Foster Care Volunteers
Foster care volunteers provide temporary homes for the pets that come into our shelter. Some animals need a home for a short time, while others may require a longer stay. Foster pet parents help prepare the animal for adoption into a loving forever home. The more foster parents we have available, the more lives we can save!
Frequently Asked Questions
Foster homes serve many purposes in animal rescue. Some animals that come into the shelter need extra care before adoption. Foster homes allow these pets quieter settings in which they can recover from surgery or get used to human interaction. Foster homes allow us to care for pets that are difficult to care for within the shelter due to age, health or injury.
To become a pet foster parent, please fill out an application form.
Common foster pets include:
- Orphaned puppies and kittens that require bottle feeding every two to four hours
- Kittens, puppies and their mothers (until the kittens/puppies are eight weeks of age and two pounds)
- Animals recovering from treatable illnesses
- Underweight animals
- Animals in need of minor behavior modification or socialization
- Senior dogs and cats
To be a pet foster parent, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Home owner or renter
- Veterinary reference plus your family pets need to be up-to-date on healthcare and spayed/neutered
- Foster pets must be isolated from family pets for 10 days
- You need to be a member of HSoMC
For renters: Fees associated with pets in your rental will be covered by the renter. We will speak to the landlord to ensure pets are allowed in your rental.
Membership: Membership fees are waived for foster caregivers. After HSoMC has reviewed the foster application and ensures personal pets are up-to-date on veterinary care, you will be contacted by our foster coordinator.
The shelter provides all medical care for dogs and cats, including age-appropriate vaccines and parasite control. The shelter can also provide food and litter if needed.
Foster parents provide a safe and loving environment for foster pets. Other expectations include:
- Pets in your care will be socialized on a daily basis.
- Pets will be brought to the shelter for care and vaccines as needed.
- On occasion, you may need to bring your foster pet to the veterinarian if there is an injury or health issue. This can be scheduled by the shelter and needs to be discussed with the shelter beforehand; otherwise, veterinary costs are not covered.
- You will take photos and record animal biographies of their time with you. If you cannot take photos, we have volunteer photographers available.
The duration of a foster pet’s stay depends on why they need foster care. Pets usually stay in a foster home between two and twelve weeks.
The time table to becoming a foster parent varies throughout the year. You will be contacted by the shelter director or foster coordinator when a pet needs foster care. Foster families are matched with our pets for the best results, and you are under no obligation to take in foster pets if you do not feel the pet is a match.
Spring and summer are the busiest times of the year. During these seasons, we especially need foster homes for kittens and their mothers.
Good news! If you fall in love with your foster, you can adopt the pet as long as there is no adoption pending. Many foster families end up adopting their foster pets.
Do you have more questions? Contact us at volunteerhsomc@gmail.com.
