Have Love to Share?
Become a Foster
Fostering an unwanted pet is like being an angel: you get to love someone into happiness. Many generous individuals want to help save animals, but don’t have the flexibility to visit the shelter regularly. Many of the animals that enter the shelter are destined to be euthanized by no fault of their own; fostering gives animals a second chance at life!
What are the benefits of fostering?
In many cases, a foster home is the difference between life and death for an animal. Many dogs are overwhelmed by the shelter environment and need the one-on-one attention that only a foster home can provide. Young puppies may need time to socialize and grow before they can be adopted out. Still others may need medical care or may have special circumstances in which a home is the best environment for them to thrive.
As a foster parent, you’ll become familiar with the unique personality of your foster animal, and you can provide information that is valuable in placing the foster in its perfect ‘forever home.’ What could be more rewarding than to help create a “happily ever after” for an animal?!
What does fostering entail?
Fostering a dog is a great way to get involved in animal rescue without a long-term commitment. There are several different types of foster roles available. Foster homes provide food, shelter, and love. All vetting is provided by our rescue. If needed, we can help with food and can loan out crates or puppy pens. Foster homes are licensed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and are subject to periodic inspections by the CHS license holders for the Department of Agriculture.
If you are a regular foster, you will take in a dog(s) and take care of the dog(s) in your home. The Cherokee Humane Society can provide food if needed, a loaner crate or pen, and a collar with ID tag. While the pet is in your home, you agree to nurture, socialize, care for the pet, and start the training process to the best of your ability. The dog(s) will stay in foster care until adopted into a forever home.
A temporary foster is in charge of taking care of a particular dog for a short period of time. You may be asked to help with transportation for that animal (for example, picking up a dog from the shelter and taking it to your home). You might also be asked to take your foster to a clinic to get a Rabies shot. (You will be refunded for that cost.) When the dog first arrives in your home, you will need to bathe it in Dawn dish soap. A temporary foster agrees to nurture and care for the animal; temporary fostering lasts for two to three weeks and the dog does not attend adoptions during this time.
Long-term fosters care for a dog that needs a quiet home and someone to give them special care or attention. These types of dogs will usually be recovering from either surgery or illness. It is preferred that the home be a quiet and calm surrounding for the dog, with little activity going on around the pet. The Cherokee Humane Society will provide all medication, if needed, and a loaner crate. This pet will not attend adoptions.
If you are a puppy foster, you will care for adorable puppies!
The bottle feeder foster cares for about two to four puppies until they are 6 weeks old. The foster provides the supplies, but CHS supplies the formula. Naturally, these puppies do not attend adoptions but you could be asked to meet for vaccinations.
The pregnancy foster cares for a pregnant dog who will have her babies at your home. You then keep the family until the puppies are 6 weeks of age. The puppies can then leave and you foster the mom until she is adopted. You may be asked to meet for vaccinations. At that time, you become a regular foster.
The puppy foster gets the puppies usually around 6 weeks of age. At 8 weeks of age they start attending adoptions until adopted. CHS will provide food, if needed, and will loan you a pen and/or crate. Usually you will have two or three puppies. You will also meet on a Wednesday so they can be transported for vetting.
I’m interested in fostering! How do I apply?
Complete the online Foster Application and someone from our team will be in touch shortly.
