FRIENDSWOOD
ANIMAL CONTROL COMMUNITY FOSTERING PROGRAM
Volunteers
and Staff at the City of Friendswood Animal Control (FAC) facility regularly
rescue dogs and cats, including nursing moms with babies, puppies and kittens
without mothers, and other dogs and cats who would benefit from living in a
home environment until an appropriate adoptive family is found. To give all
animals the best possible chance of adoption, the City is launching a
“Community Fostering Program.”
Fostering
is a great opportunity for individuals and families to:
-have a pet in their home without a
long-term commitment,
-expand their knowledge of pet
care before committing to adopting,
-increase an animals’ chance of
adoption by providing care, socialization, and training that will make -the
animal more desirable to potential adopters, and,
-have a positive impact on the
lives of our community’s animals.
Community
Fostering Program participants have a variety of ways to help homeless animals:
Short
term puppy or kitten fosters: These fosters may care for bottle-fed
kittens or puppies; nursing moms with kittens or puppies, or other animals
needing special feeding or medical attention. The commitment for this type of
fostering would be one to six weeks, depending on the age and care needs of the
animals. Short-term fosters are also needed to temporarily foster animals for
other fosters who go on vacation or business travel.
Socialization/training
fosters:
These fosters may take in animals for two to six weeks (based on the needs of
the animals and the foster's availability), to socialize older kittens who come
into the shelter or puppies/dogs who need training and socialization to make
them more adoptable before being returned to the shelter for adoption.
Adoption
Ambassadors:
These fosters would be matched with adoptable dogs and would partner with FAC
to get these dogs adopted. Adoption Ambassadors commit to taking an animal into
their home and finding an appropriate adopter for the animal through social
media and by making the animal visible to the community. Ambassadors will
receive “adopt me” vests or scarves for their animals that will help clearly
identify that the animal is available for adoption.
All
fosters will be able to select their level of involvement based on their
interest, experience, and availability. Specialized training will be provided.
To be
eligible to become a foster:
1. be at least 18-years old with
photo identification,
2. own your own home or provide
proof of their ability to house pets in a rental home or apartment,
3. be willing to provide the
basic care outlined above for the specific foster program the applicant is
interested participating in, and,
4. meet the additional
requirements outlined in the Friendswood Animal Control Community Foster
Program Application.
For more
information about the FAC Community Foster Program, call 281-996-3390, or email
actemp@ci.friendswood.tx.us to request an
application.
