| Have You Considered Fostering?
 Throughout the year we need temporary foster homes for kittens/puppies that are too young for adoption, orphaned kitten or puppy "bottle babies", and nursing litters of kittens and puppies with their mamas.
We often take in dogs or puppies that have had no socialization with people or other animals. We utilize foster parents to rehabilitate shy, timid, fearful puppies, dogs or cats so they can learn to trust people and develop into adoptable pets.
Foster parents are also needed for pets recovering from various types of surgery. Recovery is much quicker when pets have a home environment in which to recuperate. Medical care for your foster pet is provided by the clinic staff at Animal Humane.
Foster homes provide care for anywhere from 2-8 weeks while the pets develop physically and learn socialization skills from their littermates and caretakers.
Foster providers are loaned the basics to care for the animals in their care, including crates, water/food bowls, ex-pen, cat condo for litters of kittens, litter and pan, toys, towels, playpen for very young puppies, collar and leash for older pups and dogs.
Animal Humane will provide dry and moist food, puppy or kitten formula and bottles for the first two weeks of care, and possibly more if donated formula/food is available. Foster providers will need to provide plenty of love and a safe home environment.
Fostering can be mutually beneficial for both you and our companion animals. While providing foster care, you can observe the development of playful kittens and puppies with your family. Children can learn the responsibilities of properly caring for animals. Petting your foster dog or cat helps reduce your own stress and help you feel less anxious about life in general.
If you aren't sure if you are ready for full-time pet ownership, short term fostering can fill the gap. It can help you decide if you are ready for the long-term commitment that adoption of a dog or cat brings.
If you are interested in providing temporary foster care, please contact Boni Galarneau, Foster Care Coordinator at 505.938.7897 (office), 505.991.0056 (cell) or email bonig@AnimalHumaneNM.org.
Make a difference, it's easy! Download the foster application and return it to Boni Galarneau:
Foster Application
Federal Fair Credit Report Act
Foster Release of Info 2009
Take a moment to read the Foster Program Policies and Procedures Manual
Foster Care Policy and Procedures Manual
Foster Supplies Needed
The foster program needs many different supplies to keep the program running and to make it affordable for people who want to volunteer their time and energy to care for orphaned kittens and puppies, mamas and litters, etc.
Some of the following supplies are less expensive when purchased online, or in larger quantities. Items are listed in MOST needed order:
KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement) Powdered Formula*
Esbilac (Puppy Milk Replacement) Powdered Formula*
*5 lb containers or smaller can be ordered from
Canned Friskies cat food, loaf style Bulk quantity, blue box of 48 cans available at SAMS and Costco
Large Ferret Hammocks (used in kitten condos) www.ferret.com, eBay
Puppy Potty Training Pads Local stores, eBay
Litter Pans (small, med and large) WalMart, local stores, eBay
Cat Litter 50 lb bags available at SAMS for less than $10 each
Foldable Wire Cat Condo Cage/Playpen (48”H x 36” W x 22” D) Pet Edge, JB Wholesalers, eBay
Wire Exercise Pen (24”, 30” and 36” height) PetEdge, JB Wholesalers, KV Vet Supply, eBay
Stainless water pails, flat sided, 2, 4 and 6 qt Jeffers Pet, JB Wholesalers, Pet Edge, KV Vet Supply, eBay
2” Key (Carabiner) Clips for buckets
Wire Dog Crate (42” and 48” length) JB Wholesalers, PetEdge, eBay
Perla Beds (heavy duty dog beds that can be sanitized) (sm, med, large) JB Wholesalers, Amazon.com
Munchkin Tri-Flow Angled Baby Bottles, 8 oz (for nursing puppies) Amazon.com, eBay.com
Stainless bowls (basic, no frills) (1 pt, 1 & 2 qt) JB Wholesalers, PetEdge, Jeffers Pet, KV Vet Supply
Kong toys (all sizes)
6’ nylon leashes
Kitten kibble (Science Diet or Chicken Soup brands preferred)
Puppy kibble (Science Diet or Chicken Soup brands preferred)
Towels (large and medium)
Newspapers
Large soft fluffy stuffed animals (surrogate mamas for tiny pups/kittens)
Clean plastic tubs with lid and handle to use for storing cat litter (5 gallon or smaller size) (such as empty laundry soap tubs)
Gallon size Zip Lock bags
Quart size Zip Lock bags
Baby Wipes (thick style) for cleaning pups and kittens
Clorox Wipes
Paper towels
Clorox brand Bleach
Plastic dog/cat travel crates, all sizes
Fleece bumper type beds, various sizes |
