Foster Care Program
Here are some of the most common reasons for animals to be selected
for fostering.
Puppies and kittens that are less than eight weeks old and/or under
two pounds, are not old enough for our adoption program.
The dog and cat habitats in the shelter are full. When space is available,
foster animals come back to the shelter to be placed up for adoption.
An animal may need treatment or special care for mending wounds, broken
limbs, etc.
How the Foster Program Works
- The Austin Humane Society receives an animal that for some reason
can't be immediately placed up for adoption. Our clinic staff will
evaluate each animal to determine their individual care requirements.
- Foster homes are called. The first willing foster home will be
given a time set up by our Foster Care Coordinator to come in and
pick up the animal(s) and all available information and supplies.
Additional supplies are the foster parent's responsibility.
- The animal(s) go to the foster home until they are ready for
adoption. You may need to bring the animals back to the shelter periodically
for checkups.
- The animal(s) are returned to the Austin Humane Society and placed
up for adoption.
Becoming a Foster Volunteer:
To become a foster volunteer, you must first attend a Volunteer Orientation.
Please check our volunteer
information page for scheduled orientation dates. Orientations
are held to explain our programs and goals. They also allow you
to meet our staff, ask questions, and hopefully leave with a better
understanding of what your Austin Humane Society provides to the
community.
Things to Consider
There are a number of things you should consider and discuss with
the rest of your family prior to fostering:
Will you have time to spend with your foster animals? Most
of the animals needing foster care will be in great need of quality
time and handling. You should spend one to two hours a day minimum
with each animal. Socializing is very important. The more time
spent with your foster animals, the better the chance for a successful
and permanent adoption.
Do you own animals? Keeping your foster animals isolated from
your companion animals is a good practice. Even if your animals
are up-to-date on vaccinations, it is not a 100% guarantee that they
are immune to everything. We do our best to inform you of any known
potential problems, but there will always be some degree of uncertainty.
Keeping your foster animals in a separate room that has no carpet
works best. However, we ask that you do not use garages or patios.
The temperature may fluctuate too radically and could lead to health
problems for your foster animals.
Do you have time to clean up after your foster animals? Young animals
are usually busy doing one of four things: eating, sleeping, playing,
peeing/pooping.
Will you be emotionally prepared to return the animals back to the
Ausitn Humane Society after the foster period is up? For some,
this is the hardest thing to do. It's easy to become very attached
to your foster animals. The first few times, letting go can be emotionally
draining, but it does get easier. Just remember these animals
are much more likely to find a loving, permanent home because of
your efforts.
If you feel you are ready to become a foster parent, please attend
a volunteer
orientation. |
