Volunteer

Homeward Pet’s foster care families provide temporary, in-home care to animals for a variety of reasons, including puppies needing extra socialization, young kittens needing to grow big enough for adoption, a dog recovering from surgery or a cat recovering from an illness. Foster care can range from a two-day “kennel break” for a dog to a cat needing long-term hospice. Every placement is subject to the foster family’s approval and availability.

Foster care is important for many reasons: foster care can provide shy or fearful animals a lower-stress environment; animals recovering from surgery get a quiet place to rest and rehabilitate; animals can get help with behavior and training; previously homeless animals can learn how to be part of a family; and sometimes there just isn’t enough space at the shelter to care for all the animals that need our help. Plus, we get great feedback from our foster families about each animal they care for, which helps us make a better match with an adopter.

If you’re interested in becoming a Homeward Pet volunteer foster family, please fill out our Volunteer Application. After reviewing your application, you’ll be invited to attend our online Volunteer Orientation and foster care training.

Anyone who has the room, is physically able, and is willing to devote the time and energy required to care for a foster animal. The primary foster caretaker must be at least 18 years of age. You must be allowed to have animals in your home, be within reasonable driving distance, and be able to transport a foster animal to and from the shelter.

As an organization that advocates spaying and neutering to help prevent pet homelessness, the pets of foster care volunteers should be spayed or neutered.

Fostering is also a great way for families to become involved, especially those with children too young to become Homeward Pet volunteers. We always try to make the best match between the foster family and the animal needing in-home care, taking into account experience, size, age, etc. You do not need previous pet experience.

The time commitment varies with each animal placed into foster care. Some of our dogs may only need a short break, and very young kittens may need to be in foster care for 2 months before they’re big enough to return to the shelter for adoption. Occasionally, we might be seeking long-term hospice care for one of our animals. Every placement is subject to the foster family’s approval and availability.

Once you’ve attended orientation and completed the online foster care training you will receive access to our pending foster board that has details about all of the animals that are currently in need of foster care. When you see an animal that you feel would be a good fit for your home and lifestyle, you will email foster staff. Foster staff will coordinate with Intake staff in regards to when that animal is coming to the shelter, and also with Clinic staff in regards to when the animal will be cleared to go to foster. Foster staff will then contact you directly to discuss that animal’s needs and coordinate their stay with you.

Yes! Foster parents almost always have the first choice when it comes to adopting their foster pet, but must meet all of Homeward Pet’s adoption guidelines and complete our adoption process.

If a foster family is able to provide basic supplies – like food, dishes, litter pans and litter, bedding and toys – that saves resources that we can put towards the care of other homeless animals. However, Homeward Pet can provide supplies for fostered animals, and in certain cases it will be necessary for Homeward Pet to supply special diets, crates, harnesses, medicine or equipment unique to a specific animal’s foster care. All veterinary care for the foster animal will be provided by the Homeward Pet vet staff, including vaccines, deworming, flea control, spay and neuter surgeries, testing and medications.

All animals receive a medical exam from our staff veterinarian before being placed into foster care. However, there is always a health risk when exposing your pet to other animals. It is recommended that your pets are current on their vaccinations, maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, and are free from parasites to minimize the risk of contagious disease.

Foster kittens, cats, puppies and potentially contagious adult dogs should be kept separate from your pets. You should discuss the risk with your veterinarian. Homeward Pet cannot treat your resident pets, and if your pet becomes ill from contact with a foster animal you will need to pursue vet treatment for your personal pet at your own expense.

First, fostering is a family endeavor. Make sure that everyone in the family is ready for the responsibility of providing temporary care for an animal in need, including being mentally prepared. For some family members, especially children, it may difficult to return the pet to the shelter for adoption.

Second, decide where your foster animal will reside. Cats and kittens should be kept in a separate room from your pets and must be kept indoors at all times. Very young puppies should also be kept separate from your pets, in a room or indoor pen. Adult dogs and older puppies can socialize with resident dogs, under your supervision and after a proper introduction, but should have a place—a room or crate—where they be separated from other animals in the home, if needed. Make sure these spaces are dog- and cat-proofed.