Foster Friends Program
Fostering an animal is a life-changing experience for animals and a rewarding one for humans.
As a foster, you’ll provide a temporary welcoming housing option to animals who have found themselves at our shelter. Fostering helps resident animals at Anita's Stevens Swan Humane Society a better chance at adoption by giving them a place to decompress, in a loving home, with their devoted foster parent(s).
About the Foster Friends Program
Our mission at Anita's Stevens Swan Humane Society is to utilize our experienced and dedicated team, to take care of at-risk animals who have been neglected, abandoned, or unwanted in Oneida County. Every animal that walks through our doors is provided with a stable and safe environment to live in until they find their lifelong home. There is no denying that the shelter environment is a stressful one for those with four paws, who can’t understand why they’ve ended up here. That is where we need your help. Fostering an animal ensures that they are receiving the human interaction, activity level, health improvements, and rest that they deserve. We strive to give each animal the one-on-one time they yearn for every week, but we know the environment and care of a happy home is what they really need.
Frequently Asked Questions
We ask our fosters to take care of their new foster animals, as though they are their own. This includes feeding them on a regular schedule, giving them ample bathroom breaks, and daily exercise and enrichment. We also welcome advanced and devoted fosters who are capable of training our animals outside of their basic needs in housebreaking, crate training, basic obedience, or extra skills like sit, lay down, stay, and come!
To start, you must fill out our foster application. Our team will review your application and if you are a good fit for our program we will contact you to schedule an orientation and start the foster selection process.
There are a wide variety of canine and feline cases in need of foster homes:
- Kittens and puppies that are too young for adoption.
- Cats and dogs recovering from surgery, illness, or injury that need a more comfortable place to heal.
- Newly rescued or long-term residents are seeing a decline in personality in the shelter environment.
- Cats and dogs with special needs (both behavioral and/or medical).
- Senior cats or dogs looking for a home to spend their retirement.
- Nursing litters that need a quiet home to grow!
Yes, the shelter pays for the food and medical expenses for the duration of the foster.
Duties and expectations of the foster is to provide a safe, temporary home and care for the foster pet until they are ready for adoption. Fosters are expected to bring their foster pet to the shelter or Herkimer Vet Associates for any medical care and veterinary appointments, and help promote their foster pet to help us find their forever home.
Foster Friend Essentials
The minimum requirements to foster with us are:
- Must be 18 years of age, or older.
- Must live within the Mohawk Valley area.
- Must be allowed to have animals in the home.
- Must be able to transport your foster animal to and from Anita’s Stevens Swan Humane Society on an as needed basis.
Can't foster now, but want to help? Donate here.