Foster Care Program

Welcome to Tulare County’s dedicated team of Critter Crew Volunteers! The Foster Care Program is another great approach to increasing animal adoptions. The primary goal with foster parenting is to provide temporary placement alternatives for “special needs” animals until they are suitable for adoption and to give the more adoptable animals a better chance of finding a good home. Some of these animals may be great companions, but cannot survive in the shelter or kennel environment. The following information will be helpful in learning how to care for your foster animal and get him or her healthy for adoption. This will also be your guide to the policies and procedures of our foster care program.

If you have any questions at any time, please don’t hesitate to call Michelle Shanley, Volunteer Coordinator, 636-3647 x 2.

Do I Want to Become a Foster Parent?

Being a foster parent is difficult and should not be an impulsive decision. The animals in foster care are often very needy and require a bit of attention. The process for selecting the animal should be made by the shelter staff and animals should not be chosen on the basis of an emotional bond. The animals will be selected carefully using input from staff and volunteers. The fostered animals will be those that have been surrendered to the shelter...not those from an outside source. Your decision should be based on the desire to improve chances of adoption, not for other reasons (such as using this situation to “test drive” the animal, having an animal without a commitment or profit, etc.). Foster parenting is not a solution to overpopulation or irresponsible pet ownership, but it is a way to improve a needy animal’s chances of being adopted.

Foster volunteers are expected to follow the procedures of the Foster Program. Prospective foster parents must complete the Foster Parent Volunteer Application, complete foster and adoption counseling training, submit to a home inspection, actively seek an adoptive family for the animal (e.g. Respond immediately to any interested potential adopters, bring to offsite, etc.) and sign agreement of policies, procedures and care standards.