Foster A Pet

Training and procedure guidelines will be provided by the Foster Care Coordinator. All potential foster volunteers will be required to sign up for and attend a general volunteer orientation within one month of filling out an application. Once you have filled out an application, you will be contacted by The Foster Care Coordinator to get started.

When SICSA receives word of animals in need of foster care, volunteers will be contacted and offered a foster opportunity. Please remember you always have the ability to say no, and doing so does not affect your ability to foster in the future.

For people interested in becoming a foster volunteer.

1. What does it mean to be a foster volunteer?
   • Foster volunteers provide a temporary home to an animal prior to adoption. Foster homes are a vital part of SICSA’s mission, and help us to continue to save more lives!
2. What type of animals need fostering?
   • Animals too young for adoption
   • Pregnant animals and nursing mothers with litters.
   • Animals who need medical treatments or support.
   • Animals needing behavior support, or are too stressed to be in the facility.
   • Animals who are part of our Safe Pets program in which their owners are dealing with a temporary crisis such as natural disasters, domestic violence, hospitalization, or housing instability.
3. How do I become a foster volunteer?
   • You first start with a foster volunteer application, found below. This gives us a chance to get to know what your household is like and what kind of foster animals would be a good fit for you. After you have filled out the application, our Foster Coordinator will contact you to go over things and get you started.
   • Note: We do require that all resident animals be kept up to date with their vaccines and be spayed or neutered.
4. How soon after filling out the application will I get my first foster animal?
   • We always need new foster volunteers and will do our best to get you started right away, or as soon as your schedule allows. Certain times of the year will be busier than others and we may need foster volunteers who are ready to go right away. Typically this is in the summer months during kitten season(March-October)
5. How often will I be expected to foster and how long is the commitment?
   • How often you foster will be entirely up to you. We always check in with you before scheduling you to foster an animal, and you are always in the position to say no. The commitment to foster will depend on the age and health of the foster animal in your care. Foster volunteers who prefer neonatal kittens or puppies, those under the age of six weeks, will have a longer commitment time than someone fostering a weaned kitten that is just waiting on vaccines. Your preference and availability may change over time, and that is okay, just keep us informed!
6. How will I let SICSA know I am ready to foster?
   • You can contact the Foster Coordinator in the following ways:
     • Email: foster@sicsa.org
     • Phone: 937-294-6505 x 21
7. What do I need to supply for my foster animals?
   • We can provide most things that you will need; including food, crates, baby gates, toys, bedding, medications and treatments when needed, and pee pads. All you need to supply is love and attention! In some instances, we may not have all items in stock and available, such as baby gates, but we will do our best to provide you with all you will need.
8. How much space will my foster animal need, and where should they be kept?
   • The amount of space will vary depending on the type of foster animal and how many. Foster animals should be kept in a closed off area inside the house, that is easy to clean. We recommend somewhere without carpet as this can be difficult to sanitize.
9. Do I need to keep my foster animal(s) separate from my owned pets?
   • We recommend that foster animals be kept separate from your own pets for a period of approximately two weeks. This allows you time to monitor your foster animal for illness that may be spread to resident pets, and allows your pets time to adjust to having another animal in the house. Note: We do require that all resident animals be kept up to date with their vaccines and be spayed or neutered.
10. How do I say goodbye to my foster animal?
    • While saying goodbye can be the most difficult part of fostering, it can also be the most rewarding. Thanks to your love and commitment, these animals are now ready for their very own fur-ever home! Our adoption staff works diligently to find great homes for every animal here at SICSA, and they are in our care until adopted. After dropping off your foster animal for adoption, we request that you fill out a foster interview to give us more information about the personality of your foster animal and what type of home may be best for them. We share this information with potential adopters to make sure we are finding a good match. Saying goodbye means opening your home to other animals that need to be fostered!