Fostering an animal means taking a dog or cat, puppy or kitten, into your home temporarily to share with them your love and care.
Even with the best of efforts, there’s no getting around that being in a shelter environment is unnatural and stressful for most animals. Spending time in foster care helps arrest the potential decline in their mental and physical health. It gives them the chance to socialise with people and other pets, building the good habits that will help them to be adopted and stay in their new forever home. And it brings a spot of happiness into the life of a little creature that isn’t having the best luck.
Any animal is likely to benefit from foster care and especially those with needs that are more challenging to fully meet in a shelter environment, for example very young animals, nursing mothers, or those with injuries or disabilities.
For the foster carer, you will enjoy the company of a new special animal without the commitment of adoption. It can be a great way to boost your fur-parenting skills, and to explore whether having a pet is really for you and what traits you’d like in a future companion. And if there is a particular animal you’re considering adopting, you could consider a short stint of fostering as like a ‘try before you buy’.
Most importantly, you will know you’ve made a difference to animal welfare, both by freeing up a space in the facility for another animal in need and by showing these unlucky pets that humans can also be a source of loving care.
Who can foster?
Our foster carers need to live in the Hunter Valley or Central Coast so that they are within a reasonable range of our facility and veterinary partners.
We require evidence that you are permitted to keep a pet at your residence. This may be a copy of your lease, if it states that pets are allowed, or an email from your landlord or real estate agent. If you own the home in which the pet will live, we will need to see proof of ownership such as a rates notice. Scans or photos of these documents are acceptable.
For dog foster carers, we will need to see photos of the yard to check it is fully fenced and secure. Photos should show the front, back and sides of the yard as well as any fences and gates. If you’re not sure of the height of your fence, use something like a Wizz Bin beside the fence so we can gauge the height.
If you have your own animals they must be desexed, up to date with vaccinations, and have an appropriate temperament to welcome a stranger into their family. Any dogs you live with will need to meet the potential foster animal at our facility beforehand so we may assess their compatibility.
What will I need to do while fostering?
Shower them with love and patience!
On a daily basis you will be responsible for meeting their need for food, water, safe shelter, entertainment, exercise, and companionship. Especially for young pups, helping them to develop good manners will give them a big boost to finding and happily staying in a furever home.
You may need to take them to a vet if medical care is required or bring them into the facility to meet potential adopters. While day-to-day costs like food and toys are paid by the foster carer, we pay for any medical expenses.
We are open 7 days a week to offer support and you will have our after-hours number for emergencies.
How long does the animal stay with me?
This depends on the needs of the animal. It could be a couple weeks or a couple months – ultimately it depends on how long it takes for them to become ready for adoption and then find their furever home. We also have situations where emergency foster carers are needed at short notice, such as when we need to make space at our facility to accommodate an influx of animals due to a natural disaster.
If your circumstances change we will move the animal to another foster carer, though it may take some time to find someone suitable. Best to discuss with us beforehand if you’re uncertain about your ongoing availability.
What happens with the adoption?
Fallen in love and want to adopt the animal yourself? Fantastic! We cannot rehome animals until they have been desexed. If you’re ready to sign the paperwork but desexing can’t happen for a while yet (the animal is too small or young, or there is a wait to get a vet appointment) then we take a $100 desexing bond, which is returned to you after receipt of the desexing certificate.
If someone else expresses an interest in adopting the animal you have in foster care then we may ask you to speak to a potential adopter about the animal and/or have them come to your home to meet the animal. Both of these are completely optional for you, and the alternative is to return the animal to the facility so that it can meet its potential new owner. Our foster carers always have first preference in becoming the adopter so at this point you will have the opportunity to adopt them yourself, if you choose.
How do I become a foster carer?
- Fill in our foster carer application form for dogs or for cats and email it to us at ccacfpetadoptions@gmail.com. You will also need to provide evidence that animals are permitted at your residence and, for dogs, that your yard is secure, as per here.
- If you’ve indicated that there is a currently-available animal that you want to foster, we’ll call you to arrange a time to come to the facility and meet them.
- If you don’t have a currently-available animal in mind then keep your eye on our Facebook page, where we post new animals as they become available. Or just get in touch to see who we have at any given time.
