St. Mary’s Animal Welfare League (SMAWL) is recruiting foster homes for dogs, puppies, cats and kittens.
Q: What’s a Foster Home?
A: Foster parents provide temporary homes for animals prior to adoption. Fostering is a wonderful and personal way to help homeless pets.
Q. Why Do Animals Need Foster Care?
A: Animals do best when they are in foster homes. Many come from sad situations and need extra TLC. Foster homes minimize the trauma of transition that affects most animals that lose their homes. Foster care can be a lifesaving gift for an animal.
Q: Would I Be A Good Foster Parent?
A: Fostering is a great way to volunteer in the community. It is flexible, fun and rewarding. It’s a great way to enjoy a pet if you cannot make a lifetime commitment. Fostering is excellent for college students or military families. If you’re thinking of a pet but not sure, fostering is a great way to find out.
Q, How Much Time Will It Take?
A. The specific needs of the animal will determine how much time is involved. Newborn orphaned kittens and puppies must be fed every few hours. Frightened animals need socialization or training that requires some extra time. SMAWL can work with you to find the animal that you’ll be best suited to foster.
Q. What Skills Are Needed?
A. It’s best to have some knowledge about companion animal behavior and health.
Q. What Else Is Required?
A. SMAWL screens all homes that apply for fostering to insure a good experience for both foster family and animals.
Q. What About Food and Medical Care?
A. SMAWL pays for all medical and food expenses during the fostering.
Q. What About My Own Pets?
You’ll need to consider how the animals in your household will adjust to a new foster pet. You’re the best judge of your pet’s personality but don’t underestimate them!
Q. Will I Have To Find A Home For The Animal Myself?
A. No. SMAWL takes full responsibility for finding the new home but you can help by telling friends, family, and coworkers about your foster pet.
Q. How Do I Say Goodbye?
A. Giving up a foster pet can be difficult emotionally. However, knowing you were part of saving a life and helping an animal find a loving home is tremendously rewarding. Most of our foster families say the first is the hardest and then you look forward to the excitement of the next animal that needs you. And, some foster homes become permanent homes!
Q. Is It Fair To The Animals?
A. Hundreds of happy former fosters can attest to this. Foster homes are a lifesaving bridge for a stray or frightened pet. It prepares the dog or cat for their new life in a permanent home.
If you are interested in becoming a foster family, are interested in more volunteer opportunities with SMAWL or have any questions, please email Sandy at slbjgb2@verizon.net.
(Foster information courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society, www.bestfriends.org.)
Q: What’s a Foster Home?
A: Foster parents provide temporary homes for animals prior to adoption. Fostering is a wonderful and personal way to help homeless pets.
Q. Why Do Animals Need Foster Care?
A: Animals do best when they are in foster homes. Many come from sad situations and need extra TLC. Foster homes minimize the trauma of transition that affects most animals that lose their homes. Foster care can be a lifesaving gift for an animal.
Q: Would I Be A Good Foster Parent?
A: Fostering is a great way to volunteer in the community. It is flexible, fun and rewarding. It’s a great way to enjoy a pet if you cannot make a lifetime commitment. Fostering is excellent for college students or military families. If you’re thinking of a pet but not sure, fostering is a great way to find out.
Q, How Much Time Will It Take?
A. The specific needs of the animal will determine how much time is involved. Newborn orphaned kittens and puppies must be fed every few hours. Frightened animals need socialization or training that requires some extra time. SMAWL can work with you to find the animal that you’ll be best suited to foster.
Q. What Skills Are Needed?
A. It’s best to have some knowledge about companion animal behavior and health.
Q. What Else Is Required?
A. SMAWL screens all homes that apply for fostering to insure a good experience for both foster family and animals.
Q. What About Food and Medical Care?
A. SMAWL pays for all medical and food expenses during the fostering.
Q. What About My Own Pets?
You’ll need to consider how the animals in your household will adjust to a new foster pet. You’re the best judge of your pet’s personality but don’t underestimate them!
Q. Will I Have To Find A Home For The Animal Myself?
A. No. SMAWL takes full responsibility for finding the new home but you can help by telling friends, family, and coworkers about your foster pet.
Q. How Do I Say Goodbye?
A. Giving up a foster pet can be difficult emotionally. However, knowing you were part of saving a life and helping an animal find a loving home is tremendously rewarding. Most of our foster families say the first is the hardest and then you look forward to the excitement of the next animal that needs you. And, some foster homes become permanent homes!
Q. Is It Fair To The Animals?
A. Hundreds of happy former fosters can attest to this. Foster homes are a lifesaving bridge for a stray or frightened pet. It prepares the dog or cat for their new life in a permanent home.
If you are interested in becoming a foster family, are interested in more volunteer opportunities with SMAWL or have any questions, please email Sandy at slbjgb2@verizon.net.
(Foster information courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society, www.bestfriends.org.)