Fostering is encouraged in New Jersey.
Fostering an animal is a terrific volunteer opportunity, greatly appreciated by animal shelters, which are often overcrowded and overwhelmed. Animal shelters in New Jersey are willing to accept applicants for fostering while some shelters provide all supplies necessary for the temporary home of one of their animals. Many different types of animals can be fostered; the need extends beyond the traditional dogs or cats. Before fostering an animal in any state, consider your family situation and evaluate the available space on your home and land.
Instructions
1. Contact a shelter such as Angel Paws in Colonia or Animal Sanctuary Society, Inc. in Mount Laurel. Inquire into the fostering programs. Ask for specific steps required to become a foster parent to an animal from the shelter.
2. Prepare the home according to the shelter's instructions. If the shelter needs fosters for young animals, be prepared to accept an animal such as a puppy who may destroy your possessions. Prepare a place in the barn to accept larger barn animals, such as horses. New Jersey has a mix of cities and farms, so animals placed for adoption range from small to large animal types.
3. Obtain, fill out and hand in all paperwork associated with fostering in New Jersey. The shelters will be interested in your family and the ages of people living in your household. Shelters test animals before placing them, so if you have certain family members, such as small children, you will not be fostering a nervous animal who does not like loud noises.
4. Welcome representatives from the shelter into your New Jersey home for a home inspection or attend a personal interview with a shelter representative. Placing an animal with a foster family requires consideration of the family as well as the animal, so the shelter will need to understand the type of family dynamic is accepting the animal.
Tags: from shelter, your family