies are very young and have a mom, you need only make sure mom has plenty of fresh water and food and that the litter box or kennel is clean. More time is required when they are older and moving around - - extra food and water and cleaning the box or kennel more frequently. They also need extra time getting “socialized.” Dogs needing behavior modification: We have dogs who are just a little too shy to be made available for adoption right away and need some time in a less stressful home environment where they can be exposed to new people and situations and gain confidence. We also have dogs needing basic obedience training. Socialization or training in foster care will help ensure they make a good companion for a prospective adopter and that their adoption is a permanent one. Animals needing medical recovery: These can be ill animals, usually cats with URI or dogs with kennel cough. We also take in animals who have injuries requiring recuperation outside the shelter. Fostering sick or injured animals may require foster providers to administer medications, and at times, subcutaneous fluids (it's easy- we’ll show you!) Those who have been here for a while and need a break – or we need to free up kennel space: There are instances when the animal has been here for a while and is getting overlooked by adopters and would benefit from a break from the shelter. This break relieves stress which helps keep them mentally/emotionally sound. There is also a need to get long-timers into foster in order to free up cage space. In these instances, getting an animal out to foster can make the all the difference. Other species: While most of the animals that we send out to foster are cats and dogs, we do need homes for other types of animals. These can include rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, birds or other pets. These animals can need fostering due to health issues, space, behavior or because they have babies. What type of space do I need at home? Generally, a spare bedroom, bathroom, laundry room or even space in a temperature-controlled garage (secure from toxins) will do. What type of commitment do you need from me? Fostering can last from as little as 1 week to as many as a couple months: 3-4 weeks is average. How much will it cost to foster? The shelter will provide bedding, crate, litter pan, food dishes, or medication (if necessary) for the animals for the duration of their stay. An initial supply of food and/or litter is available, if needed. The shelter may be able to continue to supply food and litter if the resources are available. You cover incidental expenses while the animals are in your care (food, toys, litter, etc.). The amount will depend on the types of animals you foster and the amount of time they spend in your care. What if the animals I foster get sick? Should one of your fostered animals get injured or become sick, please notify the shelter immediately. All veterinary treatment must be arranged through the shelter. Can my pets get sick from an animal I foster? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is yes. The animals we send out for fostering are almost all strays with unknown health histories. Depending on their age and health, they may have received vaccines at the shelter, but it takes a while for the vaccines to kick in. To lower the risk to your own pets, it is advisable to keep your fostered animals separated from your personal pets and talk to your vet about your pets’ vaccinations. Fostering can be highly rewarding… …and a lot of fun. There are times however, that it can be heartbreaking. No matter how hard we try, the entire litter may come down with an illness. Sadly, we may not be able to pull them through. Other animals may develop behavior issues which make them un-adoptable and may have to be euthanized. It is never easy to prepare yourself for these situations; however, you need to be aware and be able to concede to the decisions of shelter staff. What are the terms of fostering? The official foster parent has to be an adult (18+ years old). All foster homes sign an agreement asking you to Allow us to inspect your home; Agree to surrender the fostered animals to shelter staff when asked; Provide a room away from your animals; Accept that fostered animals may cause damage or injury, which is your responsibility; Keep the foster animal(s) in your possession for the duration of their foster care. What are the steps to becoming a foster home? Attend a volunteer orientation. You may either attend a general volunteer orientation or a foster home specific orientation. General volunteer orientations last about 1.5hours and cover basic information about Animal Services and volunteering. Fostering orientations last around 30 minutes and focus on fostering. Dates and times of upcoming orientations are posted at www.jointanimalservices.org/orientation.htm. If after the orientation you feel that fostering would be a good fit for you, you may submit a volunteer application. (Applications are handed out at the volunteer orientations.) It takes a couple weeks to process your application and background check. Then we will call you to schedule a home check to see where the foster animals will be staying while in your care. How do I find out more about the program? If you have questions about any part of the foster program, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 360-352-2510, ext. 1009 or volunteer@jointanimalservices.org.
