| What is a foster home? A foster home provides a temporary home for kittens or cats in need, and is a place for the cat to rebuild spirit and recover a sense of belonging and trust. |
| What types of animals does H.O.P.E. accept as fosters? H.O.P.E. now accepts only dogs previously adopted out under our Adoption Agreement whose families are no longer able to keep them. H.O.P.E. is unable to accept dogs or puppies for any other reason, even if an individual/family expresses an interest in fostering a dog or puppy. |
| H.O.P.E. accepts only kittens and cats obtained from the Saratoga County Animal Shelter. We are recruiting volunteers to act as foster “parents” to kittens and cats. We accept kittens and cats into foster care who: |
| § | Are too young to be adopted; |
| § | Are having a difficult time adjusting to the shelter environment; |
| § | Need to be moved out of the shelter due to overcrowding. |
| How are foster pets chosen? A H.O.P.E. representative will review the potential foster caregiver’s application and discuss their current situation. Along with the shelter staff, H.O.P.E.’s President will choose the animal(s) they feel are most in need and would be the best fit for the foster family. |
| How does fostering help? |
| § | Fostering prevents the euthanasia of adoptable cats and kittens. |
| § | Fostering provides comfort and safety to animals that have endured hardship while waiting for their “forever homes.” |
| § | Fostering allows these cats/kittens, who in most cases have been in cages at the shelter for months, time to ‘debrief’ and become socialized in the home/family setting. |
| § | Fostering enables H.O.P.E. to learn the individual personalities of the cats/kittens, thereby helping to ensure a wonderful match with the new adopter. |
| § | Fostering provides lessons in compassion and generosity to children. |
| Who can be a foster caregiver? Anyone who is 18 years of age or older and is approved through our foster care process can foster. Each foster caregiver must complete a foster caregiver orientation (held during our adoption clinics as time permits). |
| What is expected of foster caregiver(s)? |
| § | We do not know how long it will take for the cat to be adopted. Sometimes pets are adopted in days, sometimes it takes longer. But if the pet isn’t working out in his/her foster home, we will do our best to find another foster home for the pet. |
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Foster caregivers are expected to provide a safe, comfortable and healthy environment for their foster cat/kitten. |
| § | H.O.P.E. will pay for all necessary, Board-approved veterinary care. The Foster Caregiver(s) is expected to provide transportation to and from veterinary appointments. |
| § | H.O.P.E. holds regularly scheduled adoption events and other activities which promote the adoption of your animal. These may include adoption days where cats/kittens are brought out for public viewing, fund raisers, etc. Foster Caregiver(s) is expected to transport the cat/kitten to and from such events. H.O.P.E. will provide foster caregivers with pet food and supplies on an as-available basis at those events. |
| § | You should be able to keep the new foster pet separated from your other pets for several days. Your new foster may be traumatized by his/her experiences and will need time to settle in. |
| § | The foster parent should be able to handle routine care and situations with the cat/kitten without having to involve other H.O.P.E. volunteers. As a foster parent, you should be able to operate within the guidelines set forth by H.O.P.E., but essentially, you should be able to care for the pet during the foster period as if he/she belonged to you. |
| § | Foster Caregiver(s) is expected to provide appropriate information for websites, including pictures and descriptions of your foster cat/kitten. |
| § | Foster Caregiver(s) is expected to screen applicants using H.O.P.E.’s adoption policies and procedures. However, if the Foster Caregiver(s) is uncomfortable with screening applicants, a more experienced volunteer will be happy to assist you. Foster Caregiver(s) is expected to work with an approved applicant to find a mutually agreeable time and place for the applicant(s) to meet the cat/kitten. |
| What benefits does a foster parent get? By being a foster parent and spending your time with a cat/kitten, you know that you are directly helping save a cat/kitten. Every foster home equals a cat or kitten who may otherwise have been euthanized. Each foster home brings a chance to avoid that outcome and get him/her ready for a lifelong home with a good family. For our foster parents, that’s worth more than money or other incentives. |
| Won’t I get attached to the cat/kitten? You probably will get attached to him/her and in fact, you should. That’s the sign of good ownership. Fosters should take comfort knowing that for each cat or kitten they foster and find a good home, the door is opened for another cat/kitten to be saved. So, yes, you’re going to get attached and that’s ok. Just remember, there’s nothing but upside to a foster cat/kitten finding a permanent home. |
| Can I adopt an animal that I foster? Although it is not H.O.P.E.’s goal to have fosters adopt the animals in their care, should the Foster Caregiver(s) wish to adopt their cat/kitten, they must undergo H.O.P.E.’s standard approval, adoption and payment process. |
How do I start the process of fostering an animal? See our Adoption Process and Forms page. Our Foster Care approval process is the same. Any questions you have will likely be answered. All other questions can be answered by calling Wendy at (518) 428-2994. |