2008 Woodie Awards
Foster parenting at the Humane Society rewarding experience
Tracey Rector
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: College News
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Foster parenting is not only for those wanting to help children but can also be for those wanting to help animals.
The Indianapolis Humane Society (HSI) has a foster parenting program exactly for those individuals wanting to volunteer to provide temporary housing for animals not quite ready to be on the shelter's adoption floor.
These animals may not be ready to be adopted due to their age, health, behavioral issues or they have been in the shelter for a long period of time.
Volunteers in the foster parent program can specify what kind of animal they would like to take in. The time range a foster parent keeps an animal usually depends on the animal.
Abra Foster, foster parent coordinator, has been with the shelter since September 2006 and became the foster parent coordinator in June 2007.
"On average, the time range is two to three weeks," Foster says. "Sometimes it can be up to two months to work on making them adoptable. It depends what they are going out [to foster parents] for."
The HSI covers all expenses for each animal such as their toys, food and medical care.
In the event of an emergency, the HSI has a veterinary services department available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Ninety-five percent of the animals in the foster parent program are placed in new homes, but foster parents that would like to adopt one of their foster pets are welcome to do so.
"Several fall in love [with the foster animal] and have adopted," Foster says.
Moe Tibbetts, a realtor from Indianapolis, has been a foster parent for the HSI for two-and-a-half years. She also volunteers at the shelter every Tuesday.
Tibbetts has more than 200 animals coming in and out of her home each year. She says she is open to any kind of animal.
In 2005, Tibbetts adopted Sarah, a black and white border collie, after she fostered Sarah and her litter of puppies.
Foster parenting can create emotional challenges for the parent, but can also create memorable experiences.
The Indianapolis Humane Society (HSI) has a foster parenting program exactly for those individuals wanting to volunteer to provide temporary housing for animals not quite ready to be on the shelter's adoption floor.
These animals may not be ready to be adopted due to their age, health, behavioral issues or they have been in the shelter for a long period of time.
Volunteers in the foster parent program can specify what kind of animal they would like to take in. The time range a foster parent keeps an animal usually depends on the animal.
Abra Foster, foster parent coordinator, has been with the shelter since September 2006 and became the foster parent coordinator in June 2007.
"On average, the time range is two to three weeks," Foster says. "Sometimes it can be up to two months to work on making them adoptable. It depends what they are going out [to foster parents] for."
The HSI covers all expenses for each animal such as their toys, food and medical care.
In the event of an emergency, the HSI has a veterinary services department available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Ninety-five percent of the animals in the foster parent program are placed in new homes, but foster parents that would like to adopt one of their foster pets are welcome to do so.
"Several fall in love [with the foster animal] and have adopted," Foster says.
Moe Tibbetts, a realtor from Indianapolis, has been a foster parent for the HSI for two-and-a-half years. She also volunteers at the shelter every Tuesday.
Tibbetts has more than 200 animals coming in and out of her home each year. She says she is open to any kind of animal.
In 2005, Tibbetts adopted Sarah, a black and white border collie, after she fostered Sarah and her litter of puppies.
Foster parenting can create emotional challenges for the parent, but can also create memorable experiences.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
kathi moore
posted 10/31/07 @ 11:29 AM EST
This is a great program! It allows you to have a pet on a shorter-term basis, if you're not quite sure if you're ready. It also makes the pets more adoptable, since they learn more sociable behavior while in your home than they would living in a kennel at the HSI. (Continued…)
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