Many do not know this but, in addition to a shelter, Second Chance also offers a very versatile foster care program. Being a foster care provider is both challenging and extremely rewarding. The challenge comes from bringing a new pet into your home and working through the adjustment period. The reward is in knowing that you are giving the pet a chance to heal and trust so that they can be more quickly placed into forever homes. Read on to learn more…

Foster pets have varying needs leading them to be placed in foster care, such as illnesses that require special care and diet as well as behavioral issues or lack of socialization that are best transformed through a consistent and secure home environment. Additionally, puppies and kittens that are too young to be in a shelter, or nursing mothers and their litters do best in foster care.

The process of becoming a foster care provider involves two painless yet important steps: 1) completing a foster care application and 2) having a “home visit” to assess what kind of pet would be best in your home environment and lifestyle. For example, an extremely timid and elderly dog is not placed in a home with 6 energetic children who are forming a rock band.

Fostering a pet in need of shelter, love, and guidance requires some extra time and space in your home and heart but it is one of the most rewarding ways to help homeless pets. Furthermore, you get the great pleasure of having a loving pet in your home – without the long term commitment.

Fostering provides a stepping stone for animals in search of permanent homes and helps set the stage for successful adoptions. Pets who have been at the shelter too long benefit from having a break which does wonders to a pet’s self-esteem, attitude, and connections to people.

Many worry about the emotional attachment involved in fostering – and whether they will be able to let the pet go when it is time to return to the shelter or go to their new adoptive home. Second Chance counsels people in this situation to focus upon how they have helped the pet along and how other foster pets will be needing this same assistance.

If I don’t find a home soon, I am an example of a cat that might benefit from a foster home. My name is Storm. I am just a year old came but have been waiting for my new family for 6 months now. I am a bit shy and get overlooked by my more outgoing cat friends here at Second Chance. Although I am very sweet and good with cats and dogs my true awesome personality takes some time to unfold around new people.

Before it is decided whether I get to go to foster care there needs to be more foster homes in our area. So contact the Second Chance Shelter today, at 626-2273, to learn more about becoming a foster home for homeless pets in our region.