Become A Harbor Humane Foster
Love animals but don’t have time to volunteer? Craving some pet companionship but can’t adopt just yet? Fostering might be the perfect fit for you!
Harbor Humane provides all the supplies and training you need, and first-time fosters are absolutely welcome. We’re always looking for compassionate homes to care for young kittens and puppies, adult cats and dogs, and animals in need of medical recovery or a break from the shelter environment.
Foster families give animals the time, space, and love they need before finding their forever families. By opening your heart and home, you become a vital extension of our team and help us save more lives every day. Join our foster community and give second chances from the comfort of home.
Canine Fostering
Different types of fosters needed are for:
- Mama dogs and their babies
- Orphaned bottle babies
- Puppies
- Medical cases
- Adult dogs in need of a break from the shelter environment
- Senior dogs waiting for their forever home in a comfortable environment
Your questions answered about
fostering canines
What is the time commitment for fostering dogs and puppies?
Commitments for fosters can range from two weeks to a few months, pending the specific needs of that dog or puppy. Our easy self-volunteering system allows you (the foster) to choose the option that will fit your lifestyle!
What supplies are provided to foster families?
Harbor Humane provides any needed supplies, vet care, and routine medical care for all our dogs and puppies in foster! All foster dogs are sent out with a martingale collar for safety, a No-Pull harness for training, and a leash for containment. Some of our dogs need additional training time, special medical care, or special equipment. Harbor Humane also offers a variety of canine classes that fosters are welcome to attend with their foster dogs. We do require fosters to bring in puppies regularly for routine veterinary care as needed.
How often do puppies and dogs need to be brought in for veterinary care?
Typically, every 2-4 weeks for a quick visit for vaccine boosters/flea preventatives and overall health and wellness check. This also allows us to have a transparent relationship with our foster parents to address any questions or concerns that arise, restock any supplies, and keep the dog/puppy on track to adoption.
Do I need to have previous foster experience?
No experience is required! Harbor Humane staff are willing to teach you how to provide more advanced care if/when you, as the foster, choose that you are ready!
I have additional questions about fostering a dog and potential behavioral issues. Who do I connect with?
If you have additional questions about dog behavior and fostering, please email [email protected].
Feline Fostering
Feline fostering provides a loving temporary home for cats and kittens in Harbor Humane’s care, while awaiting their forever home! Foster homes are needed while cats and kittens are healing, growing, or learning to trust again.
There is no better feeling than helping our most vulnerable populations! By opening your heart and home to a foster cat or kitten, you not only help that animal but also open their kennel up for the next animal in need. We are so thankful for our foster families and couldn’t dream of operating at the capacity we do without them!
Different types of fosters needed are for:
- Orphaned bottle babies
- Kittens (HIGHEST NEED; usually anytime between April-November)
- Medical cases (including but not limited to: upper respiratory infections, low weight, hunger strikes, recovering surgical cases, amputees, enucleations, and more)
- Adult cats in need of a break from the shelter environment
- Senior cats waiting for their forever home in a comfortable environment
Your questions answered about
fostering felines
What is the time commitment for fostering cats and kittens?
Commitments for fosters can range from two weeks to a few months, pending the specific needs of that cat or kitten. Our easy self-volunteering system allows you (the foster) to choose the option that will fit your lifestyle!
What supplies are provided to foster families?
Harbor Humane provides any needed supplies, vet care, and routine medical care for all our cats and kittens in foster! We do require fosters to bring kittens in regularly for routine veterinary care as needed.
How often do cats and kittens need to be brought in for veterinary care?
Typically, every 2-4 weeks for a quick visit for vaccine boosters/flea preventatives, overall health and wellness check, and routine dewormers! This also allows us to have a transparent relationship with our foster parents to address any questions or concerns that arise, restock any supplies, and keep the cat/kitten on track to adoption.
Do I need to have previous foster experience?
No experience is required! We have a private HH Feline Foster Facebook group filled with experienced fosters willing to offer tips, tricks, and advice as you learn how to care for the cats and kittens of all ages and needs. Harbor Humane staff are willing to teach you how to provide more advanced care if/when you, as the foster, choose that you are ready!
Donate To Our Foster Program!
Some of our most common needs include:
- A 28lb bag of prescription C/D dog food: $80
- A Freedom No-Pull harness: $18
- A 6ft leash: $12
- A large martingale collar: $8
- Purina Pro Plan Kitten Wet Food
- Royal Canin Wet Pate
- Baby Food - turkey, ham, beef
foster Surveys
Have additional questions about fostering?
Email: [email protected]
or
[email protected]
