"Hello, I'm Sonya the Terrier mix pictured above.  As a recent graduate of the Foster Care Program, I'm here to provide my support.  I had kennel cough when I arrived at the shelter, but a loving foster home took me in, gave me medication and love daily and even taught me some good manners.  Now I'm healthy, happy and very adoptable!"  ----  Testimonial from Sonya, Terrier mix

 

 

 

Each year the Humane Society of El Paso receives hundreds of animals too young to be placed up for adoption. Fortunately, Society foster care volunteers are available to provide the love and nurturing these animals need to grow strong. In addition to young animals, Foster Care Volunteers open their homes and hearts to ill animals and animals recovering from surgery. By providing foster care, volunteers save the lives of the special-needs animals and help alleviate over-crowding at the animal shelter.

Humane Society of El Paso foster care volunteers provide an invaluable service that allows the Society to save thousands of lives each year and we are always welcoming new volunteers to our program.

 

 

• Who can be a foster care volunteer?
• How do I become a foster volunteer?
• Do I need to provide any supplies?
• Do I need special skills or training to become a foster care volunteer?
• What types of animals need foster care?
• How long will I be fostering an animal, and what type of care is involved?

Our foster care volunteers come from all walks of life! No experience is necessary; we will train you! This program is perfect for families, college students seeking hands-on animal experience, busy professionals who can’t commit to pet guardianship, and senior citizens looking to put their experience to work. Foster volunteers must be willing and able to drive foster animals to the shelter at least weekly for regular health and behavior checkups.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Humane Society of El Paso must attend our Volunteer Orientation. At this orientation, you will have the opportunity to sign up for an interview with the Foster Care Coordinator. Following the interview, you will need to attend our Foster Care Introductory Training; this introductory training class will allow you to be added to the list of foster care volunteers. Thank you for your willingness to help the animals at the Humane Society of El Paso! For more information, call or e-mail our Foster Care Coordinator at (915) 532-6971x12 or mlopez@hselpaso.org

No. The shelter will provide you with all needed supplies including food, leashes, litterboxes, etc.; however, we do appreciate it if you are able to provide some supplies such as food, litter, leashes, etc. The foster care coordinator will recommend foods to be fed. All items you purchase for foster animals are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. We do ask that you provide a spare bedroom or bathroom for your foster animal to live in. The shelter provides all veterinary care for foster animals.

Our program is designed to suit your experience and interest levels. Some animals require medications and veterinary treatment and some just need a warm place to stay. We’ll work with you and your comfort level, provide you with necessary training, and we’re always available to answer your questions. All new foster volunteers start with fairly low-maintenance foster animals and work their way up to the more time-intensive foster experiences, if they wish.

Our most common foster animals are kittens with nursing queens, or weaned kittens and puppies that need a few weeks to grow strong before placement. We often have homeless adult cats and dogs suffering from treatable illnesses such as Upper Respiratory Infection or Kennel Cough, or animals recovering from surgery. On occasion, the foster animal may have been the victim of neglect or abuse and emotional as well as medical care will be needed. On occasion, we are in need of foster homes who can care for undersocialized small mammals (rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc.). The Society may also call upon foster volunteers to help reduce over-crowded conditions at the shelter.

The average stay for a foster animal is three weeks, but some foster animals can require up to 3 months to recovery from injury or illness. Some foster animals, like newborn kittens, require round-the-clock care. Puppies and kittens need structured socialization and basic manners training. Others, such as hamsters or birds, simply need daily attention. We’ll arrange a foster care time commitment around your lifestyle, work schedule and vacation plans. The foster care department offers periodic educational seminars relating to many aspects of animal care including but not limited to cat enrichment, puppy raising, and rabbit care.