Foster homes are urgently needed during kitten season (typically late spring to early fall), and also throughout the year. Fostering is a wonderful and rewarding experience. Your help also frees up precious shelter space and provides animals with a quieter home environment. We will provide training, support, food and medical assistance. To foster an animal, you need to have a room where the animal can remain separated from any other animals in the home.

To get started, please fill out the application below and come to our next Volunteer Orientation. See our events calendar and select Volunteer Training in the Upcoming Events dropdown menu, then click Apply (sign-up required). For questions, please call 518.434.8128 ext 212. Orientations are held at our Animal Care Center at 3 Oakland Avenue in Menands.

Foster care responsibilities (may include, but are not limited to):

• Provide at least one hour a day for socialization and play
• Provide a loving, caring environment
• Bring in fosters for biweekly medical check-ups

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Have a safe, secluded area away from children and other pets
• Possess basic cat or dog handling skills

Training Requirements:

Attend volunteer orientation session

Commitment:

• We try to place all kittens in foster homes until they are 8 weeks old and ready for adoption. Some kittens only need a few days of help, some a few weeks.
• To speed their recovery, sick cats may need fostering while they are being treated.
• Small animals sometimes need fostering until they are old enough for adoption. This varies by species.
• Dog fostering is on an as-needed basis.
   

Foster Application