The SPCA of Westchester is currently recruiting volunteers to act as foster parents to help animals transition between the shelter and a permanent home. These animals are either too young, need socialization or nursing back to health, or are having trouble adapting to the stressful surroundings of an animal shelter. Whether it's a litter of orphaned kittens who need to be bottle fed or an abused dog who needs TLC to be able to trust people again, foster parents provide a safe environment for these animals to mature, become more socialized or heal from an illness.
Why Does the SPCA Have a Foster Care Program?
The purpose of a foster home is to provide a home environment as well as the opportunity to assess the animal's behavior around other dogs, cats and children in addition to observing the animal's personality, attitude and temperament. This may include socialization, helping with house training, separation anxiety issues, frequent feedings (for very young animals) and just plain house manners.
Who Can Be a Foster Home Caretaker?
Anyone can be a foster parent provided he/she has experience caring for animals and is able to provide a clean and safe and loving environment for the animal. Potential volunteers must fill out an application and interview with the volunteer coordinator at the potential foster home. After the application and a home visit are approved, the applicant will sign a contract with the SPCA.
What are the Foster Home's Responsibilities?
The SPCA will provide all foster animals with current vaccinations, heartworm preventive (for dogs) and de-worming medication. All animals will have been spayed/neutered unless they are not yet old enough. With the exception of medical costs, the expenses incurred while fostering an animal are the volunteer's financial contribution to the shelter. We ask that foster homes provide good quality food for their dogs and cats. Receipts for the cost of food, toys, bedding and grooming expenses may be kept and the SPCA will acknowledge these contributions for tax purposes.
How Long Does an Animal Stay in Foster Care?
An animal will typically stay in a foster home from 2 weeks to up to 4 months depending on the situation and the animal's needs. We ask that our foster homes be prepared to make a 4 month commitment in case that amount of time is needed.
What is the Process for Adopting a Dog or Cat out of a Foster Home?
All dogs and cats must be adopted directly from the SPCA of Westchester. Those who have seen the animal and want to adopt him/her, must go directly to the shelter to fill out paperwork. The shelter staff has the final say on who may adopt the dog or cat.
Think you have what it takes? Call foster care coordinator Cathy at (914) 923-2501 for more information.
Our volunteers are desperately looking
to get these animals a home.
A letter from Lexus' foster family: Lexus is doing fine. I probably wouldn't recommend him for a family
with too many cats. He's doing well with some of ours, but he still chases them sometimes. And, I'd probably recommend him for a family with older children who can run and play with him—and keep up with him.
Lexus loves playing with toys in the backyard—frisbees, soccer balls, tennis balls. He's extremely athletic and full of energy. And he loves to take long walks. He rarely pulls when we're walking. He's a good training partner because he keeps up a quick pace. He's good with other dogs, large and small, at the dog park, although he doesn't need company to play, just one person throwing a tennis ball will keep him busy for a long time. He's a good watch dog and does bark when someone comes too close to the house, but he's usually friendly to people and other dogs. He's an early riser and is raring to go once he gets up, but he's learned to rest during the day and at night when the house is quiet. He's very loyal and lovable with our family and has settled right in, and we're hopeful that he will find a new adoptive home soon!
Surge is such a little sweetie. He is about 5 years old and is one of several FIV positive kitties that has been at the shelter for over a year. Surge LOVES to cuddle and to be held and is very gentle, a big purrer and gives kisses all the time. He needs a home with lots of affection and attention and does not mind living with dogs. Surge needs to find a home as the only cat or with other FIV positive cats. FIV positive cats are not a threat to any person or pet other than cats. These kitties need loving homes too and this would be such a wonderful way to help a feline in need.
Sylvie is a 3 year old 65lb hound/husky mix, with a lot of affection and
exuberance. She came into the foster program because she appeared
incontinent but in fostercare this problem was downgraded to "excitable
urination" which has improved a great deal with patience and training.
Sylvie loves to walk and learn tricks. She is eager to please and is very
smart. She loves other dogs. She is a great companion and loves to ride in
the car. For more information call Sylvies foster mom, Janice at
914-232-0940
One of our dogs available for adoption that is currently in foster care is Kip.
Kip is around 2-years-old and is a 40lb brindle pit bull mix. He started life in the "pits" having been picked up as a stray 4 times before being abandoned at the SPCA in 2002. Currently living in a foster home with 2 shepherds, Kip likes every dog he has met and melts the heart of everyone around him. He loves to ride in the car and do errands and is a real sweetheart. To meet or ask about Kip, please call his foster Mom: (914) 923-2501. (Click the picture for a larger view of Kip and his foster family and additional photos).
