Save a life become a Foster Parent
Congratulations for taking the first step on an amazing lifesaving journey. ACT has worked hard to build a strong network of foster families to assist us in our mission to save the Valley ’ s animals. We have a wonderful, supportive team of both seasoned veterans always ready to give advice as well as newcomers who are still finding their way. We take great pride in our fantastic fosters and hope you will decide to join our team.
What do foster families do? We are so glad you asked!
F oster families feed the hungry and nurture their souls. Foster families provide food for their fosters but if this is a hardship for you come and talk to us about it. You also provide the love necessary to help the pet regain their confidence and help prepare them for a successful transition to a new home of their own.
Love makes all the difference.
O asis. Your home becomes that place of safety, a sanctuary for pets that have recently lost their families. Some wander off and get lost and don’t get reclaimed, many are discarded by people that just can’t be bothered with them any longer. Whatever the case, foster families become that new safe haven for often stressed and confused pets.
S ave lives. At the core of it all foster homes are often our only way to save a shelter dog or cat. When that animal’s time is up in the shelter we are helpless to intervene without a safe place for them to go.
T ransport. Foster families are responsible for transporting their fosters to vet appointments and adoption events. The more the animals are at the adoption center on weekends the higher the likelihood of them meeting their forever family.
E ducate. Our fosters turn into advocates for the rescue world. The more you see the need, the more passionate you become about correcting the problem. Foster’s can reach their center of influence in a way nobody else can.
R ehabilitate. Taking in the feeble, the old, the very young, mom’s with babies, bottle babies, the injured is something ACT does on a regular basis. If you have a heart to foster special needs animals please talk to us about it.
This is a brief overview of the world of fostering. We would love to talk to you about it in more detail. Please give us a call at 559-299-6364 or complete the online foster application and we will get you started on your lifesaving journey.
Foster Stories…
Three out of four of our family members decided we wanted to start fostering kittens this year. The hold out was my husband who was eventually overruled. Upon bringing the 1st litter home, he continued to walk around the house saying "One and Done" the entire first day. Day #2 rolled around and my daughter came running up to me asking if I'd heard what my husband had said, in reference to the kittens he said "with our next litter" clearly accepting the fact that this would not be a one and done adventure. I probably don't need to explain why my husband has earned the name Grumpy, but coincidentally our 1st foster litter was part of the 7 dwarfs litter and and had a Grumpy. On the last day of fostering litter #1 there were lots of tears, but one very special photo request from my husband (see attached). We just finished with litter #4 and are looking forward to many more!
James Family
A few days later…
I never thought I could foster. I would never be able to let any of them go to a new home and my heart was just too tender to take the heartbreak when they did find a new home. It was something for other people to do, because I just loved dogs too much to let any of them go.
A few days later, a very special person at ACT, was walking with me as we past the dogs and we both glanced over at them sitting in their rooms. She said to me, “fostering was something that I couldn’t not do. I was not only saving the life of the dog that I fostered, but I was making room to bring in another dog to take it’s place at ACT.”
Although reluctant about what this process might entail, I decided to just take one home and try it. I did fall in love with the adorable dog that I brought home that day. But, she found a really wonderful home and I got to choose it. I was hooked and could not wait to bring another one home.
Ruby before and after
Yes, I have cried. I have cried when they went to their new homes. We do grow to love them like they are our own. We cry out of sadness and we cry out of joy. Joy because we have helped prepare this dog for life and their transition into a forever family. We have helped completed a family, and that is rewarding.
It is not always easy. In fact, many times it is difficult to see the dogs in the poor shape when they come to us. My heart is especially drawn to the “matted messes” and the broken dogs. When I see one that is so matted that you can’t tell what they are, my heart just can’t wait to love on them. The ones that need the extra love and time on your lap, to me can be the most gratifying.
When I watch a dog that I am fostering playing and loving life and I think of how scared and broken they were when they came to me….. I know that as hard as it is to let them go, it has to be the most gratifying, fulfilling thing that I have ever done.
Laura Williams- Animal Compassion Team- Foster/Adopter/Volunteer