The Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County has a foster care program designed to give young, injured, abused or under-socialized animals a chance to grow or heal and eventually find permanent homes.

Volunteers are needed to provide homes for our animals with special needs. All foster parents fill out a foster care application form, which asks questions that will help the foster care coordinator match foster parents with the appropriate animal for their lifestyle. The foster care coordinator then contacts foster parents with further information.

1. Puppies or kittens too young to be adopted

2. An abused dog or cat that needs socialization and tender loving care

3. An injured dog or cat recovering from surgery

4. An abandoned mother with a litter of kittens or puppies

1. The foster “parent” agrees to shelter and feed the animal in their home and to provide a safe and loving environment.

2. If medical problems arise, the foster parent agrees to clear all veterinary visits with the AWL before making them, to take the animals to a veterinarian specified by the AWL, and to administer medications and follow up care as prescribed by the veterinarian.

3. The average stay in a foster home is two-three weeks. Some animals that have a great photo on the web may stay only a few days and others who are recovering from an injury may stay for a few months.

1. Foster care enhances the adoptability of animals because attention in a loving environment helps to socialize them.

2. Foster care alleviates some of the overcrowding at the shelter.

3. Foster animals are more adoptable because of their improved health and happiness is always reflected in their appearance.

4. Often a foster caregiver provides better information to a prospective adopter. Is the pet housebroken? Does it like children or other animals? What are its fears?

If you're interested in being a foster parent for the AWL Animal Shelter please go to the "Contact Us" page and send us your information!