Foster Parent Program

Fostering animals is an especially rewarding way to volunteer. Foster families usually take in litters of puppies and kittens for anywhere from 2-10 weeks, depending on how young the babies are when they arrive at the shelter. The Stevens-Swan Humane Society also houses adult dogs and cats that have been neglected, are ill or are poorly socialized and frightened of humans. These animals need dedicated foster families to provide them with a secure environment and socialization with the hope that they will become good adoption candidates. The foster family provides food and other basic necessities to the animals. We ask that these volunteers commit to caring for 3 (three) foster units per year.

While in foster care, the animals are still officially residents of Stevens-Swan, and will return to the shelter for scheduled veterinary exams and spay/neuter surgery. It is not uncommon for a foster family to fall in love with a special pet, and foster parents are eligible to adopt under our adoption guidelines.

The most common misconception about a foster program is that it is a “trial period” for an adoptable pet. We do not send out animals for trial periods as we believe an adopter must be ready to commit to pet ownership wholeheartedly. Very aggressive animals are not candidates for fostering, as they can pose a serious risk to the humans and pets in the foster home.

In order to become a foster parent, you must first fill out an application at SSHS. This application is reviewed by staff, and the foster family is contacted when at-risk animals come into the shelter. Individuals with unaltered pets and those whose pets are not current on veterinary care are not eligible to foster. If you are interested in fostering, we strongly recommend that you talk to your veterinarian about any additional vaccinations or precautions you should take – remember, most animals coming into the shelter have unknown medical histories and it is important to protect your household companions while you are fostering!

While you are fostering, the shelter animals in your care may become ill; again, this is because most have never received veterinary care and is only rarely a result of something that occurred in the foster home. The SSHS veterinary team will address any illness in your foster animals; this may involve keeping the animal for observation, or teaching you how to administer medication.

Adoption time can be emotionally difficult for foster families. It is important to remember that Stevens-Swan screens potential adopters carefully to ensure that our pets get into good homes where they will truly be part of the family. Foster families often write biographies about each foster pet for their new families. These include the pet’s favorite toys, games, feeding and “potty” schedules, as well as favorite places to be petted and the type of food and litter the pet is used to.

If you are interested in fostering, please feel free to visit the shelter, or call us at 738-4357.