Foster Care
Foster Care Volunteers
Saving Grace cares for thousands of pets each year, and many receive needed care in volunteer foster homes.
Foster Volunteers Provide Essential Help
Foster volunteers temporarily care for one or more shelter pets in their own homes until the pet(s) are ready for adoption. Often, these pets are too young to be placed in the shelter or have special needs that require a nurturing home environment. Foster parents provide a clean, safe, loving environment for homeless pets and help them prepare to find a new forever home After receiving foster care, these pets are healthier and happier, which means they are well prepared to be adopted by a loving family.
Types of Animals Fostered
Animals who are not ready for adoption for any reason are candidates for foster care. As a foster parent, you may give a mother cat and her kittens a place to live until the kittens are old enough for the entire family to return to the shelter for adoption. You could care for a cat with an upper respiratory infection until he feels better, or help rehabilitate a dog with a broken leg that is healing. You might also foster animals that need socialization and are not thriving in the shelter environment. Saving Grace provides foster care only for shelter animals, not for privately owned pets.
Time Commitment
Foster stays may be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks or more. Foster animals are matched with foster parents based on the individual needs of the pet and the experience, preference and availability of foster parents. Saving Grace fosters year-round, but the greatest need is May through October, during “kitten season.”
Other Considerations
Because most foster animals have limited immunity, it is best to keep them physically separated from your own pets (preferably in a different room). When outside, puppies and dogs must be supervised in an enclosed yard or on a leash. Kittens and cats must be kept indoors at all times.
Foster Volunteer Application
To become a foster parent you must be at least 18 years of age, pass a standard criminal background check, and complete a foster volunteer application. Once your completed application has been received you will be contacted to sign-up for an orientation.
