Foster

Foster parents provide temporary housing and care until a suitable home can be found. Our volunteers foster many animals each year. The care these dedicated volunteers provide is invaluable, both to the animals and to the people who adopt them. You can foster as much or as little as you like. We need foster homes for a variety of animals such as kittens, puppies, dogs, cats, and sometimes horses.

Foster

Foster parents provide temporary housing and care until a suitable home can be found. Our volunteers foster many animals each year. The care these dedicated volunteers provide is invaluable, both to the animals and to the people who adopt them. You can foster as much or as little as you like. We need foster homes for a variety of animals such as kittens, puppies, dogs, cats, and sometimes horses.

Fostering a pet in need of shelter, love, and guidance is a rewarding and enriching experience. It’s a great volunteer opportunity for families or individuals who love animals and have a home that can be a healing environment in their times of need. Fostering time commitments can range from overnight to up to six months.

Foster Home Requirements

  • You must be at least 18 years of age or older
  • If you do not own your own home, you must bring in a letter showing landlord approval
  • Complete and submit the Foster Application form to the Humane Society front office or email to petupdate@hsbh.orgTo learn more about becoming a foster parent, please send an email to petupdate@hsbh.org or call (605) 394-4170 and select Option 1.

What Do Foster Parents Do?

HSBH foster parents provide temporary care for kittens, puppies, cats, dogs, and other animals in the Black Hills area. The number of foster homes we have is directly proportionate to the number of lives we can save. Our foster homes are a critical piece to our rescue process, and we are deeply indebted to them for their willingness to welcome new members into their homes and lives.

Four of the most common reasons for animals to be selected for foster care are:

  • Kittens or puppies that are too young to be spayed or neutered.  Also, mother animals who are still nursing their young.
  • Cats and dogs that need to be socialized and learn basic obedience, or some residents of the shelter that need a break from kennel life.
  • Animals that are being treated for an illness or injury that may need medications or quiet time and some extra TLC.
  • Kittens that need to be bottle-fed.

How Long Do Animals Stay in Foster Care?

The HSBH foster program is an on-call/as-needed position. Foster animals may stay in their temporary homes from one night to a few weeks, or sometimes up to a few months. It depends entirely on the needs of each particular animal and the amount of time each foster family can commit to the process.

Prior to the placement of an animal, we will tell foster families the breed/species of the animal, its needs, and its expected length of stay. We will also work with you to find the best possible match for your family and lifestyle. Each time you are contacted, we will allow you time to consider whether or not you can meet the needs of a particular animal, and you are never obligated to foster any animal.

What Are My Responsibilities As A Foster Parent?

When we place an animal with you, it will be solely in your care 24 hours a day. Fosters parents must be able to provide a clean, safe, secluded environment in which to care for the animal, and we ask that you treat foster animals as if they are your own.

We also ask that you respond attentively to each animal’s needs. It is crucial that foster parents work with HSBH staff members to prepare your foster animal for adoption. Some ways to help are showcasing your foster pet at HSBH events, taking good pictures of the pet, providing accurate behavioral descriptions for our website listings, and spreading the word about your adoptable foster pet via word-of-mouth and social media.