All new foster homes are given a year's free membership in the Bedford Humane Society and are encouraged to attend meetings and voice their thoughts and opinions on decisions that are made. Attendance, however, is not required.
Foster parents are usually contacted by the Foster Care Coordinator about an animal that needs a temporary home. Although once you are known for your work, individuals may approach you directly. You would be given all available information about the animal, and you would decide whether to take it in, or pass and wait for another. You would NEVER be expected to take in an animal you did not want.
Once you have the animal, you would assess it's condition and begin to provide for it's needs. You would be responsible for vaccinating, worming and grooming the animal, and transporting it to the vet for spay/neuter or general care. You would be expected to promote your pet for adoption by bringing it to our adoption events, or making arrangements with another volunteer to bring it. Your pet will also be listed on the website, and we will screen potential adopters and advise you when we have a potential match. Because no one will know your foster pet better than you do, your input in selecting the pet's new home is very valuable !
- Are you really ready? Fostering is a wonderfully fulfilling experience, but it is not for everyone. Does everyone in your household agree this is a good idea? If you rent, will your landlord allow you to have an extra animal on the premises?
- The Society will pay for all of the animal's expenses, including veterinary care, food and reasonable claims for incidentals, like toys and blankets. We ask you only for your time and transportation.
- The Society does not foster unadoptable animals, such as aggressive dogs or feral cats. We will always do our best to match the right animal with the right home, and would never knowingly give you a problem animal.
- We happily accept any level of appropriate animal care as a potential foster home, whether you would like to provide total care, such as housetraining and obedience, or whether you could only proved a safe, healthy outdoor stay in a fenced area (dogs only). We do provide dog runs for our dogs.
- Once you become a Foster Parent, you will have joined a small but growing family of foster care providers and volunteers who will be behind you every step of the way. You will never be left wondering or without help. We are always a phone call away.
Interested?
Please complete and submit the following forms & we'll be in touch with you as soon as possible:
Volunteer Application and Release
Thank you !
If you become an approved Foster Home, here are Guidelines & Agreement
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