Foster Care Application
Foster Care Application, PDF

Surrender/Foster-to-Adopt Service

West Columbia Gorge Humane Society has a variety of programs in place to help in the housing, care and adoption of our animals. One of these critical programs is Foster Care. This program is staffed by volunteers who are willing to open their homes to our animals when they need special care and attention.

  • Those that we usually place in foster care are:
  • Animals recovering from medical procedures such as spay/neuter, dental or even amputations
  • Pregnant mothers awaiting delivery
  • Kittens or puppies whose immune systems are not strong enough for the shelter environment
  • Animals who need special socializing or training
  • Animals who do not do well emotionally or behaviorally in the shelter setting
  • Fosters also provide homes for animals when the shelter is facing times of overcrowding

Some fosters specialize in certain areas of care. For example, one foster home is particularly good in socializing shy adult cats while another excels in caring for nursing orphans.

While we have permanent volunteers who foster our animals, we often have additional "foster-to-adopt" homes. These are people who either can no longer keep their pet, or have rescued an animal and are willing to care for that animal until it is adopted.

Although the number of foster homes varies depending on the time of year, we have approximately 15 cat foster homes and 10 dog foster homes caring for at least 40 cats and 10 dogs in foster care at any one time. Our greatest need for foster homes is during the spring and summer kitten and puppy seasons.

If you are interested in joining our foster network, please contact the shelter. Our Foster Care Coordinator will supply you with the appropriate forms, educate you on how to care for our animals and visit your home to help ensure that you are able to offer the best environment.

Foster volunteer work is rewarding for many reasons. Heather, a volunteer cat foster, states that it is a wonderful learning experience for both herself and her children. But more importantly for her, the ultimate reward is “the knowledge that we made a difference in the life of each animal. A cat cannot speak up for itself and say life is not fair. They did not ask to be forgotten or neglected.”


Surrendering and Finding a Responsible New Home

  • Are you feeling frustrated with a behavior problem?
  • Has someone in the family become allergic?
  • Are you having trouble finding rental housing that accepts pets?

These are frustrating problems and sometimes people feel the only solution is to give up their pet. But did you know that drastic step may not be necessary? There is a wealth of resources available to pet owners just like you that help you deal with these overwhelming issues.

Behavior Concerns

If you are dealing with a pet behavior problem, talk to your vet. Many behaviors have a treatable medical cause, and your vet is the best place to start finding help. For example, a pet urinating in the house could have a urinary tract infection instead of a behavior problem.

Housing Concerns

Lists of rental housing that allows pets are readily available. Pick up the free grocery store flyers advertising rentals, or visit ApartmentGuide.com or www.Rent.com for more pet friendly housing options.

Health Concerns

If allergies are causing you to consider giving up your pet, there are things you can try before taking such a drastic step. Air filters and clean air machines that remove dander from the home work wonders! Bathing and grooming regularly will help, as will a good quality vacuum cleaner. Your veterinarian may be able to recommend foods that alter the chemical make-up of your pet's dander, rendering it harmless. Sometimes limited exposure to pets helps allergic persons gradually build a tolerance to pet dander, so are less affected by it. Many people take allergy medications or shots to reduce the effects, and limit pets to one part of the home.

Finding a Responsible Home for Your Pet

When finding a new home is the only solution left, you have many choices:

Visit Petfinder.com, Pets 911.com and AdoptAPet.com , and bestfriends.org. Put an 'adopt me' scarf around your dog's neck when you walk him. Post photos and biographies at Petco, Petsmart, veterinarians and other stores. Breed rescue groups on-line: www.AKC.org/breeds/rescue and PurebredCatBreedRescue.org. Screen contacts thoroughly and in person.

Before placing your pet at a traditional humane society, please understand that those facilities euthanize nearly 18,000 animals yearly in Clark and Multnomah Counties, so your pet may not be adopted. Ask about reclaiming your pet if a good home cannot be found within a short time.

Donations to a shelter upon surrender is appropriate.

Choosing a Responsible Home for Your Pet

If you feel you want to find a new home for your pet yourself, here are some tips for success:

Advertise through family, friends, neighbors, veterinarians and local businesses first. Then try the newspaper as a last resort. Be sure to check references.

Visit the new home to get a look at the environment in which you may place your pet. Talk to prospective adopters and tell them the pet is part of your family and you want to make sure she will be cared for properly and you want to see how she takes to the new home. Screen potential homes carefully.

If anyone refuses to let you visit their home, don't place your pet there! They may be a 'buncher' answering 'free to good home' ads, when in fact they sell pets to animal dealers. Dog fighters have been known to pose as kindly adopters. These people can fool you by bringing people posing as children or mothers with them to look legitimate when they come to pick up the pet. Some people are 'hoarders' who will house your pet in deplorable conditions with hundreds of other animals. Check ID, and match names and addresses with an electric bill to see that the home you visit is the home where your pet will actually reside.

Be sure your pet is spayed or neutered before they go to their new home. This prevents your pet from being adopted by a backyard breeder and living a horrible, neglected confined life producing litter after litter and then being euthanized or discarded when it is too weak to continue.

If your pet is chronically ill or has behavior problems, it may be difficult to find him a suitable home. Please phone our shelter to find help placing special needs animals. We have qualified, trained staff to help you screen and counsel adopters. Relinquishing your pet to a shelter can be difficult but may be the best choice.

To avoid euthanasia, please consider the alternatives: sanctuaries, behavior modification techniques, trainers, help hot-lines, web sites, foster homes, veterinary advice and treatment, and new products for you to home and to train your pet.