What Type of Foster Will You Become?
Kittens
ACSKC cares for hundreds of kittens each year. Our kennels always fill up during the height of Kitten Season, and many of our staff are also fosters. We couldn’t give these tiny, vulnerable beans the time and love they need without our Foster Team!
In-Betweens
Perfect for First-Time Fosters, “In-Betweens” are kittens who are healthy and well-socialized, but have not yet been spayed or neutered. Our kittens receive their alteration surgeries once they are two pounds. They usually reach this weight at about 12 weeks of age. We send these kittens to foster in order to free up kennel space for other kittens who may need more diligent care. In-Betweens require a visit to the shelter once every two weeks so they can be weighed and to receive their age-appropriate vaccinations.
Socialization
Not every kitten who comes to the shelter is a bundle of purring fur. Socialization Fosters work with scared or feral kittens. With attention, patience and time, kittens who were once timid and untrusting become confident and friendly! We’ll give you strategies to help win over these spicy beans.
Medical
Medical Fosters administer medication to sick or injured kittens. They must also have the ability to bring these kittens to the shelter or our vet more frequently. We provide literature on care and medication administration as well as our Medical Coordinator's personal number in case of emergencies.
Bottle Babies
These fosters should have experience with orphaned kittens. Bottle Babies require feeding every two to three hours, stimulation to urinate and defecate, a constant heat source, and daily monitoring of weight and food intake. They will need to be kept away from other animals in the house as they will not be old enough to receive vaccinations and are the most susceptible to illness.
Nursing Moms
Momma and her babies will need a separate, quiet area away from other animals. Nursing Moms require little care and will come to your home current on vaccinations, we just ask that you monitor the kittens’ health and keep a weight log for each of them. Nursing Mom Fosters will be responsible for weaning kittens from their mom once the appropriate age is reached.
More Types of Fosters
Medical
Medical Fosters administer medication to sick or injured animals. They must also have the ability to bring these animals to the shelter or our vet more frequently. We provide literature on care and medication administration as well as our Medical Coordinator's personal number in case of emergencies. Our most common instance of an animal in need of a medical foster is those who are receiving treatment for heartworms.
Hospice
We place elderly and terminally ill pets in a loving foster home where they have the ability to thrive and be as comfortable as possible. This extends to dogs and cats primarily over the age of 8 years old, however, we do occasionally encounter animals with serious illnesses under that age. Hospice Foster placements can extend anywhere from a few weeks, a few months, and even as long as a few years. This is dependent on the age and medical needs of the animal in your care. ACSKC oversees all medical care and critical decision making regarding these animals, making it as easy as possible for our Hospice Fosters.
Behavioral
Some dogs would benefit greatly from training. While we review the basics with our dogs, like sit, others need significantly more education than what our staff can provide. If you have experience in or work as a dog trainer, we’d love to connect you with a dog who would learn from your expertise!
