Foster homes desperately needed for BC SPCA West Kootenay

It’s kitten season, and with that means shelters are getting busier.

While the BC SPCA West Kootenay is keeping up with demands, limited space and foster homes can lead to waitlists for those looking to surrender animals. The BC SPCA West Kootenay is calling upon animal lovers in the community to open their hearts and homes to pets in need.

“Anyone who is curious about being a foster is encouraged to apply. Whether you’ve had pets your whole life or just want to ‘test drive’ what being a pet guardian is like, we’re grateful for anyone who’s interested in fostering” says Danielle Jackman, BC SPCA West Kootenay animal care centre manager. “All the supplies are provided, vet care is covered and arranged, and we can work around vacation schedules and animal preferences. It doesn’t need to be a big commitment. Short-term homes are just as helpful as long-term.”

While more fosters for all animals would be greatly appreciated, the BC SPCA West Kootenay location especially needs foster homes for the following:

“We’re especially appreciative of the foster homes who feel comfortable giving care to animals who need a bit more support,” says Jackman. “Sometimes they have medical needs, or they might require more time to decompress or get over their past, and it’s hard to do that in a shelter environment. Foster homes really help give these animals the one-on-one support they need to overcome those hurdles.”

Anyone interested in fostering can take a quiz to see if fostering is right for them, or apply online. Foster training can be completed online on your own time, and typically takes 30-120 minutes depending on the category of animals.

About the BC SPCA: The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations whose mission is protecting vulnerable animals and mobilizing communities, so animals and people thrive together. This is supported through a wide range of services, including animal protection investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm and wild animal welfare, community services like spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.