Fostering
You Can Provide a Second Chance for Our Animals!
Fostering is a key part of our success as an organization. We frequently have need for foster families to provide care for bottle baby kittens with or without moms; owned animals through our assistance programs, foster hospice, puppy socialization, adult cat or adult dog medical care, small animal socialization and more.
Here are a few things to keep in mind before taking on the task
Type of Foster | Duration of commitment | Daily Commitment |
Kittens/Bottle Babies | About 8 weeks (or less) | About 12 hours |
Pregnant mom | Depending on how far along this can be up to 8 weeks or more. | 2-4 hours |
Socializing | 2-4 weeks | 4-6 hours |
Medical | 1-8 weeks | Depends on the medical care needed about 2-8 hours |
Small Animals | Depending the situation can last up to 4 weeks | 2-4 hours |
Fospice | Until the animal has passed | About 2- 8 hours |
Puppies | 1-2 Weeks | 6-8 hours |
Time: Each foster case is a little different from one another. So, it’s important to know if you can handle the length of stay and daily commitment your foster(s) will need.
Space: Having a separate space is highly recommended when taking home a foster. Most of the time we are unsure of the animal’s background, we run tests and make sure they get the shots they need before going to a foster home, but for the safety of your animals it is best to keep them separated.
Care: While fostering there is always the chance an animal may get really sick or possibly pass away. Being able to handle this emotionally is important when becoming a foster.
Watch our Pet Talk! episode all about fostering.
The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society encourages you to apply to become a foster and help change the lives of these animals. All foster homes are part of our Volunteer Program, so please fill out the application as your first step on this important and helpful path!
Not sure if fostering is right for your family? Contact our Foster Coordinator at foster@gahumane.org or 783-2311 to learn more!
