Fostering animals for the HSSWMO

In order to become one of our foster parents we require you to fill out an application. 
Shelter animals face special challenges. As foster parents you will be empowered with knowledge to help them with the following:

• Stress in kennel
• Transitional stress
• Arousal
• Consequences of inaction

As a foster we promise to:

• Provide safe housing
• Keep animal in a clean condition
• Be attentive to pet’s need for food, exercise, medication, training, etc.
• Monitor pet for arising medical and behavioral issues; communicate concerns to foster coordinator
• Follow behavioral protocols recommended by HSSWMO
• Always respect HSSWMO staff decisions regarding placement and management of pets

Ideal fosters should be:

• Communicative
• Receptive to and willing to execute directives from HSSWMO staff
• Transparent about home conditions and open to home visits
• In possession of dog handling skills or open to learning skills from HSSWMO staff (does not apply to cat and kitten fosters)
• Committed to positive training methods
• Aware of and remain in compliance with local laws regarding the number of animals in a household

Hospice Fostering

As a No Kill shelter, we work to find foster homes for these loving animals with terminal conditions. Our hospice fosters are our heroes, performing the ultimate act of kindness by taking in our sick pets and giving them a loving home for the sunset of their lives.
Our veterinarians provide fosters with guidance on how to make the animals comfortable at no cost to the foster. This includes:

• Palliative medical care
• Food
• Any necessary medications
• Training to administer fluids and medications as needed 

We work with our fosters to monitor each animal’s quality of life to determine when the most compassionate decision is humane euthanasia.

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