HSBC FOSTER PROGRAM
We want every animal brought to us to have a chance for a long and happy life. Shelters can be very stressful places for pets, and that stress can weaken immune systems and increase vulnerability to illness. Foster homes provide a less stressful housing option that can often speed recovery, minimize behavioral deterioration and increase chances of adoption. Because of our limited resources and personnel, we are not able to care for the many sick, injured and very young but otherwise adoptable animals as we would like to. Foster care will allow some of the young ones to grow and the sick and injured to heal. In addition, utilizing foster homes for any eligible animals exponentially increases the capacity of our shelter. The foster care program brings caring individuals and animals in need together, providing care in a home setting until the animals are ready for adoption.
ANIMALS ELIGIBLE FOR FOSTER CARE
Very young kittens and puppies that are approved by the veterinarian and the shelter manager.
Animals with a treatable illness, with reasonable intervention.
Animals with a treatable injury, with reasonable time and treatment.
Any animal eligible for adoption as approved by the shelter manager.
Animals with minor behavioral issues to qualified fosters, as approved by the shelter manager.
Others as approved by the veterinarian and shelter manager.
ANIMALS USUALLY NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FOSTER CARE
Animals with serious medical problems and a poor prognosis for recovery or rehabilitation.
Animals with serious behavior problems, such as serious aggression issues that put humans or other animals at risk of harm.
Unthrifty young animals.
FOSTERS
Fosters are recruited, onboarded, and managed by HSBC staff.
When an animal is a candidate for foster, we use fosters who are approved.
The approval for the animal to be fostered must first be obtained by the shelter manager, and in some instances the veterinarian, as stated above.
A staff member requesting to foster must also get the approval of their supervisor.
Fosters parents need to understand that ongoing decisions about care will remain in the hands of the shelter and are dependent on financial resources and prognosis for recovery.
Foster parents also need to be aware that the shelter makes all medical/surgical decisions about foster animals. The shelter provides a contact for medical emergencies. Foster parents will not be reimbursed if they take an animal to another veterinarian for exam, diagnostic testing, treatment, etc.
Any animal that leaves the shelter into foster care must be recorded as such; including the name and contact for the person who is the foster provider and the date the animal went into foster.