Foster

Thank you for considering the lifesaving act of becoming a foster!! Fosters truly are the FRONT LINE for these animals! A foster home is a temporary living situation for animals while they are awaiting placement in a permanent home. Foster families provide shelter, food, care, love, and guidance. The number of animals we can save depends entirely on the number of people who will open their homes and hearts to foster them. For some of these animals, this will be their first experience being treated as a family pet. You are their salvation and you should never underestimate the important role you are playing in their lives!

Why Foster?

The only way that we can save animals is with the help of foster homes. Being a foster family has rewards beyond the essential value of helping a pet in need find a new home. For some, it is a chance to have an animal companion without making a lifetime commitment, or to try new companions for an existing pet. Foster Care is critical to our rescue efforts, the more homes we have, the more animals we can save. Becoming a foster family is a very rewarding experience, and can be a lot of fun. There are tears shed when a foster finally finds a home of their own, but knowing you have saved a life and opened up space to save another helps the tears go away.

How Long Can I Expect to Foster a Pet?

Fosters will keep animals an average of 2 weeks or less. Some pets need more time because of age, illness, injury, or behavior issues. Your time commitment will be discussed up-front before you agree to foster the pet, but most foster families keep the animal until the animal gets adopted.

What are the Responsibilities of a Foster Family?

Complete a Dog Foster Application

Complete a Cat Foster Application

Our Foster Guidelines

Provide a safe, clean, and caring environment for the animal.
Provide food, water, exercise and socialization as appropriate.
Monitor any medical and/or behavioral problems and provide any medications as directed.
Assist with transport to/from Adoption Events.
Participate in helping LCAR find a family for the animal.

How far would YOU be willing to go to save the life of an animal? All of the following are possible scenarios when working with rescued animals that are coming out of hi-kill shelters.... If left in these shelters, these animals WILL die. Are YOU the person that will help them through this process....? Somebody has to help them... Is that somebody YOU?

~ Would you be willing to foster an animal that is dirty, scared, and withdrawn? Would you be prepared to offer them a flea bath, a warm meal and unconditional love and guidance...??

~ Would you be willing foster an animal who is exhibiting a cough or the sniffles and provide compassionate and loving care along with administering medications provided by the rescue?

~ Would you be willing to foster an animal that has loose stool or diarrhea and provide compassionate and loving care along with administering any medications provided by the rescue?

~Are you willing to foster an animal that may need to be isolated from other animals because of health issues like ringworm, mange, or kennel cough?

~Would you be willing to foster an animal that will need extra attention for behaviors associated with fear or lack of socialization?

~Would you be willing to foster a dog that is having trouble socializing with other animals, provided the rescue provides professional help with introductions and socialization techniques?

~Many animals have spent their life chained to a tree or a dog house… Or wandering the streets alone and scared. Would you be willing to help teach a dog about the manners required for “house living”?

~Many animals have never been walked on a leash… would you be willing to assist in teaching an animal the joys of going for walks “safely” on the end of a leash?

~Experience has taught us that our weekly Adoption Events are the prime reason for our success in getting these animals adopted. Are you willing to participate in getting your foster dog to and from our weekend events?

~Animals are creatures of habit. Are you sensitive to how difficult and stressful this transition can be on them, and are you willing to commit to helping them to transition to all the changes by providing them with a secure home for a minimum of one week?

~Animals are very much like humans when it comes to meeting new friends of the 2-legged and the 4-legged version… First time interactions can be scary and stressful. Do you understand that these “reactions” are not a true indication of the animal’s nature, and that you will have to be patient and strong in leading the dog to behave appropriately?

~95% of all dog fights are brought on by toys, and treats such as raw hides. Are you committed to making sure that these items are not “lying around” to avoid any potential conflicts?

~Many animals will chew on inappropriate items when they feel nervous or stressed. Besides having your things damaged or ruined, this can sometimes be dangerous to the animal. Would you be comfortable kenneling the animal in a size appropriate crate when left unattended?

~Exercise is a VERY important component to “balancing” out dogs energy levels, and can also help to curb unwanted behaviors. Are you able to commit to making sure that your foster animal receives adequate exercise?

~As a volunteer based organization, are you committed to helping us properly plan for any changes to your commitment by giving us ample notice when an animal needs to be moved to a new home?

If you answered YES to many of these questions than you are just the type of person that we are looking for to care for our four-legged friends! PLEASE APPLY TODAY!!