Foster Care

Foster care is care administered by Foster Care Volunteers who take the animals temporarily from the shelter to their homes to administer the care and treatment necessary to:

1. Prevent contamination of young, or medically vulnerable animals with infectious disease agents.
2. Provide continuous monitoring and administer care more often than shelter staff can reasonably perform.
3. Provide care for underage animals including,
   • Queen and Kittens
   • Bitch and Puppies
   • Kittens without a Queen
   • Puppies without a Bitch...until their age and state of health permits their reentry into the shelter for disposition.
4. Provide training and socializing to improve their chances of adoption.
5. Any other condition or circumstance which the Staff Veterinarian and Animal Health Technician deem appropriate.

   Term of Care (What happens when the program concludes?)

   Foster families may bring their fostered animals back to the Escondido Humane Society when the animals reach seven weeks of age, and no later than eight weeks, unless so directed by the veterinarian staff. Be prepared to experience a sense of loss when the animals are returned. Our veteran foster families tell us this emotion is the second hardest to cope with. On the other hand, it is wonderful to know that you have offered the animal a healthy and happy start in life, and that it will be able to find a loving permanent home.

   These animals remain the property of the Escondido Humane Society, and may not be taken by any other party. If you find a permanent home for any of your foster animal or you decide to adopt one yourself at the end of the fostering period, this procedure must be followed:

   • Bring the animals in, as scheduled, at eight weeks of age for a health check.
   • The adopting party must be screened by filling out our standard form and being interviewed by an adoption counselor.
   • Pay the applicable adoption fees and associated charges (upon approval).
     
     

   Fostering Program Volunteer Guidelines

   This set of guidelines is intended to give you a realistic perspective on fostering animals. This program can be a rewarding experience; it also represents an extraordinary commitment of time and can be very taxing emotionally. If you feel qualified, after a careful review of the enclosed information, please read and sign the "Fostering Program Agreement" addendum to the volunteer application. A completed volunteer application must be filled with the Escondido Humane Society. These forms and procedures are necessary to ensure the health and welfare of the animals in our charge. THANK YOU for your gracious understanding and assistance.

   Care Provided by the Shelter:

   • Medication
   • Access to medical personnel

   The Caretaker Shall Provide:

   • Food, bedding and shelter in accord with the treatment plan drawn up by the shelter staff.
   • Willingness and diligence in the administration of medical treatments, bathes, and providing an appropriate environment.
     
     

   BASICS
   Puppies and kittens are not always neat. Their job is to run, play, and grow. Our job is to make sure they stay healthy and "happy". Very young animals require feedings several times day and night. Your schedule must often be built around their needs. Your household will be disrupted! You should have space to set aside, understanding that it can be soiled, chewed on, clawed, pawed, or even broken.

   POTENTIAL ILLNESS & DEATH
   This is, for most, the hardest aspect of the fostering program. Sometimes, despite everything we do to care for them, animals, and particularly very young animals, may not survive to adulthood. This is no one's fault; it's just one of those things we find especially painful.

   Under normal circumstances only 60% of a litter will survive. When the mother is removed this number drops drastically. There are any number of reasons why a baby animal might not survive. Early in life hypothermia is a major factor; puppies in their first three weeks should normally maintain an internal body temperature of 97 to 98 degrees; a significant drop in temperature can result in a loss of their ability to suckle and/or move food through the gastrointestinal tract. They may have contracted an illness from the mother before birth, or even have parasites from the mother, which later cause health problems.

   As foster parents, all you can do is be as well informed as possible, keep your eyes open for potential problems, and alert the Escondido Humane Society personnel if any arise. As a volunteer. who is considering fostering animals, you must think seriously about whether you could handle the heartache that is sometimes part of the job. Fostering animals is not for everyone.

   FOOD & FEEDING
   A specific diet and feeding routine will be designed for your fostered animal; these menu items are readily available at your local pet supply or animal feed store or in some cases, we may be able to provide them for you. We suggest that you avoid most preparations which are stocked at human grocery stores due to the levels of additives, fats and sugars. Very young animals that are being bottle fed may be fed approximately every two hours, and should be fed when they cry for food. These animals can generally be weaned onto solid food starting at 4 weeks of age for puppies and 6 weeks of age for kittens.

   ELIMINATION
   Stools should be firm in healthy animals. Runny stools may indicate a multitude of things; please consult the Escondido Humane Society Veterinarian Staff for guidance should this happen. Week old puppies and kittens cannot eliminate on their own; normally, the mother assists them with elimination by licking their bottoms, which stimulates the reflex to eliminate. Foster parents should mimic the parental role by wiping puppies and kittens with a warm, moist q-tips after feeding to stimulate elimination.

   SPACE CONSIDERATIONS
   Foster animals should always be kept away from personal pets at home to prevent the possible spread of illness and parasites. This procedure protects both the foster animal and your pets.

   Depending on their age, puppies and kittens require different amounts of space in which to run, sleep, and eat. When they are very young, just a few weeks old, this may amount to a small box, blanket to sleep on, and a playpen-sized space in which to crawl around. As they get older, a yard is ideal for puppies to run and play; however, this arrangement requires close supervision. All indoor areas are fine, given that you have space which can be spoiled. Kittens should always be raised indoors. You need to provide an appropriate amount of space for each animal you agree to foster. Consider their long term needs as they grow. Our veterinary staff will be able to give you a better idea of the individual animal's short and long term space requirements.

   SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
   Much of your foster animals' lives will be spent in the sleeping area. It is critically important to protect this area from draughts. Sometimes it is enough to drape their cage, kennel, or playpen with a blanket to keep out draughts. There are times when a heating pad is a good idea; however, they can be very dangerous if used improperly and several alternatives exist, such as a hot water bottle. The basic rules for heating pads and other heat sources are:

   • Always keep on low.
   • Keep a layer of insulation between the animal and the source of heat.

   There must be plenty of room, and a means by which the animals can get themselves off the blanket if they get too hot. REMEMBER: Very young animals may not have the motor skills to do this on their own. You should consult our veterinarian staff for specific adjustments, based on the animals' size and age, before using a heating pad.

   Puppies and kittens can easily get too hot or too cold. This results in the animal being more susceptible to illness, and also may stop their normal bodily reflexes, such as sucking and eliminating. As mentioned earlier, this is a very serious medical condition, and needs to be brought to our attention as soon as possible.

   GENERAL CARE GUIDELINES
   We ask you to follow these general care guidelines when in our fostering program.

6. Ask the veterinarian staff for advice whenever it is needed.
7. Keep your eyes and ears open to any problems the animals may be having.
8. In case of a bitch with puppies, use your best judgment and intuition to determine when the mother is ready to let you near her young.
9. Eliminate the use of chemicals on or around the animals. This includes flea soaps and dips for animals less than eight weeks of age. Animals can be brushed in a light manner and using a flea comb will help control fleas.
10. Consult the veterinarian staff for bathing instructions suitable for your foster animal ... these vary greatly, both by age and breed of animal.
11. Children must always be supervised when caring for a foster animal. As parent or guardian you have the ultimate responsibility for fostering the animals.
12. If the animal is having a medical problem, or needs parasiletx, consult the veterinarian staff immediately for assistance. Please, always call first for an appointment.

    Our volunteers are very important to our success! If you are interested in volunteering as a foster parent, please E-Mail us if you have Questions