The Animal Welfare League takes care of all stray and most of the surrendered animals on the Gold Coast. The Foster Care Program has been developed to help rehome as many of these animals as possible.

Due to overwhelming numbers we mainly need foster homes for underage kittens, with or without their mother cat, that have been surrendered in the summer breeding season, as well as for orphaned kittens.

Generally, most carers foster two or more kittens or puppies. This is to ensure that the kittens and puppies have some company of their own kind.

WHO NEEDS FOSTERING?

A high percentage of the animals lost, dumped or surrendered are kittens and puppies who are under age or under weight and are therefore not yet able to be desexed and rehomed. These babies make up approximately 95% of the Foster Program requirements.

FOSTERING PERIOD

The fostering period can be anywhere from 1 week to 8 weeks - each situation is different. Mums with newborn babies rely on finding special foster homes. These carers would need to be prepared to keep all of them together for 5 weeks, at least, until mum can return to us for desexing and rehoming, while her babies continue to grow on solid food and learn some independence. Puppies and kittens need to be 8 weeks of age before returning to us; however kittens also need to be over 1kg in weight.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A FOSTER CARER

We look for a safe, secure home environment with lots of love, attention and handling so our little ones return happy and well socialised and ready to go to a new home. Carers need to be aware that socialising is as important as keeping animals healthy.

Foster carers don't need to be home all day to look after their four legged charges. However, they do need to provide love and companionship for at least a few hours a day so that the foster animals return to us well-socialised, and have the best chance of finding a permanent, loving home.

If you have your own animals and prefer them not to interact with your visitors, yes, you can still foster.

Most carers allow their charges full run of the house and this certainly helps with their socialising. However, not everyone is able to provide this - some resident pets will not tolerate visiting furries in their territory and others may stress too much. Don't think you can't foster if this is you. If you are able to provide a safe, restricted environment for little ones then it is still possible for you to foster.

If you have pets of your own, they must be fully vaccinated.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO PROVIDE?

The answer is: absolutely nothing but love and care.

The AWL provides everything that a carer needs while fostering: food, bowls, bedding and toys - plus litter and litter trays for kitties - and any other necessities for the comfort of the animals while they are in a foster home.

Also available to carers is a Vet Clinic service which is available 7 days a week, should there be any health issues occurring during the foster period.

If you love animals, can offer a safe home environment and have spare time to sit and cuddle the foster babies, you can apply to be a foster carer.

If you would like to experience the joys of fostering kittens or puppies, please contact our Foster Care Officer, Michelle, Sundays to Thursdays inclusive, by phoning 5509 9020 or send an email for further information. