Many of the dogs and cats that the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society (LVVHS) rescues are in need of medical treatment. The LVVHS works with private vets in the area to provide the best treatment available. For some animals, recovery is a long and painful process. Fosters take these special needs animals into their homes to provide a loving and nurturing environment while they recover.

What is Fostering?

Without a shelter the LVVHS is forced to rely on foster homes to house the animals between trips to the adoption events, until they find their loving permanent home. The LVVHS needs foster parents to provide safe, loving and nurturing environments for its rescued dogs and puppies, cats and kittens (hereinafter referred to as animals). Although the LVVHS maintains ownership of the animals, foster parents are responsible for the health and well being of the animals in their care. Fostering is an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Foster parents must consider the time commitment involved in fostering. The LVVHS strives to provide a stable and continued foster home environment for these cats with as little disruption and change as possible.

The LVVHS Fostering Guidelines are provided with the best of intentions towards the welfare of the animals in our care. All foster parents must comply with the fostering guidelines as follows:

Initial Animal Care

Supplies: The LVVHS will provide medical care and food, while the foster parent provides litter, toys, scratching posts, cat trees, blankets, etc.

Medical Care: All medical care is funded by the LVVHS. The LVVHS has special arrangements to work with specific local veterinarians, i.e. Sunrise Veterinary Clinic and the Bonanza Cat Hospital, and visits to these clinics are arranged by the LVVHS Coordinators. 

• Each rescued animal receives an initial check-up with one of these veterinarians and is tested for FeLV and Parvo.
  
• Occasionally, viruses and other sicknesses do come undetected into a foster home. The LVVHS will work with the foster to provide the best protection possible for the foster family and pets.
  
• Each animal receives vaccinations commensurate with its age.
  
• All animals in the foster system are spayed or neutered when their age and health condition permits.
  
• All animals are microchipped to provide the utmost protection if the animal is lost after going to its new home.

Ongoing Animal Care

Foster parents are responsible for monitoring the health of their foster animal at all times. The foster cats must not be declawed, must be kept indoors only, at all times, and never in a garage. The foster dogs must not be left outdoors all day, and should receive acceptable exercise.

• Foster parents are responsible for keeping track of the vaccinations; spay/neuter date, and other medical procedures that occur to each animal. A spreadsheet is provided for your assistance.
  
• Baby animal foster parents are additionally charged with monitoring the animals’ weight, mental development and growth.
  
• Cat’s nails require trimming every few weeks, and they should be introduced to using scratching posts.
  
• Animals should be groomed to maintain healthy coat, and appearance.
  
• If an animal shows signs of illness, contact a LVVHS Coordinator immediately. If an animal needs professional medical attention, the LVVHS will arrange this as promptly as possible.
  
• If a foster animal is ill, keep an accurate log of the details such as the animal’s signs, symptoms, and circumstances.
  
• Some animals are timid having had no, or negative, human interaction. These animals are “special needs” and require an additional level of commitment.

Going to Adoptions

A primary goal of fostering is to find a permanent loving home for the foster animals. A foster parent must transport the foster animals to and from Adoptions every weekend. If unable to do so, it may be possible to make other arrangements.

• The LVVHS is committed to providing healthy animals for adoption. Those who are healing from injuries, illness or whose behavioral issues are being addressed may not be brought into adoptions.
  
• All prospective adopters are interviewed, including foster parents and their friends and family who are interested in adoption. 
  
• Do not advertise the LVVHS foster animals for adoption on your own as the advertising is done by the LVVHS. 
  
• If a foster parent moves, the foster animals must be returned to the LVVHS. 
  

• If a foster parent can no longer foster, immediately advise the LVVHS as arrangements for a new foster parent takes time.

More guidelines for fostering cats and kittens here.

If you are interested in fostering an animal, please complete the online application here or print and mail application here. Any questions, please contact us at 702-434-2009 or volunteer@lvvhumane.org.