Animal Foster Program
At this time only cats and dogs are fostered - birds, rabbits, ferrets, small animals, and reptiles have their own programs at the Society.
If you are interested in becoming a foster volunteer, please note the following requirements:
- You must be 18 years of age or more
- Your current pets must all be spayed or neutered
- You must have a separate room to isolate a foster animal
- You must have time to care for your foster animal
- You must abide by the foster agreement that you sign upon joining the program
To become a foster volunteer you must first fill out the application form (see right-hand column) and send it to us. Upon receipt, if your application is approved, you will be contacted to attend a volunteer orientation as well as an interview with the foster program assistant. This gives potential foster volunteers a chance to ask any questions they may have and it gives our staff an opportunity to better match you with suitable foster animals.
For more information, or to register for a foster orientation, please call 613-725-3166 ext. 231
Foster families are asked to sign an agreement with the Society. Included in this agreement is the expectation that a fosterling be returned to the Society upon request. All existing animals in the household must have up-to-date vaccinations and must be spayed or neutered. Though occasionally foster families decide to adopt a foster animal, this is not the intention of the program. Foster families can help many more animals by remaining in the program and helping animals become adopted through our regular adoption program.
The Ottawa Humane Society provides food, litter and maybe toys, we also supply medications, examinations and prescription diets.
All dogs in the care of the Society are temperament tested, but since most animals come to us with no known history, we cannot always accurately predict an animal's behaviour in a new home. We recommend that the animal be kept in an isolated part of the house until the foster volunteer learns more about the behaviour of the animal. This 'isolated' room also serves to help rule out any incubating viruses that the animal may have had at the time it was health checked and at the same time protects existing household pets.
A fosterling occasionally develops a viral disease while under isolation in a foster home. Where this is suspected, the foster volunteer is asked to contact us to arrange for the animal to come into the shelter to be re-examined by the Veterinarian. In some rare cases, depending on the severity of the illness and the prognosis, an animal may have to be euthanized.
The decision to euthanize is made primarily by the veterinarian in consultation with the veterinary technician. This is not an easy decision as a lot of time, energy and love has been put into these animals.
The Foster Program is for animals that, with some short-term care, will be adoptable through regular adoption processes at the Society. For animals with chronic health issues, there are special needs adoption programs available through the Ottawa Humane Society for both dogs and cats.
