Foster Programs
Huntsville Animal Services (HAS) offers several types of foster home programs. Fostering is opening your home to a shelter pet for a multitude of reasons:
- To allow the kitten or puppy to mature to an adoptable age (Example: A 1 ½ pound 6-week-old kitten needs to be fostered for an average of 2 -3 weeks)
- Giving a spot for a mother cat to give birth and raise her babies
- Helping a dog recover from an orthopedic surgery
- Giving the provided oral medications once or twice a day to a dog or cat recovering from a sickness
- Hand-raising or bottle feeding orphaned kittens or puppies
- Socializing a puppy or dog
Most shelter pets require 2-3 weeks of fostering, but some pets (like a pregnant cat or dog) require a longer period of fostering.
To become a foster parent, complete an application. Fostering parties must be 21 years of age or older and provide proof of identification. If you lease/rent, landlord approval is required prior to fostering a pet.
FOSTER TO ADOPT
The most common foster home program is called Foster to Adopt. This program allows you a 14-day trial period with the dog and is for someone interested in adopting an adult dog, but would like to ‘test drive’ the dog at home. Although this is a very successful program, HAS warns owners that all new pets should be given at least 3 months to settle into a new home and new routine. Some pets like puppies, kittens, small dogs and others may not be eligible for this program.
SLEEP-OVER
The newest foster home program is called a Sleep-Over. This program allows the fostering party to take home a pet for 1 to 4 nights. Upon returning the pet to the shelter, the fostering party will complete a form sharing all the information collected about the pet during their visit including information such as: did the pet like other pets, housebroken, tolerates cats, likes children, etc. This program helps HAS develop a profile for the shelter pet.
FOSTER TO REHOME
Another foster program called the Foster to Rehome program is for sick pets, aged pets, and underaged puppies and kittens. Additionally, sometimes a fostering party takes care of the dog until it becomes adopted. These volunteers take appealing photos of the pet inside a home and along with a narrative about the pet’s personality are submitted to be posted on the HAS Facebook page.
RELATED LINKS: Adopt a Pet
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