Foster (Cats & Dogs)
Role Descriptions both below - Cat Foster and Dog Foster
Foster Parent - Cats
Objective:
- Provides a safe, loving, and nurturing environment for cats who are not yet ready for adoption or need extra care before finding their new homes.
- Assists to ensure cats are healthy, socialized, and ready for adoption, thus increasing their chances of finding a permanent home.
Responsibilities:
- Provide a safe and clean environment for cats in your care, following all shelter guidelines.
- Feed, water, and monitor the health of the cats, ensuring they receive the proper care.
- Administer medications or treatments as directed by the shelter’s veterinarian.
- Socialize the cats, helping them become comfortable with human interaction.
- Monitor and record the cats’ behavior, health, and progress, and report any concerns.
- Help with the transition of cats back to the shelter when they are ready for adoption.
- Maintain regular communication with the shelter regarding the status of the fostered cats.
Qualifications:
- A love for animals and a willingness to provide them with compassionate care.
- Experience with cat care (e.g., feeding, cleaning litter boxes, administering medication) is helpful, but not required.
- Ability to recognize common health issues in cats, such as changes in appetite, behaviour, or signs of illness.
- Physical ability to clean and care for cats, including lifting and carrying supplies, cleaning cages or areas, and handling the cats safely.
- A quiet and secure living environment free of hazards for the cat.
- Ability to work independently, follow instructions, and communicate effectively with the shelter staff.
- Able to keep the cat separate from any other animal(s) in the home.
- Must live within a 40 minute drive of the shelter in the event their foster animal requires emergency veterinary care.
- Must live within a 40 minute drive of the shelter in the event their foster animal requires emergency veterinary care.
Training:
- Online training
- Orientation with foster coordinator
Time Commitment:
- Foster parents should be prepared to care for a cat for anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the cat’s needs.
- The time commitment for fostering a cat can vary, but it typically requires daily care and attention, including feeding, cleaning, and socializing.
- Foster parents should be available for regular check-ins with the shelter staff and may need to bring the cat to the shelter for medical appointments or meet-and-greets with potential adopters.
Location:
- In-home
Supervision:
- Foster and Volunteer Coordinator
Foster Parent - Dogs
Objective:
- Provide a temporary, loving home for dogs that are not yet ready for adoption or need extra care before finding their forever home.
- Assists to enhance the well-being of the dogs and increasing their chances of adoption by helping them become well-adjusted, healthy, and prepared for life in a permanent home.
Responsibilities:
- Provide a safe, comfortable, and clean-living environment for foster dogs, ensuring their basic needs are met.
- Feed, water, and monitor the health of the dog, administering medications or treatments as directed by the shelter’s veterinarian.
- Walk the dog regularly, providing exercise and mental stimulation.
- Follow training or behaviour modification plans as laid out by the animal care manager and canine behaviour and enrichment specialist.
- Socialize the dog, helping them become familiar with new environments, people, and other animals if applicable.
- Monitor and record the dog’s behavior, health, and progress, and report any concerns or changes to the shelter staff.
- Transport the dog to the shelter for medical appointments or meet-and-greets with potential adopters.
- Help with the dog’s transition back to the shelter when they are ready for adoption.
Qualifications:
- A love for dogs and a commitment to providing them with a safe, caring environment.
- Experience with dog care (e.g., feeding, walking, basic training) is helpful.
- Ability to handle dogs of varying sizes, temperaments, and energy levels, ensuring their safety and well-being.
- Physical ability to care for a dog, including lifting, walking, and providing regular care.
- A secure, pet-friendly living environment free of hazards.
- Ability to follow instructions, communicate with shelter staff, and provide regular updates on the dog’s progress.
- Must live within a 40 minute drive of the shelter in the event their foster animal requires emergency veterinary care.
Training:
- Online training
- Orientation with foster coordinator
Time Commitment:
- Foster parents should be prepared to care for a dog for anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the dog’s needs.
- Foster parents are expected to provide daily care, including feeding, exercise, training, and socialization.
- Foster parents should be available for regular check-ins with the shelter staff and may need to bring the dog back to the shelter for medical appointments or meet-and-greets with potential adopters.
Location:
- In-home
Supervision:
- Foster & Volunteer Coordinator
- Canine Behaviour and Enrichment Specialist
