Fostering
FOSTER CARE FAMILIES FOR CATS AND DOGS
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The foster program was established to give young, injured, sick, abused, homeless or under-socialized cats and dogs, who may otherwise have to be euthanized, a chance to heal and recover in volunteer foster homes. A separate application process and some additional training is required for all those interested in fostering animals from the Chemung County SPCA. If you would like to become a foster family for the SPCA, please fill out our Foster Application form, save it under your name and email it to Jon Jacobus, Shelter Manager, at kennel@chemungspca.org. You will then be contacted with further information.
Listed below are some important questions to ask yourself if you are considering becoming a foster family for the SPCA: |
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Are you able to separate foster animals from your household pets?
Foster animals should remain isolated from your resident pets. You need to designate a certain room for them. We do not know what an animal may have been exposed to before coming into our care. Separating them helps prevent any disease exposure and transmission. It is for this reason that all residents’ animals must be up-to-date on all vaccinations.
Will you be able to spend quality time with the animal(s)?
On average, you should plan to spend a minimum of 2-4 hours per day playing and socializing with the animals that are in your care. This is so that they are ready for adoption upon return to the shelter. Due to the high number of people the animals are exposed to at the SPCA, socialization is vital to their successful adoption.
Can you commit to spending the entire foster period with the animal(s)?
An animal may be in foster care anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Before taking a foster animal, we will go over the time period that we will need you to commit yourself to the animal’s care. It is helpful if you have a friend or family member that can look after your foster animals if you are going to be gone for a short period of time. In the event of an extended absence, we would ask that you bring the animal(s) back to us and we will find them a new foster home.
Are you aware that there is a great deal of clean up when fostering?
Animals are a joy, but they also have the capacity to wreak havoc when they are unattended. Since most foster parents work 8-hour days, it is important to know that your foster animals may mess in their crate or room.
Do you have transportation available?
It is very important to be sure that you have transportation available before considering fostering animals from the Chemung County SPCA. Transportation is mandatory for vaccination booster appointments, transporting the animals to be seen by potential adopters (by appointment only) and also in the case that the animal becomes ill and needs immediate medical care. The SPCA does not have the ability to transport animals to and from foster homes.
For more information on how to become a foster for us, please contact Jon Jacobus, Shelter Manager, at kennel@chemungspca.org or 607.732.1827 x 210.
Foster animals should remain isolated from your resident pets. You need to designate a certain room for them. We do not know what an animal may have been exposed to before coming into our care. Separating them helps prevent any disease exposure and transmission. It is for this reason that all residents’ animals must be up-to-date on all vaccinations.
Will you be able to spend quality time with the animal(s)?
On average, you should plan to spend a minimum of 2-4 hours per day playing and socializing with the animals that are in your care. This is so that they are ready for adoption upon return to the shelter. Due to the high number of people the animals are exposed to at the SPCA, socialization is vital to their successful adoption.
Can you commit to spending the entire foster period with the animal(s)?
An animal may be in foster care anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Before taking a foster animal, we will go over the time period that we will need you to commit yourself to the animal’s care. It is helpful if you have a friend or family member that can look after your foster animals if you are going to be gone for a short period of time. In the event of an extended absence, we would ask that you bring the animal(s) back to us and we will find them a new foster home.
Are you aware that there is a great deal of clean up when fostering?
Animals are a joy, but they also have the capacity to wreak havoc when they are unattended. Since most foster parents work 8-hour days, it is important to know that your foster animals may mess in their crate or room.
Do you have transportation available?
It is very important to be sure that you have transportation available before considering fostering animals from the Chemung County SPCA. Transportation is mandatory for vaccination booster appointments, transporting the animals to be seen by potential adopters (by appointment only) and also in the case that the animal becomes ill and needs immediate medical care. The SPCA does not have the ability to transport animals to and from foster homes.
For more information on how to become a foster for us, please contact Jon Jacobus, Shelter Manager, at kennel@chemungspca.org or 607.732.1827 x 210.