"When the shelters are all full, and there is nowhere for me to go...you took me in, you gave me food, water and shelter...you saved my life." --a foster pet

Foster care is a rewarding experience. Saving Paws relies strongly on our foster care network to save the lives of hundreds of homeless pets! Please consider fostering a homeless pet in need!

Foster Care Program Guidelines

In order to achieve a successful foster care program, we have established the following guidelines, since fostering is a team effort and everyone must understand the expectations.

The foster homes will be provided with the food and supplies for the foster pet, since we prefer to feed Purina or Iams foods, which may help reduce the chance of gastrointestinal distress and maintaining the health and weight of animals with special needs.

As a foster parent for Saving Paws you have a commitment to the foster animal.  We ask you to  monitor the foster animal’s behavior, intake/output, condition of fur/ ears/ nails, etc. and notify us with any concerns or questions.

The foster home coordinator will be available to foster parents on weekends, holidays and evenings. Foster parents should contact them with any concerns.

**A foster animal profile sheet (cage card) is provided with each foster placement. The foster parent is required to return the sheet when the foster kitty is brought back to Saving Paws. This profile assists Saving Paws in preparing the animal for adoption and provides the prospective adopter with important information that our foster home has gathered about the animal, as well as maintaining proper records for our facility.

Foster animals should be under the direct supervision of the foster parent at all times. If a foster parent must travel away from home, contact Saving Paws foster care coordinator for instructions.

Foster animals are never to be treated by the foster parents' own veterinarian. The foster parent should contact the Saving Paws foster home coordinator if veterinary services are needed.

Meetings with Prospective Adopters

While fostering, you are welcome to have prospective adopter(s) come to your home to meet the animal, or you may bring the kitty to the shelter for the meeting.  We’ve experienced more ‘natural’ behavior when the kitty is kept in the foster home for the visit, since it’s in a familiar environment, but we’re happy to accommodate you to make you as comfortable as possible!  It’s also possible to have the prospective adopters meet the kitty at Petco – Saving Paws is able to bring our adoptable pets to the Petco West location near the Fox River Mall on Sundays from 1- 4 pm, or the Petco East location on Sundays from 10-4 pm.  PetSmart also partners with us to bring in our adoptable pets for the day.  Contact the PetSmart and PetCo coordinators if you’re interested in exploring this.

For those fostering a dog, we recommend letting them come to your home to meet the dog in a quiet, "real" environment. Please keep the Foster Adoption Coordinators in the loop of these meetings.

You can choose to have the prospective adopter complete the adoption application in advance of the meeting, or they can meet the pet and then decide if they want to complete the application.

Generally, it takes us 2-3 business days to process the background/ vet reference checks, so it may delay the meeting, but it also provides the potential adopter time to reflect on the commitment that caring for a pet entails.  Again, it’s up to you and the prospective adopter as to which option you choose.
 

Adoption Application Process for Foster Care

Please encourage the prospective adopter to email their application to info@savingpaws.com. If you receive the paper application, you may call the information in to the shelter 920-830-2392 or the adoption coordinators.  If you phone it in and are leaving a message, please be sure to spell the adopter’s name, provide their address, and date of birth.  Spouse/ roommate/ partner information should also be included, as well as personal references and vet info.  Please also provide your name and phone number, so we can call you with the results.

The foster parent is asked to help provide the final decision if the adopter is the best fit for that pet.  You’ve developed a relationship with the foster pet, and Saving Paws values your input.  If you’re not comfortable

with the adopter/ family, you can deny their application for any reason.  Our application does state that we are able to refuse any application.

If at any time you have a question, concern, feedback, or the foster arrangement isn’t working, please do NOT hesitate to let us know.  We are appreciative of you opening your heart and home to this pet, and we want to make sure it’s best for you and the adoptable pet.  Without our foster homes, we aren’t able to help these pets! 

If you are interested in fostering a homeless pet for Saving Paws, we need you! 

To foster a dog or puppy, please email Becca at dogs@savingpaws.com.

To foster a cat or kitten, please email Michele at info@savingpaws.com. 

You will also need to fill out a Foster Care Application.

Thank you for your interest in saving the lives of homeless pets!