So you think you might want to be a foster parent for a homeless animal? It's easy! It's rewarding! It saves lives!
Thousands of animals who are too young or too sick to be adopted arrive at PAWS each year. Temporary foster care gives them a chance at life, something the shelter cannot offer. The need for foster care is great throughout the year, but it is particularly urgent during “kitten season,” April through September, when hundreds of cats and kittens can arrive at the shelter on any given day. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about fostering:
How can I help? What is it exactly?
Fostering gives animals a chance they may not have had otherwise. It gets them out of the shelter and into safe, loving, homes where they can grow or heal until they are ready for permanent adoption. Right now, our biggest need for foster care is for kittens under 2 lbs., the weight at which they can be sterilized. Without foster homes, these animals will not have the opportunity to grow and mature to an appropriate adoptive age (approximately 8 weeks, or 2 pounds). The only alternative to placing these little sweethearts in foster homes is euthanasia. Your help will literally save their lives. Other examples of animals who need foster care include those who are sick or injured, or those who simply need to get out of the shelter environment, either to create badly needed space for other homeless animals, or to relieve some of the stress and related behavioral issues they are experiencing.
How do I get started if I want to foster an animal?
It's easy! Just fill out the foster care application and you will be contacted shortly by a PAWS representative. Or, you can come to the adoption center (11 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week) and a PAWS staff person can help you find an animal who needs your kindness and suits your needs, abilities, and lifestyle. There are always animals at the shelter who need foster care.
How long do I keep my foster animals?
Length of stay generally ranges anywhere from 2-8 weeks depending on the needs of each individual animal.
I have animals of my own, how do I keep them safe?
All foster cats and kittens must be kept indoors. A small room that is separate from the rest of your living space, such as a bathroom, is the perfect place to keep them. That means that even if you have pets of your own, you can still take in kittens and give them the chance they deserve. Sick or injured animals may or may not need to be kept separate from other pets in the house; a PAWS staffperson can tell you about animals' specific needs.
What do I have to provide?
Foster parents are responsible for providing the basics: food, water, a litter box, litter, bedding and toys. Daily care required for foster kittens depends on their age. PAWS provides evaluation and treatment for conditions we are able to treat. If a foster animal has a condition we are unable to treat, the foster parent may choose to have the condition treated at a private veterinary practice at their own expense or they may return the animal to our shelter.
Do I have to foster a mom with kittens? Can I just foster kittens? Could I foster a dog?
You can foster any animal in need. Kittens are sometimes with their mom, and sometimes they are orphaned. Litters come in all sizes, but even if you can only foster two kittens, you will be making a tremendous difference. We also have many dogs at the shelter who could benefit from being in a foster home for a variety of reasons -- socialization issues, injury, age, weight, etc. A temporary foster home provides a dog with the attention, safety and love they need until they can find a forever family.
I don't drive but would like to foster, can I still help?
If you don't have any transportation, let us know! We have extremely dedicated volunteers who are willing to assist with transport, depending on the area and their availability.
I don't know very much about cats, do you have any information to give foster parents?
We have a starter packet to send home with new foster parents. It discusses in detail what you will need and what to do, and also provides information on the developmental stages of the animal.
I may not be ready to foster. Is there anything else I can do?
Absolutely! We have many volunteer opportunites for individuals eager to help homeless animals. Click here to complete our volunteer application, and you will be contacted promptly with information on how to get started.
I'm ready! Take me to the Foster Care Application!
Additional PAWS Foster Program materials:
