Fostering FOR Oswego County SPCA, A Labor of love

What is a foster home?

It's where you open up your home to one or more animals in need of a temporary home. This pet will stay with you until either a permanent home is found, or other arrangements are made for this pet to be fostered. While the pet is at your house, you are fully responsible for their care. You groom them, feed them, clean up after them, take them to the vet as needed and bring them to any adoption events or meetings as requested.

Please note: All Oswego County SPCA animals will need to live indoors, not outdoors. Please keep this in mind when offering to foster.

What types of animals do you foster?

The majority of the Oswego County SPCA needs in the Oswego County area is for cats, followed by dogs. However we do get needs for all creatures great and small. From horses down to bunnies, caged animals to penned animals, and everything in between. If you own your own home you may be ideal to foster an animal.

Note: All cats must be kept indoors (excepting ferals, see below), all dogs must be kept indoors except to play/relieve themselves, caged animals (rodents, birds) obviously are to always be kept indoors.

It should be added that, if you have a stable, a sheltered barn, have land, aren't close to any major high traffic roads and would love a good mouser and someone to keep the rodent population to a minimum, consider becoming part of our feral cat program. We have semi-wild/wild cats (ferals) who would love to help you control your smaller critter population. Feral cats require a safe, relatively weather-tight shelter, mostly for the cold winter months where you can provide them fresh food and water. Outside of that, both they and you can go about their business. This isn't "fostering" per se, but it is a need we have, and should be mentioned.

How long does a pet stay in a foster home?

This depends on the pet. Some pets stay for a month or two, some may stay longer, some can stay for over a year. It's important that you are honest in thinking of how long you can foster a pet because we don't feel it's fair to switch them from foster home to foster home. It's a commitment but a rewarding one and you're providing an invaluable service while choosing to foster, not just to Oswego County SPCA, but to the community, and the welfare of all animals.

Who pays for the costs of feeding the pets while in the foster home?

Oswego County SPCA will provide food, and/or an allowance where necessary, for fostering an animal. If you wish to provide the food to the foster pet at your expense, though not necessary, it will help Oswego County SPCA focus its monies on other areas of care, vet bills, and other expenses to those less fortunate, be they humans who are beset with vet bills they cannot pay, or other animals in our care.

Who covers veterinarian bills during fostering?

Oswego County SPCA will cover the vet bills, with exceptions. For instance, if the pet is hurt at your house due to your negligence or an accident that you could have been prevented, you will be responsible for the bills. If you bring in a pet who is ill that causes the foster pet to become ill, you will be responsible for the medical bills.

Do not take the animal to the vet without contacting a board member first.  Our vets have been instructed to not provide care unless it has been previously approved.  If it is an emergency, you can take the animal to the vet and the office will contact one of the board members at that time for approval. We require you to bring the pet to the vet of our choice as we do have a few vets we are more comfortable with. We have the final say regarding all medical decisions. We will work with the vet to determine what course of action should be followed, including euthanasia, if the vet and we feel it's the most humane option.

Can I adopt the pet if I fall in love?

If you fall in love with the pet, and request to adopt them, we will give you the option to adopt first.  You will have to complete and sign the Adoption Agreement and pay the adoption fee also.

Other considerations

You may not bring unwanted pets into your home on your own and expect the organization to "take them in as fosters". If you ask about bringing in a foster on your own and we say we are unable to help fund this pet at this time, we mean exactly that. We do not take on more pets than we can afford. If you do bring in a pet on your own, we will help screen for prospective owners, list the pet on the website, etc, but we will not be able to be responsible for any expenses connected with these pets.

Oswego County SPCA will have final say in each and every adoption. You are encouraged to make recommendations, but in the end, the decision will be the ours. Don't promise friends and neighbors "free" pets unless you intend to pay the adoption fee and remember they could still be declined. Oswego County SPCA reserves the right to refuse to adopt any pet out to anyone.

There are other rules that will be discussed when your application is reviewed. If you would like to foster, please fill out the Oswego County SPCA foster application (52 KB Adobe PDF). Please be sure to explain your reasons for wanting to foster a pet, the type of pet you want to foster, etc..

We obviously prefer animal lovers with homes to share, a lot of love to give, and a little time to spare. If this sounds like you, then you may be an excellent addition to our foster community.