What is the role of a Foster Carer?

SWAR’s main volunteer role is to provide temporary foster care for animals while they are waiting to find their Forever Home.

Our adoption coordinator, Tanya oversees the animals coming in to care and places them into foster homes. Tanya also oversees the re-homing process of our foster animals. Prior to becoming a foster carer, all prospective carers will meet with Tanya to discuss what is involved in fostering an animal, and answer any questions you may have.

Foster carers need to provide a stable and loving home environment. We ask that your home is pet friendly and safe i.e a secure yard for dogs. It is preferred if cats are kept indoors or in a secure outdoor enclosure to avoid them wandering or disappearing.

Should animals in your care require vet attendance (i.e vet check, vaccinations, sterilisation etc), SWAR will cover the vet fees. If an animal in your care requires a vet appointment we would greatly appreciate you ferrying the animal to and from the vet.

We do ask that you make your home available for prospective buyers to view the pet in question and ask you questions about the animal in your care. All meetings with prospective buyers are at your convenience.

All foster carers are provided with a manual with detailed information on fostering animals for South West Animal Rescue. This manual will help you answer questions you may receive from prospective buyers such as:

• How much is the adoption fee?
• What does the adoption fee include?

The manual also provides information on animal care, health issues and contacts for South West Animal Rescue.

We understand that fostering an animal sounds like serious business and a big responsibility, after all, we are all here to ensure the safety and well-being of animals, but we can’t promote enough just how rewarding volunteering and looking after an animal is! It is through the wonderful work of local people who foster SWAR animals that we are able to continue to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home abandoned domestic animals.

Serious business aside, fostering an animal provides you with hours of non-stop entertainment, wool chasing, ball throwing, cuddles and unconditional love from an animal who is just so happy that you are helping them out!

You can play a major part in helping these animals get off to a great start in life by welcoming them in to your home for a short period of time.

 What are the requirements of being a Foster Carer?

• To own your home, or, if renting provide a letter from the real estate agent or home owner declaring you are allowed to have cats and/or dogs in the home.
• You do not need professional pet handling experience, just a general interest in the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of abandoned domestic animals.
• If you have your own pets, their vaccinations are required to be up-to-date. If your pets are going to be socialising with SWAR foster animals, they are to be sterilised.
• Provide food for the animal/s in your care. When possible, SWAR will assist with food from donations received.
• Provide a comfortable living environment i.e litter tray, toys, blankets etc.
• Provide lots of love!

Send us an email if you’d like to become part of our foster care team.

“…he will be our friend for always and always and always.” ~ Rudyard Kipling