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).

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

Within the first hour:

1. Seek help if the pet is sick or injured
   If you find a pet who is extremely sick or injured, please contact your county animal shelter and/or take them to the nearest veterinarian.
2. Check for ID
   Check for a collar with a phone number or tag. If there is a dog license, the county animal shelter should have the owner’s contact information.
3. Alert your neighbors
   Take a photo and share it with your neighbors using the methods your community uses most often to communicate. This could include going door-to-door, using sites like Facebook or Nextdoor, or a neighborhood email list.
4. Take a walk
   Lost pets are often within one mile of their home. Take a walk around and see if anyone recognizes the pet.
5. Check for a microchip
   Bring the pet to the nearest veterinarian or animal shelter for a free microchip scan.

More Info Here