We appreciate your patience as we work on redesigning our on-site shelter volunteer program.
Our current volunteer opportunities include our pet fostering program.
Join our foster family volunteer program
We are looking for families to assist the Georgina Animal Shelter and Adoption Centre with pets that may require a little extra help before finding their forever homes.
What pets do we place into foster homes?
- Nursing or pregnant pets
- Orphaned pets that require bottle feeding
- Under socialized or fearful pets
- Pets with behaviour challenges
- Pets requiring ongoing medical care
- Very young or geriatric pets
- Pets that need a break from the shelter environment such as long-term residents or highly anxious pets
Foster pet parents will need to have a separate room where their foster pet can decompress and acclimatize to their new environment. If there are other pets in the home, they will need to be spayed or neutered, up-to-date with vaccinations and be well socialized with other pets. Foster families need to live within one hour of the animal shelter and families will need to able to attend veterinary and/or shelter appointments. A foster commitment of three to eight weeks is usually required. All supplies and medical care costs for the foster pet are covered.
To learn more or to apply to become a foster pet parent, email animal-control@georgina.ca or fill out the volunteer foster family questionnaire.
Georgina Animal Shelter and Adoption Centre Foster Family Volunteer job description
Position objective
To provide temporary shelter and care for pets requiring a foster home placement.
Responsibilities
- To provide a safe and quiet space for animals requiring a temporary home environment prior to finding a permanent home.
- Participants will need to commit to and comply with the individualized care plan as determined by the foster program. These animals may require support with feeding, grooming, medication, post surgical care, training and socialization.
- Family pets will need to be isolated from foster animals for a minimum of two weeks or as determined by the foster animal care plan.
- Foster family pets should be currently up-to-date on all vaccines and anti-parasitic treatment as recommended by their veterinarian.
- Foster families are responsible for observing and reporting to the shelter any problems with their foster pet in a timely manner. If there are immediate medical concerns after hours, foster families are to contact the shelter’s emergency veterinary partner at the 404 Veterinary Emergency Hospital in Newmarket located at 510 Harry Walker Parkway S., 905-953-1933.
- Foster pets are to be returned to the animal centre as directed by animal shelter staff.
- If a foster parent is no longer able to care for their foster pet(s) animals must be returned directly to the animal shelter. Animals cannot be given to a third-party caregiver.
Qualifications
- A willingness to learn and comply with the foster care requirements and plan as determined by the animal shelter.
- A background in animal husbandry and/or previous animal foster care experience is desirable.
Requirements
- Completion of the foster family volunteer application
- Completion of the foster family volunteer interview
- Completion of the foster family volunteer animal welfare planning/training meeting at the animal shelter
- Completion of the foster family volunteer contract
Commitment
- Foster contracts vary in the commitment required. A placement can be anywhere from one week to eight weeks depending on the individual care plan for the pet(s) requiring a foster home placement.
Supervision
- Direct supervision is by shelter staff and the animal shelter supervisor. The animal shelter can be reached via email at animal-control@georgina.ca or by calling 905-476-3457.
26815 Civic Centre Rd., Keswick ON · 905-476-3457 · @georginaanimalshelter · georgina.ca/AnimalServices
To learn more or to apply to become a foster pet parent, email animal-control@georgina.ca or fill out the volunteer foster family questionnaire.