Pet OverPopulation Prevention provides care for hundreds of animals each year, some of which require time in foster care before they are ready to be adopted. Fostering a homeless pet is both a rewarding and enriching experience; it is also great for families or individuals who love animals but cannot commit to having a full-time companion animal.
Why Does Pet OverPopulation Prevention Need Foster Homes?
Pet OverPopulation is not a shelter but an organization that helps pets find their forever homes by way of fostering. Foster homes are asked to provide foster animals with plenty of love, adequate food and water, shelter from the elements and exercise. Administering medication may also be necessary. In addition to providing the basics, foster homes may also be asked to transport foster animals to veterinary appointments, grooming and adoption events.
Foster homes play a crucial role in rehabilitating rescued and abandoned animals by helping them to learn how to love and trust again. Foster homes can help these animals become more “adoptable” by providing socialization and basic training. By teaching or re-teaching an animal how to live in a home setting, foster homes help increase the rate of permanent adoption.
What Are the Requirements for Becoming A Foster Home?
The only general requirements are that you love animals and have the time and resources to provide a foster animal with adequate care. Other requirements will vary depending upon the specific needs of a given foster animal. Some animals, for example, will need fenced yards, extra time commitments (as is the case with orphaned newborns), isolation from personal pets, etc…
Foster homes are required to follow all policies and procedures regarding humane housing and care, administering medication, and proper adoption procedures, including:
What Kind of Animals Need Foster Care?
Animals needing foster care include cats and dogs. Foster homes are needed for adults, babies, moms with newborns, and orphaned newborns. Foster homes are also needed for animals who are ill and / or need medical care. Many foster homes choose to specialize in fostering a specific type of animal, while others choose to foster whatever animal is in need. Dogs usually need help with basic training and sometimes need a refresher course in house-training. All foster animals will need plenty of love and reassurance that humans are not to be feared.
How Long Do Animals Spend in Foster Care?
The time an animal needs to spend in foster care ranges from a few nights to several weeks – on occasion several months. Any time commitment a foster home can make is desperately needed and appreciated. Foster animals, especially puppies and kittens, can be very time-consuming and demanding. “Socialization” not only includes feeding / watering, but also play, cuddle and grooming time. The time commitment varies depending upon each animal’s situation.
How Do Foster Animals Find Permanent Adoptive Homes?
Pet OverPopulation Prevention takes full responsibility for finding permanent adoptive homes for foster animals. Foster homes are encouraged to let people know that their foster animals are available for adoption, but any person interested in adopting an animal needs to contact the POPP to complete the adoption procedure. Foster homes are asked to complete the Personality Profile for each animal in their care. The Personality Profile provides POPP with valuable information regarding your foster animal and will ultimately assist in finding a permanent adoptive home.
Benefits of fostering:
• Help end animal cruelty and find homes for animals
• Work in a partnership with other pet enthusiasts
• Yearly appreciation events
• Increasing knowledge of animal behaviors
Responsibilities as a foster:
• Provide basic needs and appropriate care for animals
• Assist with the mental and physical growth of an animal
• Teach an animal basic commands and how to be a loving and well-behaved pet
• Follow the guidelines of the YHS Foster Program
Requirements to foster:
• Be at least 18 years old
• Own your home or have your landlords approval to foster
• Submit a Foster Application: Canine Foster Application, Feline Foster Application
• Schedule and attend a Foster Training
The care that dedicated Foster Care Families provide is invaluable, both to the animals fostered and the people that adopt them. You can foster as much or as little as you like, and we need foster homes for a wide variety of animals – kittens, puppies, cats, dogs and an occasional small & furry animal!
All you need is a spare room, some spare time, and a love for animals. We provide all the supplies, any necessary medications and trainers (if needed).