Fostering saves lives. Every animal placed in a foster home opens up shelter space for another animal in need — and gives a dog or cat the chance to decompress, grow, and thrive in a real home. Whether you have a few hours or a few months, there's a foster opportunity that fits your life.

Foster Opportunities

• Out for a Day
  This type of foster care involves taking a shelter dog out for the day, or a few hours during business hours, for a walk/hike, a treat, a visit to the pet store, or just hanging out in your home!
  
  
• Weekend Get Away
  This type of foster care involves taking a shelter dog home for the weekend to offer a chance to experience a home environment.
  
  
• Long Term Foster
  This type of foster home offers longer stays for dogs, usually until the dog is adopted. You must be open to scheduling with potential adopters and be able to come to the shelter for meet and greets for the dog. This option gives the shelter dog a chance to decompress and live in a home environment until adopted, which tends to help our dogs adjust easier to their adopted homes.
  
  
• Medical Foster
  This foster option is needed for animals that need medication administration, exercise restriction, close health monitoring, or other specific needs. These animals could be in recovery from heartworm treatment, broken limbs, surgery procedures, or need to gain weight. Humane Society of Catawba County covers all costs, but it helps to have the animal recover in a home! Length of time needed varies.
  
  
• Bottle Babies
  This option is needed for both kittens and puppies that are unweaned but don't have their mothers to care for them. These animals need caretakers that can dedicate to feedings and care every few hours. You do not have to be experienced, as we are happy to teach you how to care for neonates! The timeline for bottle babies can be anywhere from 2-8 weeks of care.
  
  
• Nursing Mom with Puppies
  Nursing mother dogs need a separate space dedicated to caring for their puppies away from other animals. Litter sizes vary, but once the puppies can be weaned, they can be split up among other foster homes if needed. Length of time needed varies.
  
  
• Nursing Mom with Kittens
  Nursing mother cats need a separate space dedicated to caring for their kittens away from other animals. Litter sizes vary, but we can help match up your needs with animals in need. Mother cats typically show their kittens the ropes, asking very little from the foster family! Length of time needed varies.
  
  
• Juvenile Puppies
  These puppies are typically ones eating and playing on their own, but need a safe space to grow until they are vaccinated and big enough for adoption. Time varies from 2 weeks to 4 weeks.
  
  
• Juvenile Kittens
  These kittens are typically ones eating and playing on their own, but need a safe space to grow until they are vaccinated and big enough for adoption. Time varies from 2 weeks to 8 weeks.

Foster Requirements

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Have current pets spayed/neutered
• Have current pets up-to-date on vaccinations
• Have appropriate space to house foster animals — separate from other pets in the home
• Flexibility to bring foster animals to Humane Society of Catawba County for routine vaccinations
• A complete understanding that ALL foster pets are the property of the Humane Society of Catawba County and must be returned to the shelter for medical care and adoption

Foster Responsibilities

• Provide a loving and nurturing environment for the foster animal(s)
• Feed, medicate, and groom the foster animals as instructed by Humane Society of Catawba County
• Isolate foster animals from family pets
• Observe and report any changes in behavior, health, or temperament to Humane Society of Catawba County
• Understand that all potential adopters must go through Humane Society of Catawba County adoption procedures

Foster Application