Thank you for considering becoming a foster home for Humane Society of Charlotte animals. Fostering is vital to our mission. The work of foster homes makes young, shy, or ill animals adoptable. Their time in your care, and their subsequent adoption, allows HSC to take in more animals to be adopted.
Before we enroll you in the foster program, however, you should first ask yourself these important questions. Only if your honest answer to every one of them is a firm “Yes!” should you complete the foster application. Our animals trust you to have their best interests at heart—please don’t apply to foster unless you truly can do all the things below.
Are you able to separate the foster animals from your own?
For the health of all animals, fosters MUST be isolated from your own companion animals. A separate room or enclosed area with NO carpet will work best. Bathrooms make a great foster area. Remember keep the toilet seat closed (kittens will try to jump in).
Are you aware that there is a great deal of clean-up and even possible damage to your home when you take a foster?
Foster animals have ruined drapes, carpeting, clothing, and other valuable items. Preparing your home and the area the animals will stay in can prevent most accidents, but not all of them!
Are all family members whose lives will be impacted by the fosters willing to have these animals in your home?
Fosters may be noisy; they may be messy; they may break or otherwise damage items in your home. A part of your living space will have to be closed off and dedicated to them. You will have to spend significant amounts of time with them, and may have to make multiple trips back to the shelter with them even if they are healthy (kittens, for example, need to have their weight gain checked regularly). If another family member is actively opposed to the use of your home for fostering, you should not complete the foster application at this time.
Are you able to monitor the health of the foster animals?
You will need to pay attention to your fosters. You’ll need to spend enough time with them to know their normal behavior patterns. Only then will you be able to spot the signs of illness, or worsening of symptoms, in time to avoid your foster needing expensive veterinary care—or perhaps even dying. The Foster Handbook describes what to look for, but if you’re not paying attention no amount of information will safeguard the health of your fosters.
Can you get to us quickly in case of an emergency?
If animals in your care need medical treatment, you must be able promptly to transport the animal either to the shelter or to a designated veterinarian for proper medical treatment.
Are you emotionally prepared to return the animal after the foster period is up?
It can be very difficult to let go once you have become emotionally attached to the animals! Remember the day will come for you to bring your foster animals back to the shelter. You will be giving love and attention to the animals every day while they’re in your care. . . then one day they’ll be gone. Your only comfort will be knowing that they are much more likely to find a loving, permanent home because of YOUR work!
Can you place your trust in the staff to decide what is the best for the animal?
Sometimes adoption is not an option even after the animal has been fostered. Knowing that an animal you have fostered may not be adoptable can be very hard to manage emotionally.
Do you feel comfortable explaining to friends that these animals are not yours to adopt out and that they must go through the regular adoption process?
If you are interested in helping to find homes for your foster animals, you must refer your friends and family to the shelter staff to complete an adoption application. The animals cannot be adopted out from your home.
If you're ready to help Humane Society of Charlotte as a foster volunteer, please become a registered volunteer by completing our on-line application. You will then attend a general volunteer orientation where you will learn how to schedule your foster parent training.
If you have any questions, please contact Cat Belteau, volunteer coordinator, via email: cbelteau@humanesocietyofcharlotte.org or phone: (704) 494-7706.
