Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Once approved, you will receive access to the list of pets needing foster care. You can review their reason for foster, special needs, known history, expected length of stay, and sign up for someone who is a good fit for you and your family.
Ideally, a space or room where they can be kept separate from all resident animals. Even seemingly healthy animals could be incubating illnesses, and WHS cannot provide treatment for your resident animal(s) should they contract an illness.
A spare bedroom, bathroom, or even a walk-in closet would be a great place for a litter of kittens!
We provide foster parents with a library of handouts and videos on a wide variety of behavior topics. If you have any trouble or can’t find the resource you need, our team of behavior experts is happy to help!
Absolutely! Our foster program is supported by a wonderful crew of volunteer foster assistants who aid in various aspects of fostering both on-site and remotely. To learn more, contact Peggy at pvolkert@wihumane.org.
Of course! If you would like to make your foster pet an official member of your family, as long as there are no prior holds, you get first dibs on adoption! Alert the foster team as soon as possible and they’ll assist with next steps.
Yes! Foster-Facilitated Adoptions are a wonderful way to match animals with new loving families outside of the shelter. Once approved, and as long as there are no prior holds, we’re happy to provide you with the tools needed to be a matchmaker from home!
You can always return the animal to the shelter for any reason. Advance notice is preferred to ensure we can accommodate all incoming animals and have kennel space prepared. We may even be able to find a relief foster willing to take the animal so they can avoid staying at the shelter.
Yes! We have a robust community of foster families who are posting daily in our WHS Foster Facebook Group. Once your foster application is accepted, we’ll provide the link to join. There, you can share stories, tips, cute photos, and more!
We’re sorry, we are unable to provide temporary care for owned pets, with the exception of our Safe Haven program for survivors of domestic abuse.
However, anyone can post their pet as being in need of foster care on Home To Home. Note: Prospective foster parents on Home To Home are not part of WHS, and WHS is not responsible for the outcomes of conversations with potential foster homes.
To be honest, sometimes! Part of the joy of fostering is knowing that the animal you hosted directly benefited from your efforts and will ultimately find a wonderful new family. And, if you get lonesome, there will always be another animal who needs your help!