Delco SPCA Foster
Program
We have so many wonderful animals walking through our doors every day. Many of the animals brought to us are not suitable for adoption when they first arrive, and some simply need a little more time until the right home comes along for them. Animals that are too young for adoption or need time to heal from a sickness or neglect rely on a stress-free environment to grow and heal. Other animals may not be trained or socialized well enough to be adopted right away. These have the potential to become excellent pets, given more time and a loving support system. Foster volunteers take such animals into their homes and provide a nurturing environment for them to mature and become socialized and trained.
Animals are released, on a temporary basis, to foster care providers. Foster "parents" care for the animal until such time as it can be spayed/neutered and placed up for adoption, heal from an injury or become better socialized. Every animals that is placed into a foster home means another life we can bring to the Adoption Center and therefore save! Once the animal is ready for adoption, the animal can be returned to the Adoption Center to await adoption into a new home or stay within the foster home until a successful adoption is completed. Animals that are of age and healthy enough will still be promoted as available for adoption even while they are in foster care.
This can be an intense short-term commitment, but also one of the most rewarding things you will ever do.
If you are interested
in
becoming a lifesaver, please download
the foster application and
e-mail it back to our Foster
Coordinator, Mark.
Frequently
Asked Questions
The goal of Delaware County SPCA's Foster Program is to temporarily
care for as many animals as possible in order to make them
available for adoption. With the help of our dedicated foster homes, we
are saving more lives than ever before! Cats, kittens,
dogs and puppies are all available for
fostering.
What is a foster parent?
A volunteer foster parent assists by caring for an animal in his/her home that may need to be out of the Adoption Center for variety of reasons including age, illness, injury, socialization or to help provide needed space at the Adoption Center for incoming animals. Foster parents provide a clean, safe, loving environment for the animals in their homes.
How long is the foster care commitment?
The length of foster care for each animal varies depending on its needs. Fostering may last one week to several months. We have a need for foster parents throughout the year.
What are the expenses for a foster parent?
The Delco SPCA furnishes training support for dogs and medical care for all foster animals through our vet department. Foster parents incur their own expenses traveling to the Delco SPCA medical care, as necessary. Foster homes also provide food, water, litter and toys for their foster pets. Occasionally, crates, food and toys will be available to foster homes when the Adoption Center has extra donations.
What are the requirements for foster parents?
Prospective foster parents complete an application, which is reviewed by a member of the Foster Care team. Applications may be submitted via e-mail to mwalker@delcospca.org, in person at the Delco SPCA or by mail to 555 Sandy Bank Road, Media, PA 19063 or fax (610-565-1176). If you have pets, all must be up-to-date on their vaccines (we require rabies and recommend distemper and additionally bordetella for dogs, given every 6 months) and all must be spayed/neutered, although some exceptions may apply. Home inspections may be conducted once all references are checked.
Things to consider:
Are you at least 18 years of age? Though we encourage children to be a part of the fostering experience, adults are required to be the primary caregivers of the foster animals in the home.
Are you able to separate the foster animals from your own animals? Because some foster animals have limited immunity, it is best to keep them in a spare bedroom or back room initially. When outside, puppies and dogs must be supervised in an enclosed yard or on leash. Kittens and cats much be kept indoors at all times.
Important contact information:
Mark Walker, Delaware County SPCA Foster Coordinator: mwalker@delcospca.org
610-566-1370 x213
If you are unable to temporarily open your home to an animal at this time, you can still help make a difference by clicking below to make a donation. .
What is a foster parent?
A volunteer foster parent assists by caring for an animal in his/her home that may need to be out of the Adoption Center for variety of reasons including age, illness, injury, socialization or to help provide needed space at the Adoption Center for incoming animals. Foster parents provide a clean, safe, loving environment for the animals in their homes.
How long is the foster care commitment?
The length of foster care for each animal varies depending on its needs. Fostering may last one week to several months. We have a need for foster parents throughout the year.
What are the expenses for a foster parent?
The Delco SPCA furnishes training support for dogs and medical care for all foster animals through our vet department. Foster parents incur their own expenses traveling to the Delco SPCA medical care, as necessary. Foster homes also provide food, water, litter and toys for their foster pets. Occasionally, crates, food and toys will be available to foster homes when the Adoption Center has extra donations.
What are the requirements for foster parents?
Prospective foster parents complete an application, which is reviewed by a member of the Foster Care team. Applications may be submitted via e-mail to mwalker@delcospca.org, in person at the Delco SPCA or by mail to 555 Sandy Bank Road, Media, PA 19063 or fax (610-565-1176). If you have pets, all must be up-to-date on their vaccines (we require rabies and recommend distemper and additionally bordetella for dogs, given every 6 months) and all must be spayed/neutered, although some exceptions may apply. Home inspections may be conducted once all references are checked.
Things to consider:
Are you at least 18 years of age? Though we encourage children to be a part of the fostering experience, adults are required to be the primary caregivers of the foster animals in the home.
Are you able to separate the foster animals from your own animals? Because some foster animals have limited immunity, it is best to keep them in a spare bedroom or back room initially. When outside, puppies and dogs must be supervised in an enclosed yard or on leash. Kittens and cats much be kept indoors at all times.
Important contact information:
Mark Walker, Delaware County SPCA Foster Coordinator: mwalker@delcospca.org
610-566-1370 x213
If you are unable to temporarily open your home to an animal at this time, you can still help make a difference by clicking below to make a donation. .