The Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s Foster Care Program provides care for animals not yet ready for adoption. Volunteers care for animals in their own homes, providing animals that are underweight, underage, sick, or injured the time they need to grow or heal so they may become adoptable. We also provide a foster care service for animals deemed as evidence in ongoing criminal investigations. Our Foster Care Program saves thousands of lives each year and there is always a need for Foster Care Volunteers.
Watch a video on foster care here>
Before volunteering for this program please consider the following:
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Foster Care falls under the umbrella of our
General Volunteer Program. All potential foster care volunteers must first apply to our General Volunteer Program and attend Volunteer Orientation. At orientation, you will be given the opportunity to sign up for a Foster Care Class, which you must successfully complete prior to fostering animals.
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You may need to make a lengthy time commitment for caring for the
animal(s). Our foster animals are in the program anywhere from a few days to a year. We will do our best to give you an accurate estimate of the length of stay prior to your commitment to fostering particular animals.
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We will respect your desire to foster certain animals. You will always have the opportunity to turn down a requested foster care situation without any negative impact on your volunteer status. We want to make sure our animals are placed with foster care volunteers who are able to care for them.
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Foster volunteers will have the opportunity to contact staff members and volunteer mentors to help you learn how to make the foster animals as healthy and adoptable as possible.
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You will need to be emotionally strong since the animal at the end of the foster care period will be released back to the Humane Society for adoption. There may be cases where upon the termination of the foster care period the animal may not be adoptable and may be euthanized.
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Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age to be the primary foster volunteer. Children under the age of 18 years may foster along with a parent or guardian who will assume responsibility for the foster animals. The parent or guardian will also complete both the General Volunteer Orientation and Foster Care Class.
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You must be of good moral and social character and not have been convicted of any crimes against animals.
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You must be able to care for and administer medications to the animals if necessary.
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You must have reliable transportation to bring the animal(s) to and from our clinic for necessary veterinarian examinations and vaccinations.
If interested in becoming a Foster Care Volunteer, please download both our Volunteer Application and Foster Care Profile, complete, and send to the Volunteer Coordinator.
Applications may be:
Dropped off in person;
Faxed to: 520.325.7190;
Mailed to: HSSA, ATTN: Volunteer Coordinator, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd.,
Tucson, AZ 85716.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting our Volunteer Coordinator at 520.321.3704, ext. 126, or via email.
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