Overview:

The Thomas J. O'Connor and Adoption Center Program provides respite for hundreds of animals that are not yet ready for adoption yearly. Foster volunteers give vulnerable animals a chance to live in the comfort of a loving home. Fostering animals is the single greatest volunteer need within our organization. Simply put, fostering saves lives.

Foster candidates are animals who aren't quite ready for adoption, including orphaned or very young kittens and animals recuperating from illness, injury, or medical procedures. Some cats and dogs simply need an attentive foster caregiver to help them become more confident and trusting. Many foster animals require special medical attention, including administering daily medicine, or other specified medical care. Other animals may benefit from a safe, quiet home environment where specific behaviors can improve with increased confidence and positive reinforcement.

** Very often, dogs who need foster need to be the ONLY dog, possibly the only animal. Fosters with small resident dogs can be considered on a case-by-case basis for a similarly sized dog. 
 
TJO Responsibilities:

1. Medical treatment, medications, and medical supplies.
2. Provide food, litter, scale (to weigh infant animals), bedding, crates, thermometers etc.
3. Provide support, guidance, and resources whenever needed.

Foster Responsibilities:

1. All of your pets must meet all local and state ordinance requirements.
2. Follow all prescribed medical & behavioral treatment instructions.
3. Bring animals to the adoption center as needed for medical care and treatment.
4. Keep cats and kittens in a single indoor room or crate, separate from the rest of the household.
5. Communicate any changes in behavior or medical condition to the TJO Adoption Center staff immediately.
6. Do not change the diet prescribed by TJO without prior approval, including snacks/treats/chews/supplements.
7. Always use a leash or a physical fence for dogs. Please keep a leash on in a fenced area until the dog has decompressed, which can take several weeks.  
8. For car travel, a crate must be used, for dogs a crate or a harness designed for car travel.
9. Please do not hire practitioners for grooming, dog walking/sitting, behavior/training, or vet care (or any other type of service) without prior approval.
10. Dogs - please reach out for assistance with crate training before putting a dog in a crate.
11. Agree NOT to use corrective/punitive devices or techniques with any animal (shock, prong, leash jerks, physical punishment, intimidation, force, coercion, deterrent sprays, yelling, scolding, or startle sounds/devices).  

Start the volunteer/foster application process with the Welcome Session