What is fostering
When you foster a shelter pet, you open your heart and home to an animal in need until he/she is able to find their forever home. Even if you don't have the ability to commit to a lifetime with a pet, you can temporarily house one and help them find their permanent family!
We can provide any necessary supplies, medical support, and help get the pet adopted from your home. Opening up a cage at the shelter allows us to help more pets in the community.
Who needs fostering?
We typically seek fosters for senior and/or medically needy pets, as well as mothers with nursing babies or orphaned kittens and puppies. But, opening up a cage at the shelter allows us to help more pets in the community and provides a stress relief for the pet, so pets that have been at the shelter a while, are a little stressed, or scared can always use foster care too!
Am I responsible for finding a home for my foster?
Fosters are not expected to find permanent homes for the pets in their care. However, it is very common (and encouraged) for fosters to share their pets on social media, we've seen so many adoptions happen this way!
If you wish, your contact information may be included in your foster pet's online listing so potential adopters can reach out directly to ask any questions they may have. Dog fosters are also encouraged to attend offsite adoption events to get their pets more exposure.
What kind of space will I need to have to foster?
Every situation is different. Many people keep foster pets in their own space/room, at least until the animal gets used to their new surroundings. Others give foster pets free reign of their home. Figure out what works best for you!
Small amounts of kittens can stay in a crate in the corner of the room and many cats/kittens can stay in a spare bathroom!
Can I be a foster even though I have other pets?
Absolutely! Make sure to let our foster coordinator know about your resident pets so we make sure any fosters you take in will be a good fit.
What are the benefits of fostering and why do we need fosters?
There are many great reasons to foster an SSHS pet, but here are just a few!
- Have an animal companion without the lifetime commitment.
- Help an animal recover from an illness/injury, with medical care covered by SSHS.
- Give extra TLC to puppies and kittens too young to be adopted.
- Foster homes help animals transition from the stress of living at the shelter.
- Many pets struggle with the stress of a shelter environment and need the added comfort of a foster home.