Why Foster?
Providing foster homes for our animals increases their quality of life and their adoptability. When our animals are placed in foster homes they can live comfortably in a temporary home setting while waiting on their forever homes. Fostering also provides many other benefits to animals that need extra attention such as: animals being nursed by the mother or homes that can accommodate orphaned puppies and kittens, those that sick or injured animals, and nervous cats or dogs that need additional socialization.
Our foster program has several goals:
- To encourage behaviors in animals that will make them more adoptable.
- To observe an animal in a home setting and learn more about him/her.
- To increase an animal’s exposure to the public for adoptability.
- To provide socialization for the animal.
- To provide services for special needs animals.
- To alleviate overcrowding in the shelter.
- To provide an enriching and quality hands-on experience for volunteers
- To find forever homes for adoptable animals.
Qualifications to Foster
The qualifications to foster are fairly similar to qualifications to adopt a cat or dog. There is an application process you must complete and be approved for before you are able to foster your first animal.
- You must own your home or have landlord approval to foster for MAHS.
- You must be a resident of Marion County or reside in a county surrounding Marion County with a willingness to travel to Marion County veterinarians or to MAHS as needed.
- Everyone in the home must come in to meet the prospective foster before it can be taken home.
- When applying to foster a dog, any other dogs currently living in the home must come in for a meet and greet before the foster animal can be taken home.
- Any other animals in the home must be current on vaccines and be spayed/neutered.
- You must have the necessary time and transportation available to take the foster animal to adoption events, to meet with prospective adopters, and to be taken to and from veterinary appointments.
- If you are fostering a special needs animal, you must be familiar with behavioral training and/or administering medications to properly care for the animal’s needs.
Animals Eligible for Foster Care
- Any animal that has been at the shelter for longer than 30 days.
- Any animals that are pregnant, nursing, or any orphaned puppies/kittens.
- Any animals that are ill or injured.
- Any cat or dog that requires further socialization.
- Any animals that are going through court cases as a result of humane cases.
- Any other animal that is approved by management staff.
Any cat or dog can be a short-term or a long-term foster. When applying to foster please specify the type of animal you’d wish to foster, and the length of time you’re interested in fostering.
MAHS remains responsible for the animal while in foster care. If an animal gets sick, injured, or lost, MAHS needs to be notified immediately. MAHS is also responsible for any vaccinations, preventatives, or other necessary medical care needed while the animal is in the foster program, and it must be approved by management staff before taking the animal to be seen by a veterinarian.
Any necessities the foster family may need to care for the animal may be provided by MAHS if needed. These supplies may include bedding, crates, food, litter, bowls, etc.
