Foster Care Information and Applications

Foster Caretaker

      Being a foster parent for an animal requires taking the animal into your home and often entails extra care than a normal pet would require.  For very young animals, bottle feeding and constant supervision is often necessary.  Fostering is sometimes difficult on account of the ease with which we become emotionally attached to an animal that must be soon given to a new home.  Foster parents are an integral part of Pals for Paws, Inc.  Please keep in mind that it is not uncommon to become quite attached especially when very young puppies or kittens are involved.

      As a new foster parent you have just been given the opportunity to make a difference in the life of an animal but along with that comes certain responsibilities.   The foster parent provides love, socialization, and basic care while the animal is in their home.  Foster parents are not responsible for veterinary expenses; these services will be handled through Pals for Paws, Inc. but any help in this area from you will be greatly appreciated.

     Please notify Pals for Paws if there is a problem concerning the animal in your home and always take it to the veterinary clinic that Pals for Paws has recommended.  The daily responsibilities of the foster parent are to make certain the animal is fed properly, given plenty of water, and any medications necessary.  It is also important to provide a place for the animal to sleep and go to the bathroom, i.e. litterbox or backyard; it is also necessary to give the animal plenty of attention and playtime. 

     Our pets come from a variety of environments.  Some come from private homes, shelters, outside living conditions and abusive situations.  We don't always have a complete history on them, and because they can't tell us what's hurting they sometimes show us.  We call it "unpacking their baggage."  Every pet goes through an adjustment period.  Some may be very anxious and pace from door to door.  This anxiety may cause them to drink and urinate more often.  They may bark at new sounds and of course, have accidents.  It may take up to two weeks or longer for their full personality to emerge.  We've had dogs start out shy and later want to take over the whole pack.

     A lot of people are hesitant to try fostering because it is easy to grow attached to a rescue and it can be hard to see them leave.  So what is the worst thing that could happen?  You would have another wonderful addition to your family and you would have given your foster the gift of lifetime love and permanence.  There are many who "failed" fostering by keeping them in our home.  That's not such a bad thing.  For those who are able to let them go on to their forever home, there's nothing more satisfying to know that you played such an important role in that pets life, not to mention the joy you brought into their owners life. 

     Please think about opening up your home to the "homeless".  We can promise you the experience may not be easy, but always rewarding.

Providing Foster Care

     Pals for Paws is not a “shelter” like the Kokomo Humane Society. In other words, we do not put our animals in a centralized building staffed by employees. Rather, we are a network of volunteers and foster care providers. All of our animals are placed in loving homes where they are well-socialized and given attention, training, and tender loving care. This is not only good for the animals, it is also good for those who are considering adopting a new pet. Our animals usually have “a leg up” on the animals that live in shelters. Pals for Paws’ animals are generally either housebroken or in the process of becoming housebroken. They are used to being around people, children, and other animals. The foster family caring for the pet usually has a lot of information about the animal’s disposition and personality, so we are better prepared to answer the new owners’ questions or address their concerns.

We always need more people who can provide foster care!!! The more foster care volunteers we have, the more animals we can help! Pals for Paws covers medical expenses, food, and bedding supplies for the pets in foster care. We just ask that the foster parents provide the love and attention that the pets need and deserve! Are you interested in becoming a foster parent? If so, please complete the Foster Application below and mail it to Pals for Paws, P.O. Box 1034, Kokomo, IN 46903-1034

Thank you for your consideration and compassion.

Foster Application (PDF Format)
Foster Application (Excel Format)
 

Dear God Please Send Me Somebody Who'll Care! I'm Tired Of Running, I'm Sick With Despair.

My Body Is Aching, It's So Racked With Pain.
And Dear God I Pray As I Run In The Rain.

That Someone Will Love Me And Give Me A Home. A Warm Cozy Bed And A Big Juicy Bone.

My Last Owner Tied Me All Day In The Yard.
Sometimes With No Water And God That Was Hard!

So I Chewed My Leash God And I Ran Away
To Rummage In Garbage And Live As A Stray.

But Now God I'm Tired And Hungry And Cold.
And I'm So Afraid That I'll Never Grow Old.

They've Chased Me With Sticks And Hit Me With Stones While I Run The Streets Just Looking For Bones.

I'm Not Really Bad God, Please Help If You Can,
For I Have Become Just A "Victim Of Man!"

I'm Wormy Dear God And I'm Ridden With Fleas And All That I Want Is An Owner To Please!

If You Find One For Me God, I'll Try To Be Good
And I Won't Chew Their Shoes, But I'll Do As I Should.

I'll Love Them, Protect Them And Try To Obey
When They Tell Me To Sit, To Lie Down Or To Stay!

I Don't Think I'll Make It Too Long On My Own,
Cause I'm Getting So Weak And I'm So All Alone.

Each Night As I Sleep In The Bushes I Cry,
Cause I'm So Afraid God, That I'm Gonna Die!

And I've Got So Much Love And Devotion To Give, That I Should Be Given A New Chance To Live.

So Dear God Please, Please Answer My Prayer And Send Me Somebody, Who WILL Really Care That Is, Dear God, If You're Really There!