Foster an Animal
Fostering a shelter animal is a fun, rewarding experience for both you and your foster animal. Whether you’re available for a few hours for a day trip or can open your home to a long-term foster, there are foster options for everyone!
Kittens
Hundreds of kittens come into the shelter each year and are in need of extra care. Because of their age and susceptibility to illness, they must be in a foster home where they can get the care they need until they are old enough to be adopted. Due to the large volume of kittens we receive, kitten fostering is the largest need.
Kitten Fostering opportunities include:
- Neonatal Kittens: Orphan kittens under 5 weeks old are in need of constant care. This is a very rewarding opportunity for those who have the time to care for kittens at least every 2 hours.
- Orphan Kittens: Kittens without a mom and over the age of 5 weeks need care and socialization as they grow. This is also a great opportunity for beginners.
- Mom & Kittens: Fostering a litter of kittens with their mom is a great opportunity for beginners. Mom does most of the work and you provide a little extra love and socialization.
- Medical cases: LCHS sometimes receives kittens and adult cats with injuries and illnesses that require medical care. Being able to receive the appropriate medical care while in a foster home can reduce a cat’s stress allowing them to recover faster.
- Shy cats and kittens: Undersocialized and shy cats can benefit from foster care where they can work on their social skills and come out of their shell while waiting for their forever home.
Fospice (Foster Hospice)
LCHS occasionally receives cats who are elderly or sick and not candidates for adoption. In cases like this, we seek foster homes for senior cats to live out their lives happy and loved.
Adult Cats
Adult cats who are not adjusting to shelter life may need a Foster Home to help them to come out of their shell. This is a great opportunity for those with quiet homes interested in helping cats.
Would you like more information about Cat and Kitten Fostering? Contact: kaxline@lchsmontana.org
The first step to becoming a Cat or Kitten Foster is to fill out our Feline Foster Survey.
Puppies
Puppies, too young to be adopted, need a Foster Home to grow and thrive. Caring for, socializing, and cleaning puppies is a demanding but amazing experience. This is a wonderful opportunity for those with an extra room in their home!
Short-Term Fostering
This is a low-commitment way for you to help get a dog away from the day-to-day stress of the shelter:
Paw-Jama Party: Take a dog into your home, or a partner hotel for just a night or two to allow them to relax and learn more about who they really are outside of the shelter.
Day Trip: Take a dog out into the community, for a car ride, or to your house for just a few hours. Help them meet people or just give them a quiet place to take a nap. This fostering is perfect for busy people who still want to help a dog!
Long-Term Fostering
Some dogs are not suited for shelter life whether because they are too old, in need of rehabilitation, or are nervous in this environment. This is a great opportunity for anyone with dog experience wanting to broaden their horizons.
Fospice (Foster Hospice)
LCHS occasionally receives dogs who are elderly or sick and not candidates for adoption. In cases like this, we seek foster homes for senior dogs to live out their lives happy and loved.
Would you like more information about Dog Fostering? Contact: kaxline@lchsmontana.org
The first step to becoming a Dog or Puppy Foster is to fill our our Dog Foster Questionnaire.
Due to a lack of space, we don’t currently house small animals at Lewis and Clark Humane Society.
