Foster

“Yours may not be their forever home, but you can help them remember what home feels like.”

Through the HSNEGA’s foster program, animals are given a second chance at an amazing life thanks to the dedicated time and care of our foster homes. Opening your home temporarily to an animal from HSNEGA is a special way to show your passion for the homeless animals in our community.

As a Foster Family volunteer, you may host animals with special medical or behavioral needs, puppies or kittens under 8 weeks of age, or a nursing mother and her litter. By fostering pets in need of extra TLC, you are providing rehabilitation in a nurturing home environment while directly preparing these animals for a new life-long home through adoption. Some rescues could simply use a break from the shelter. Click HERE to learn more about HSNEGA’s new Slumber PAWty respite foster program.

Foster Family Requirements

• Submit a Foster Home Application.
• Receive a Home Inspection by an HSNEGA representative.
• Ability to lift, push, or carry at least 25 pounds.
• Own a car for transporting animals to veterinary appointments, or in case of emergency.
• All Foster Families are responsible for the care of our HSNEGA adoption animal(s).
• Have a schedule that allows you to meet the needs of foster animals placed in your care.
• Provide proof from your veterinarian that all personal household pets are currently vaccinated and sterilized (spayed/neutered).

Get Started

If you are interested in fostering with the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia, please follow these steps:

1. Be of age. The primary caregiver of the foster animal must be at least 18 years old. However, younger family members can help at home and potentially receive school credit. Inquire more about school credit at the orientation.
2. Be in the area. Foster volunteers must be able to travel to our facility in Gainesville, Georgia on a regular basis. Please consider the potential commute before applying to volunteer.
3. Fill out a Foster Application HERE.
4. Set up a Home Inspection, required by Georgia State Law, with our Volunteer Coordinator.
5. Start saving lives. The HSNEGA will match you with the foster animals that suit your lifestyle.

How Foster Care Works

When the HSNEGA receives an animal that is not ready to be put up for adoption, we contact our Foster Home volunteers. If a Foster Family volunteer is not available to foster at that time, we simply try another person. There will be plenty of other opportunities to foster, so there is no pressure to take an animal.

Foster Family volunteers come to our shelter located in Gainesville, Georgia to pick up the foster animal to take home. At that time, volunteers receive information about the animal’s condition and needs, and then we will distribute the appropriate supplies and medication(s).

Foster Family Volunteers may need to bring the animal to the HSNEGA periodically to be examined by our veterinarian, receive vaccinations or other treatment.

Once the foster period is over, the foster volunteer returns the animal to HSNEGA.

HSNEGA’s veterinary and adoption team will complete the final steps necessary to prepare the animal for adoption.

HSNEGA provides all the basic supplies you will need to care for foster animals including food, medication, housing/kennels, and toys. We provide care instructions for each foster animal so you will know exactly what each animal requires and our staff is always available for questions.

Fostering is a wonderful experience for you and your family. We hope you will consider this unique opportunity to further help the animals of northeast Georgia by becoming an HSNEGA Foster Family volunteer. For further information or questions, please contact HSNEGA’s Volunteer Coordinator at 770-532-6617 ext. 230 or Foster@HSNEGA.org. You can also visit our Foster Home Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.