Monday, April 27, 2009
FOSTER HOMES NEEDED!
Paw Pals is always looking for new families to foster our great animals! If you think you could help us by fostering a dog or cat, please contact Beverly at ploughe@geetel.net . Beverly would be happy to send you a foster application. All it takes is a little patience and a little love.
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3 comments:
Hi Lisa,
I've always wondered what goes into fostering a dog or cat. Wanted to suggest this be a topic for a future post. Wondered about what tends to be the average length of time a dog or cat is in foster (I realize that varies, but didn't know if there was a tendency for a certain length of time). What is it like to deal with interested people - does the phone ring off the hook/e-mail inbox fill up? Do you have to adopt the animal out to the first person who wants it, or is there some screening involved? What happens if a foster animal you take in is stressed out by (or doesn't get along with) existing animals in your home? What costs does the foster home cover? Is there a home visit requirement to be approved for a foster home and what requirements need to be in place to be able to foster? I've always thought I'd like to foster an animal, but don't know enough about it to raise my hand and volunteer for it!
Kendra
Hi Kendra,
No, unfortunately the emails and phone inquiries aren't numerous for our foster dogs. The commitment of fostering a dog can take as little as a week or as long as six months. To become a foster parent, there is an application involved which is approved after making a vet check with the applicants current pets and a home visit. If the foster family has pets that aren't spayed/neutered or up-to-date on shots, they are denied. Usually Paw Pals pays for the dogs or cats to be vet checked prior to going to the foster home. This includes being spayed/neutered, heartworm checks for dogs, and Felv/FIV checks for cats, and a fecal check and rabies shot. The foster home is required to provide food for the fostered pet. If additional vet care is needed, it must be approved by Paw Pals before going to the vet. Yes, there is some screening involved. When you become a foster parent, you have some say in helping us screen for potential adopters. Of course, we wouldn't want a dog to go to an outside home after we have time and energy housetraining a dog.
We do try to match the dog or cat with a compatible foster home. We won't intentionally put an animal in foster care that we know doesn't get along with other animals. If the dog doesn't like cats, we place it in a home with no felines, etc. We do ask that the foster home has a place to separate the animal if needed. We also strongly recommend crate training. If the foster home doesn't have a crate, the shelter will lend one to the foster family.
I hope this answers your questions.
Thanks for the inquiry,
Lisa
Very well explained, Lisa! Hopefully, more people will be interested in helping with this very important program. Fostering literally saves lives. Not only does it help a pet that may need a little training or healing time before it can find a home, but it also opens up a space for one more pet at our shelter. If any of you think you qualify and are up to the commitment, please seriously consider it. Fostering can have ups and downs, but nothing is more rewarding than getting a picture and a happy letter from someone that has adopted your foster pet. It makes it all worthwhile.
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