Often the shelter receives special animals that, due to health, pregnancy, socialization issues, or even depression or inability to cope with the kennel environment, need special care or attention that can only be provided in a home setting. Depending on the animal's situation, going into a foster home for a few weeks to a few months can mean the world to a special animal. As a foster home, you provide the animal with love, attention, and any required special care. The shelter will make arrangements for any necessary medical treatment, and we will work with you to meet any other special needs. Once the foster period is complete, the animal can be returned to the shelter or may be placed immediately in an adopter's home.
A "foster to adopt" situation is one in which we will send an animal into a home without performing an adoption until any special issues are addressed or a "trial period" has been completed. For example, if a dog is being treated for heartworm, we will place the animal in a foster-to-adopt situation until we have verified the treatment is successful. A "trial period" may be required if the animal has known socialization issues or needs additional evaluation that can only be performed in a home setting. Once these issues are addressed or the trial period is over, the foster home would either proceed with the adoption or return the animal to the shelter. In a straight foster situation, the foster home merely cares for the animal until time to return to the shelter or move to a permanent home. Please note that we will only allow a foster situation when it is in the best interests of the animal. Being moved from home to home can create a very stressful situation for the animal, and we will only place the animal in a home that is not expected to be permanent when the benefits to the particular animal outweigh the negative impact. For this reason, a healthy, happy, well-adjusted and readily adoptable animal who has adapted to the kennel situation at the shelter and is not at higher risk for medical or other reasons will most likely not be placed in a foster home.
Would you like to be a foster home? Click here for our foster application and questionnaire.
This page was updated 03/13/2007 . Please stop back because content changes as new information or photos are received.
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Cats |
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2/20/06
Kitten Season
Every year it is the same story - spring comes and brings with it warmer weather, green grass, and longer days. For the shelter it brings something else without fail--kittens. And every year the resources of the shelter and the time and energy of our staff and volunteers are pushed to their limits as we see our cat population increase exponentially in just a short period of time. We start with the pregnant cats -- the strays living on the streets who have never known human kindness; the abandoned cats who once had a home, but now find themselves outside, dumped on a farm or rural street; the family pets, once loved, who were not spayed, and simply became too much trouble. A pregnant cat coming in to the shelter is dealing with an overwhelming number of new sights and sounds. Being confined to a cage is difficult at best for a cat accustomed to freedom. Being handled by humans is a tremendous stress if the cat has had little interaction with people, or worse yet, has met with pain at the hands of humans. This stress can lead to premature delivery, sickness, or a generally weakened immune system. With new cats coming in to the shelter each and every day, many ill themselves, pregnant and nursing moms are at high risk of exposure to even more sickness. And since kittens are born without immune systems of their own, they are at an even higher risk for illness. The kittens need handling and socialization from a young age if they are going to love and trust in people. While our staff and volunteers do the best they can to give each and every one of these cats and kittens the love and attention they deserve, and as stress-free an environment as possible, when the cat population jumps to 200, 300, or more, there is only so much we can do.
In addition come the litters of kittens--the little ones orphaned when mom disappeared or was hit by a car; the offspring of the family pet that turn out to be harder to place than expected; the offspring of the young cat who was born to a neighborhood stray during last kitten season, who is now a mother herself. She may be young and unprepared for caring for a litter. In addition, poor nutrition through her short life may mean that mom is not healthy enough or does not have sufficient milk to care for her babies. Intervention may be required to give her kittens a chance.
That is why foster homes are so important. Giving a pregnant or nursing mom a calm, safe environment where she can care for her kittens leads to less stress and a better immune system. Giving the kittens a chance to experience a home setting and human handling from the first can make adapting to a permanent home just a little easier. In the case of orphaned kittens, a home with people who are willing to bottle-feed and provide the care the kittens need can be the difference between life and death. Allowing time for vaccinations to take effect before exposing moms and/or kittens to other cats greatly reduces the risk of illness.
Important update 2/20/06: Thanks in part to the mild winter, kitten season is starting earlier than ever, and we have already received two known pregnant cats. One cat has been placed in foster care already, while the other is being evaluated and treated for medical issues before she is ready to go to a foster home. Our foster home space is very limited and additional foster homes will be desperately needed once our regular foster homes fill up.
start early this year, and that our regular foster homes will quickly fill. If you think you might be interested in helping a litter this spring or summer, submit a foster application or email fosters@lakelandanimalshelter.org to set up an informational interview.
Dogs |
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03/13/2007
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If you would like more information on helping one of these animals by providing a foster home, please call the shelter or email us at fosters@lakelandanimalshelter.org
You can apply online to become a foster home here.
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