Fostering

What is a Foster Parent?

A foster parent provides a temporary home for kittens, puppies, dogs, and cats in need. The length of fostering can vary from a few days to several months depending on the amount of care or behavioral modification that is needed. The devotion and care given during this time allows the animal a second chance to be adopted by a loving home.

Why are Foster Parents Needed?

Fostering is a challenging but very rewarding experience. Foster homes provide shelters with the valuable option of temporary homes to care for their animals. They bridge the gap and offer the crucial extra time and space needed to be able to prepare a shelter animal to be adopted into a forever home.

The rewards of being a foster parent are many. They include offering an animal a second chance and the added benefit of receiving the love and attention right back from the animal you nurture.

Temporary foster families are needed for a variety of reasons. The three most common reasons are:

Limited shelter space -
The number of animals received at a shelter is sometimes overwhelming and adequate housing is not available. Foster homes provide shelters with an additional option until a space becomes available.

Treatment and care after an illness or injury -
Foster parents provide sick and injured animals with the additional time, medication, and space they need to recover. This may include time to recover from emotional, fear, or stress based situations that the animal may have encountered in the past.

Extremely young animals -
Pregnant or young animals, such as kittens and puppies, which are not yet weaned, require special attention. Unweaned orphans require a serious commitment since they have special needs such as diet and frequent feeding schedules. One of the greatest rewards of nurturing these young animals is knowing that you are giving them a great start in life.

Without the additional time and care provided by temporary foster families, many of the animals that fall into the above three categories would be euthanized.

Family Preparation

How do you prepare for a foster animal?

Younger children should be introduced slowly to determine the compatibility with the new foster animal. It is recommended that an adult supervise all interactions between foster animals and young children. An important thing to prepare your family for is that fostering is temporary. Unless a foster family is fostering to see how a new pet will fit into their family, the foster animal will be leaving. Carefully preparing the areas that the foster animal will have access to can help reduce the potential for damage or destruction to your home.

Time and Space

If you have a family pet, it is recommended that you separate the living quarters of your pet and your new foster animal. This separation allows you time to observe your foster animal for any possible health or behavior issues. Additionally, it allows your new foster time to adjust to you and your family before meeting your pet. Time should be set aside to socialize and care for your new foster animal.

Supplies

Initial supplies should include the appropriate type of food, toys, housing space, newspapers, litter box and litter (if needed), and food and water bowls. A Second Chance Puppies and Kittens Rescue, Inc. will provide all necessary supplies, food and if need be, medicine.

Emergency Contacts

Make sure that you have the organization's telephone number and an emergency veterinarian telephone number handy at all times.

Fostering SAVES Lives!!

Anyone interested in becoming a part of our team can email us at foster@asecondchancerescue.org
Our Organization will provide food, crates, vet care, medicine, towels, and newspapers. All that you need to do is to provide love, safety and shelter until a loving forever home is found.