Volunteer to be a foster ‘parent’ at the Terre Haute Humane Shelter

By Niki Laviolette
Special to the Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE May 17, 2008 09:26 pm

— Every year, thousands of kittens and puppies end up in animal shelters where space is always limited. It’s a challenge trying to find a place to care for these fast-growing young ones so that they do not have to be euthanized due to the lack of space. One answer is to place the babies into foster homes.
Fostering is becoming a substitute caretaker for a kitten, cat, puppy or dog inside your home. You are volunteering to do what it takes to ensure that these pets have every opportunity to find a good home by helping them to become healthy or well socialized. The task involves feeding, teaching good manners, giving love and attention, and on occasion, medicating.
Circumstances that need fostering are homeless moms with babies (which require care in an enclosed room), bottle-fed babies (young ones typically under 4 weeks old without a mom and not weaned), self-feeding kittens or puppies who can eat on their own but who are too young to be adopted, and stray or abandoned adult dogs and cats. Fostering a sick or injured homeless pet can mean the difference between life and death. Fostering allows pets to live in a home environment rather than being confined to a cage while they are waiting to be adopted.
Puppies or kittens fostered in a home rather than in a cage in a shelter have a better opportunity to thrive and stay healthier. In shelters, they don’t receive all the attention that they need. There isn’t as much interaction for socialization. They will acquire more exposure to people in a home setting, which can increase their chance at being adopted.
Becoming a foster parent requires advance planning. Prepare a small, quiet room in your home where the pet can feel safe and secure. It could be a bathroom or an unused guest room. Remove any toxic plants and breakable objects. Check for electrical cords that could be chewed and keep closet doors closed. Next, provide high quality pet food, water, bed, toys, and if the foster is a feline, litter box and scratching post. Visit your foster pets frequently. Talk to them, pet them and give them treats.
Sometimes, too much enthusiasm can be overwhelming; be patient with a new foster. Often, shelter animals are frightened from all the recent change in their lives.
Try to keep your foster pet (at least temporarily) separated from your personal pets. Animals who have suffered from abuse may need to experience human kindness again. Often, leaving a television or radio on provides comfort. Invite family and friends to visit the foster pet and offer them treats.
Remember, the purpose is to provide a healthy and social environment in order to increase their chances at being adopted. Fostering is a win-win situation. You help your local humane shelter as well as save a life. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, call the humane shelter at (812) 232-0293.