Foster

All the Lil’ Chilis are kittens that have no mother, they will be with their littermates or sometimes a single kitten, all below the age of 4 weeks old. These are primarily neonatal ‘bottle’ kittens, who will need to be bottle fed every 2-3 hours as well as stimulated to go to the bathroom and regular exposure to people, sounds, smells, and sight as they start to open their eyes. These kittens may stay in the home until 8 weeks of age, or may be moved to another foster home depending on the needs of the kittens, the foster family, and the shelter. 

Space requirements: 

Kittens are usually sleeping or eating so can be easily put in a bathroom, bedroom, etc. while being cared for.

Estimated time requirement:

Kittens who are newborn to about 3 weeks will need daily feeding and cleaning every 2 hours and regular handling. Around 3 weeks and older will need daily feeding and cleaning every 3 hours until about 5 weeks old. At this point they will be classified as “All the Single Kitties” would be old enough to be eating on their own and will require less time each day.

All the Single Kitties are kittens that have no mother and will be with their littermates or sometimes a single kitten, between the ages of 4 weeks and 4 months. At the age of 4- 5 weeks old, they are  more independent but still require regular feedings every 4-6 hours as well as exposure to the world, sounds, smells, and sights.  At 5-8 weeks old, they are mostly eating food on their own, exploring, and will need to be monitored for any stemming behavioral issues such as resource guarding. They will also need more handling geared towards exposure to regular house cat life such as trimming nails, brushing, handling paws, and working with them to understand being moved, put in a crate, etc. All kittens will require a plentiful amount of socialization and their individual care will be ever-evolving. These kittens are not known to have any type of behavior issues such as reactivity to people or other animals, being undersocialized, etc. though should be monitored closely to make sure they continue to be as happy and social as possible! 

Space requirements

Kittens this age are more active though can still be put in a smaller area such as a bathroom or bedroom. They will need room to explore, stretch their legs, climb, etc. than the Lil Chili’s but can still be kept in overall smaller areas. 

Estimated time requirement

Daily feeding and cleaning every 4-6 hours, regular handling and playtime. They usually sleep overnight so don’t need as much care/attention as the “Lil’ Chilis”.

Say hello to Momma cat and her kittens, they are the stars of this program. While many of the duties of this program are similar to “All the single Kitties”, the main difference will be having the mother, who will likely do the majority of the feeding, cleaning, and “not as fun” care of the kittens while you will get to do a lot more hands-on things like handling, playing, socializing, and teaching the little ones about the human world. Sometimes momma cats do not have the same desire to socialize the kittens as they are on the spicier side themselves, so making sure that you work within moms guidelines will be key to having a happy and healthy litter. 

Space requirements

This group will need a room where mom and kittens can be kept. It is important that mom has enough space to get away from the kittens if and when she wants. Bathrooms work great for these types of fosters as the kittens can be kept in the bathtub or shower area and mom can easily get to and away from them as she wishes. When the kittens are older around 5-7 weeks, mom will want more time away from them so will need to be out of the ‘whelping area’ more often. 

Estimated time requirements

This will vary depending on the age of the kittens. Young kittens will need daily handling, though it will be brief as they are still very young and are usually eating or sleeping. Older kittens will need more handling, more socialization, more enrichment, and more exposure to different things such as new people, smells, sounds, sights, etc. 

All the single puppies program are a puppy or a litter of puppies that have no mother and are below the age of 4 months old. These will include neonatal puppies who will need to be bottle fed every 2-3 hours. At 4-5 weeks old, they should have their eyes and ears open but will still require regular feedings every 4-6 hours of wet food. At 5-8 weeks the puppies are growing rapidly and should be eating a mixture of wet and dry food, exploring often, and should be encouraged to safely experience new things. It is encouraged that foster parents bring visitors of all ages into the home to socialize with the puppies in order to help them be prepared for their new home and the world. This is a crucial time to spot any stemming behavioral issues so be very aware of how the puppies interact with one another, their environment, and new things.

