Foster Parent TrainingFoster Parent Training

Is This Right for You?Is This Right for You? Are you able to get to Are you able to get to

the shelter quickly to:the shelter quickly to:– Pick up an animal?Pick up an animal?– Bring it in for care?Bring it in for care?– Pick up supplies, food, Pick up supplies, food,

medication?medication?

Are you prepared to:Are you prepared to:– Commit spending time Commit spending time

with the animal, about 2 with the animal, about 2 hours per day?hours per day?

– Commit to placement Commit to placement periods of up to 2 periods of up to 2 months?months?

– Separate your animals Separate your animals from the fosters?from the fosters?

– Administer medication Administer medication or care if needed?or care if needed?

Most Importantly….Most Importantly….

Are you Are you emotionallyemotionally prepared to: prepared to:– Return your foster(s) even if you’ve become Return your foster(s) even if you’ve become

emotionally attached?emotionally attached?– Handle the possible death of a foster pet?Handle the possible death of a foster pet?

Important InformationImportant Information

Read Your Manual(s)!Read Your Manual(s)!

The manual contains important information The manual contains important information on:on:– How to introduce your foster to your petsHow to introduce your foster to your pets– How to pet proof your householdHow to pet proof your household– Supplies you’ll needSupplies you’ll need– Signs and symptoms to look for and reportSigns and symptoms to look for and report– Steps to take and emergency phone numbers to Steps to take and emergency phone numbers to

use in case an emergency arisesuse in case an emergency arises

If You Have Pets….If You Have Pets….

Your pet’s vaccines must be up to dateYour pet’s vaccines must be up to date Your pet must be comfortable around the Your pet must be comfortable around the

foster animal, not aggressivefoster animal, not aggressive You must separate your pets if the foster You must separate your pets if the foster

becomes ill or vice versabecomes ill or vice versa Keep the feeding area separated to reduce Keep the feeding area separated to reduce

risk of food aggression risk of food aggression Provide equal attention to both your own Provide equal attention to both your own

pets and the fosterpets and the foster

IMPORTANT!!!IMPORTANT!!!

Please submit your volunteer hours dutifully!Please submit your volunteer hours dutifully! VAC needs to report all volunteer hours in VAC needs to report all volunteer hours in

order to receive fundingorder to receive funding Your services are acknowledged at the Your services are acknowledged at the

yearly Volunteer Appreciation Eventyearly Volunteer Appreciation Event Please keep your contact information and Please keep your contact information and

availability updatedavailability updated Email: Email:

fosterpet.valleyanimalcenter@yahoo.comfosterpet.valleyanimalcenter@yahoo.com

Human housing situationHuman housing situation

– Those living in apartments or rental housing Those living in apartments or rental housing MUST obtain written permission from their MUST obtain written permission from their landlord PRIOR to taking a foster pet homelandlord PRIOR to taking a foster pet home

– Dogs allowed outdoors must have a fenced Dogs allowed outdoors must have a fenced enclosure (do not let dogs out unsupervised, enclosure (do not let dogs out unsupervised, they can pull a Houdini!)they can pull a Houdini!)

– Realistically, homeowners should check their Realistically, homeowners should check their home insurance policy in regards to petshome insurance policy in regards to pets

Slumber PartiesSlumber Parties

The doggie slumber party program was created so our The doggie slumber party program was created so our long term shelter residents can have a night out of the long term shelter residents can have a night out of the shelter, as part of our enrichment program. shelter, as part of our enrichment program.

Dogs that are kenneled for long periods of time can Dogs that are kenneled for long periods of time can develop unpleasant behaviors that may keep them from develop unpleasant behaviors that may keep them from getting adopted; they may develop depression and can getting adopted; they may develop depression and can actually pass away from lack of stimulation. actually pass away from lack of stimulation.

They profoundly benefit from just a day out of the shelter, They profoundly benefit from just a day out of the shelter, because it improves their outlook on life. Getting out of because it improves their outlook on life. Getting out of the shelter also allows them to get exposure to different the shelter also allows them to get exposure to different environments and experiences. environments and experiences.

If you would like to be a slumber party foster parent, If you would like to be a slumber party foster parent, please print out the Slumber Party Packet on the foster please print out the Slumber Party Packet on the foster website.website.

Long-Term FosteringLong-Term Fostering

In the event that pets come to our shelter at a very old In the event that pets come to our shelter at a very old age or if they have long-term health issues that will age or if they have long-term health issues that will prevent them from being adopted, we look for a long-prevent them from being adopted, we look for a long-term foster situation.term foster situation.

In long-term fostering, you care for the pet for the rest of In long-term fostering, you care for the pet for the rest of its life as though it is your pet. Valley Animal Center will its life as though it is your pet. Valley Animal Center will provide you with all the food and medical care required provide you with all the food and medical care required for the rest of the pet’s natural life. You provide the loving for the rest of the pet’s natural life. You provide the loving home!home!

Other long-term fostering situations can arise with pets Other long-term fostering situations can arise with pets that are ill or injured when they come to us, and may that are ill or injured when they come to us, and may need a place to rest. Their care can include medication, need a place to rest. Their care can include medication, changing of bandages, etc.changing of bandages, etc.

SocializationSocialization

Some pets, especially cats, come to us as feral or wild. Some pets, especially cats, come to us as feral or wild. These pets could benefit from fostering to learn to trust These pets could benefit from fostering to learn to trust people. people.

Volunteers who attempt this type of fostering need a lot Volunteers who attempt this type of fostering need a lot of patience, but the more friendly and social their foster of patience, but the more friendly and social their foster pets get, the better their chances are that they will be pets get, the better their chances are that they will be adopted when they are returned to the shelter!adopted when they are returned to the shelter!