The month of June is National Foster a Pet Month. Fostering an animal is one way people can help animals in need without committing to a full adoption. It also allows one person to help multiple animals in various situations. Fostering involves providing a temporary home to an animal in need. Sometimes that means caring for a pet until they are old enough to adopt out. Often it means providing a safe environment while the pet is receiving medical or behavioral attention. In the case of Harley’s Hope, fostering keeps pets from being homeless while their owners are hospitalized or recovering from surgery.

Life can be unpredictable and we cannot always plan for every contingency. Natural disasters, unexpected deaths, abusive situations, and financial hardship can all contribute to the need to make difficult choices. One choice nobody wants to make is giving up their beloved pet. Emergency foster care is a stop-gap method which keeps pets from becoming homeless and reunites owner and pet when the crisis has been resolved.

The foster program is need-based and case-specific. It is designed to be short-term to allow people to get back on their feet. Harley’s Hope matches pets in need with appropriate foster homes and the “foster parents” are volunteers who can provide a safe and healthy environment for the agreed-upon time frame. Not all situations are appropriate for emergency fostering. For instance, Harley’s Hope can no longer provide emergency foster care for people seeking housing unless they already have a signed rental agreement and a move in date. There is simply not enough pet-friendly, affordable housing in our area, and we cannot provide care for extended periods of time while people house-hunt. 

Emergency foster care is not meant to be long-term, permanent or a replacement for re-homing a pet in need. But it can provide an alternative to surrendering your pet to the shelter when you know your episode meets our guidelines. To qualify for emergency foster care, your pet must be in good health and properly socialized. Harley’s Hope has other programs in place to assist with emergency veterinary assistance if that is more appropriate.

If you, or someone you know, is facing the possibility of losing a pet due to illness or injury, you can apply for emergency foster care on the Harley’s Hope website or by the contacting the director. If you are interested in providing a foster home, you can also apply through the website. Every volunteer foster family helps Harley’s Hope achieve the vision of keeping people and their pets together.