Space requirements

The space for these pups will vary depending on age, litter size, and the individual needs of the puppies. Younger puppies can be kept in a smaller area such as a bathroom or a living room with a crate. 

Estimated time requirements

 This will also vary depending on the age, size of the litter and the individual needs of the puppies. Younger puppies will need feedings every 2-4 hours, regular cleaning and handling, and exposure to the world as they grow. Older puppies will need regular handling and exposure to the world like being exposed to the outside, wearing a collar and leash, and learning how to do as asked (i.e. learning to sit, go to their place, etc). Older puppies may need exposure to certain stimuli such as dogs, cats, kids, etc.

Say hello to momma dog and her puppies, they are the stars of this program.  While many of the duties of this program are similar to “All the Single Puppies”, the main difference will be having the mother who will take care of the majority of the cleaning, feeding, and “not as fun” care of the puppies while you will get to do a lot more hands-on things like handling, playing, socializing, and teaching the little ones about the human world. You will also need an area for mom to go outside and use the bathroom and stretch her legs. When the puppies are older (around 5-7 weeks) mom will want more time away from them so will need to be out of the ‘whelping area’ more often. 

Space requirements

You will need space enough for mom and the litter. Mom should be able to get away from the puppies if/when she wants. A bathroom would be ideal for these types of fosters as the puppies can go into the bathtub and mom can easily get to and away from them. You can also use a spare bedroom with a crate for the puppies and an area for mom to spend some time alone. You will also need an area for mom to go outside, use the bathroom, and stretch her legs. When the puppies are older around 5-7 weeks, mom will want more time away from them so will need to be out of the ‘whelping area’ more often. 

Estimated time requirements

This will again vary depending on the age of the litter. You will need to spend at least a few hours each day socializing, handling, and interacting with mom and the litter. As they get older, they will need more socialization, handling, and care. This can evolve as they grow and we notice a particular puppy may need help with a potential behavior concern. 

These are pups that may have just been surrendered, are being transferred from a foster home, or just don’t thrive in the shelter so we are searching for a foster home where they can live in a more ‘normal’ environment. These are dogs that are just looking for a home to hang out in while they search for their forever family, they will need to be treated as part of your family getting daily walks, cuddle/play time, and living a great house dog life! These dogs will ideally stay in their foster home until they are adopted.

Space requirements

This will vary depending on the type of pup you get and their specific needs. You will need at least an area for a crate, area to play, and area to walk the dog for potty breaks and exercise. Some dogs may require more space or a more specific environment based on their current needs.  

Estimated time requirements

This will vary depending on the type of dog you get and their specific needs. Generally, you can plan on the dog being a regular part of your daily life, morning and evening walks, play time, meal times, cuddle/socializing time, and etc. Each dog’s specific behavior needs would be under the advisement of shelter staff and our certified dog trainer. A “Kennel to Couch” foster dog will ideally be adopted out from the foster home.

This program involves the socialization of a feral kitten. Due to the varying ways cats and kittens can become feral, there are different levels and ages of a possible foster kitten. Depending on the kitten, it could take over a month to properly socialize your kitten, and no matter how long it takes it will be a slow process. Each kitten will require individual care which can change day to day based on how they adjust, your home, and availability. A lot of the care for these kittens involves sitting in their room with them and allowing them to adjust at their own pace to your presence, sounds, smells, etc. Slowly you can work with the kitten on being approached, handled, etc.

Space requirements

Small room where the cat can be completely separated from the house and receive individual care.

Estimated time requirements

This can vary depending on the pepper level of your kitten. Jalapenos usually take 2-4 weeks to adjust and be posted for adoption. They usually require 2-5 hours of daily care, interaction, and socialization. Cayenne, Chipotle, and Carolina Reapers can take longer up to two months to completely socialize with. Their daily commitments change as they become more social but you can expect to spend at least 30 minutes to an hour with your kitten each time you go in so they can adjust to you, understand the routine, and make progress toward being placed in a home. 

These are dogs that have some type of behavior issue that we are working on. This could be dog reactivity, human reactivity, extreme anxiety, under socialization or many other things. It is difficult to provide a timeline for when this dog will be ready to leave the foster home as each behavior and dog’s learning threshold will vary.

Space requirements

This will vary depending on the type of pup you get and their specific needs. You will need at least an area for a crate, area to play, and area to walk the dog for potty breaks and exercise. Some dogs may require more space or a more specific environment based on their current behavior needs. 

Estimated time requirements

This will also vary depending on the type of dog you get and their specific needs. Generally, you can plan on the dog being a regular part of your daily life, morning and evening walks, play time, meal times, cuddle/socializing time, and etc. Some dogs may need more specific type of training or stimuli exposure which could require more time, i.e. a dog nervous of people may need to spend 1-2 hours at a park far away from people just observing, eating a kong, etc. Each dog’s specific behavior plan would be under the advisement of shelter staff and a certified dog trainer.

This program involves caring for a cat or dog that has a medical issue ranging anywhere from an upper respiratory infection to a recovery from a shoulder reconstruction surgery. Fosters will need to be comfortable giving daily medications, following very specific recovery/physical therapy/exercise  instructions from the veterinarian , and be willing to transport the animal to the humane society for any necessary follow-up appointments. Due to the varying medical cases, there is no set timeline for when these animals will leave the foster home.

Space requirements

This will vary depending on the type of animal you are getting as well as the needs of that animal. For dogs you can plan on having space for – a crate, and an area to play/potty/walk the dog. Some dogs will be on exercise restriction so may need less space. Cats can usually be confined to a room, though depending on the situation they may do better having more room to roam.

Estimated time requirements

This will vary depending on the type of animal you are getting as well as the needs of that animal but all will require daily medical care. This can include giving medications, medicated baths, PT assistance, etc. Some may require a more specific medical plan which can require more time i.e. a dog that just received knee surgery will start off with exercise restriction and then will soon need multi-day PT sessions, monitored walks and so forth.

These are animals that have an illness or disease that we need to monitor over a longer period of time in order to determine their best medical plan, i.e. a cat with kidney disease that is on a special diet for two months then blood work is rechecked. These could include senior animals who we need to monitor while they receive specialized care, or animals that have a disease that we are exploring best options for long-term treatment such as a specific diet, etc. These animals will likely continue to have their medical condition as we are determining an ideal treatment plan for their long-term care and will hopefully be adopted with a full medical disclosure regarding their specific needs. Due to the varying medical cases, there is no set timeline for when these animals will leave the foster home though is usually at least two months as we monitor them over a period of time and follow up based on previous medical care. 

While our goal is always to provide these animals with the best possible care and a chance at a comfortable life, some of our comfort care fosters may have medical conditions that, despite our best efforts, progress to a point where their quality of life is no longer sustainable. In these situations, our veterinary team carefully assesses their well-being, and when all treatment options have been exhausted, humane euthanasia may be the kindest decision for their comfort and dignity.

As a comfort care foster, you will play a vital role in giving these animals love, comfort, and security during this time—whether their journey leads to adoption or a peaceful farewell surrounded by care. No matter the outcome, your compassion provides them with a life filled with warmth and kindness, and for that, we are forever grateful.

Space requirements

This will vary depending on the type of animal you are getting as well as the needs of that animal. For dogs you can plan on having space for – a crate, and an area to play/potty/walk the dog. Some dogs will be on exercise restriction so may need less space. Cats will likely do better roaming but this will vary depending on the medical needs of each cat. 

Estimated time requirements

This will vary depending on the type of animal you are getting as well as the needs of that animal. Likely the animal will need specific foods or medications. Some may require a more specific medical plan which can require more time i.e. a dog that is overweight may need multiple short walks each day as well as being watched during mealtimes. You should also plan on being able to bring your pet in for vet visits as needed.