The Fox Valley Humane Association’s Foster Program is a wonderful group of volunteers that help care for our shelter animals in their own homes. By placing animals in foster homes, we can help expand the numbers of animals we are able to help and give animals that are not thriving in the shelter setting a temporary home away from the shelter until a new permanent one can be found. Fostering gives pets a warm and loving place to heal, grow and flourish through normal activity, training and care.

As a foster parent, your role is to welcome pets into your home. We provide food, supplies, ongoing medication care and more.

Why do pets need to be fostered? Canine Foster Program Feline Foster Program

There are many reasons a pet may need to be put into foster, some of the main reasons are:

  • Underage: We get litters of puppies and kittens that are often too young to be adopted right away. The young animals need some time to let their immune systems develop and to receive proper medical care so that they are healthy enough to go to their forever homes.
  • Sick or Injured: Animals that are sick or injured heal better at a warm, loving home. Things such as getting spayed or neutered or even more complicated surgeries such as orthopedic surgery are often done at the shelter. We often get animals healing from heart worm that need a quiet place to rest. We want our pets to be strong and healthy when they go to their forever homes. Foster homes are a great place to heal.
  • Behavioral: The shelter is always busy. If we’re not adopting out pets, we’re providing care and receiving new animals. The shelter can be overwhelming at times. All animals need attention and our volunteers do a great job, walking and visiting the animals, but the devotion of a foster home really helps give one-on-one attention. Some animals come from abused or neglected situations; others lack the proper socialization to be adopted outright without getting behavioral modification. Foster homes are a great place to help train, gain some confidence and stability.

There is an incredible need for foster homes for dogs in the Fox Valley area, especially dogs who don’t do well in a shelter environment or need one-on-one training. The love and individualized care a dog gets from a foster home environment greatly increase their adoptability. Our goal is to be able to recruit, train and support foster families for FVHA’s dogs in need of individualized care. In order to become a foster, we will do a background check and a home check to assure your home is suitable for a foster dog.

To Get Started:

Step 1: Complete the application below.
Step 2: Set up a training session with a foster care coordinator

Canine Foster Care Application

Canine Foster Care Application

Name
Name
First
Middle
Last
Address
Address
City
State/Province
Zip/Postal
Best time of the day to reach you is:
Other adults in the home (18 & up):
Other adults in the home (18 & up):
First
Middle
Last
Other adults in the home (18 & up):
Other adults in the home (18 & up):
First
Last
Describe your household activity level:
Do you have a yard?
Is your yard fenced in?

Pet Preferences:

For which reasons are you looking to foster a dog?
How would you describe your level of experience with dog ownership?
Your foster dog must get along with:
Are you comfortable administering medication to an animal?
How will your foster dog get exercise?

Current Pet Information

Spayed/Neutered?
Kept Where?
Spayed/Neutered?
Kept Where?
Spayed/Neutered?
Kept Where?
Start Over

The FVHA foster care program is crucial for rehabilitating and caring for animals that are not yet ready for adoption. During their time with you, the animals will be prepared for their permanent placement when they come back to the shelter.

Fostering kittens is generally a 2-10 weeks commitment depending on their age when they first arrive in your foster home. You can plan on spending up to 8 hours a day on your fosters; the younger they are, the more attention they will need. Foster parents need to be patient and be able to provide and stable constant routine for their foster “children” as they work through their various needs.

Foster families provide a warm and caring home for our animals while they grow and become more confident. Being a foster can be one of the most difficult but rewarding volunteer experiences, and we are always here to share those with you.

Get Started:

Step 1: Complete an online foster application below.
Step 2: Meet with the foster care coordinator.

Feline Foster Care Application

Feline Foster Care Application

Name
Name
First
Middle
Last
Address
Address
City
State/Province
Zip/Postal
Best time of the day to reach you is:
Other adults in the home (18 & up):
Other adults in the home (18 & up):
First
Middle
Last
Other adults in the home (18 & up):
Other adults in the home (18 & up):
First
Last
What type of property do you reside in?
What types of cat/kittens would you be willing to foster?
Describe your household activity level:

Pet Preferences:

For which reasons are you looking to foster a cat?
How would you describe your level of experience with cat ownership?
Are you comfortable administering medication to an animal?

Current Pet Information

Spayed/Neutered?
Kept Where?
Spayed/Neutered?
Kept Where?
Spayed/Neutered?
Kept Where?
Start Over