 Fostering
A foster parent provides a temporary home for dogs or cats in need. The length of time can vary from a few days to several months depending on the needs of the pet. Sometimes a dog at the shelter will have puppies while she's there, or someone will bring in a mother dog with unweaned pups. If we've got a foster home available, they can keep the mom and pups until the pups are weaned and can be placed for adoption. Volunteers may also foster shelter pets that require immediate vet care and also to help make room for the continuous intake of new pets at the shelter.Because the shelter must euthanize to make space, Parker Paws only accepts foster pets from the shelter. We do not take in pets from the general public. Please spay/neuter your pets to reduce the number of unwanted pets in shelters.
Please click below to donate to our fund for our foster pets:
All donations are 100% tax-deductible and are used for vaccinations and other necessary vet care of our foster pets. Thank you for helping the animals!
Why do we need foster homes?
Young, unweaned kittens and puppies –
These young animals do not thrive in the shelter and it’s crucial for them to have alternative housing. Unweaned orphans require a serious commitment since they have special needs such as diet and frequent feeding schedules. One of the greatest rewards of nurturing these young animals is knowing that you are giving them a great start in life. Once the animals are weaned, they are returned to shelter for adoption.
Shelter pets in immediate need of vet care -
The Weatherford/Parker County Animal Shelter does not have a vet on staff. If a pet is brought to the shelter in need of immediate vet care, we try to locate a foster home so that we can remove the pet from the shelter and secure the vet care it requires. We can only take in these special needs pets when we have the funding (and the foster homes) available. These pets become the responsibility of Parker Paws until an adoptive home is found.
Limited shelter space –
The number of animals received at a shelter is overwhelming and adequate housing is not always available. Foster homes provide shelters with an additional option until an adoptive home is found. Our goal is to identify highly adoptable animals that simply need more time to find their adoptive home. Animals fostered from the shelter for this reason become the responsibility of Parker Paws until an adoptive home is found.
Without the additional time and care provided by temporary foster families, many of the animals that fall into the above categories would be euthanized.
What are the requirements for providing a foster home?
If you have a family pet, it must be current with its vaccinations. It is suggested that you have a separate area for your foster pet, to isolate it from your pet(s) until the health and temperament of the foster pet has been determined. You must have time each day to socialize the pet, and provide for its care. Everyone in your household must be in agreement about fostering, and understand that the goal is to find a permanent home for the pet. Of course, if you choose to keep the pet, you will be able to proceed with the permanent adoption procedure.
For weaned pets, you must make the foster pet available for adoption events, usually held on Saturdays, and to potential adopters so that a permanent home can be found. You are encouraged to tell your family and friends about your foster pet to help find an adoptive home. However, all adoptions must go through the shelter or through Parker Paws. If there is a surplus of donated pet food, you will be provided with it. Otherwise, the foster parent will be responsible for the care and feeding of the animal while in their home.
Fostering saves lives. Please contact us if you would like to open your heart to an adoptable pet that needs a temporary home. At this time, our funds are limited, so our foster program is limited also. Our ability to foster is only available through the generosity of volunteers and our donors.
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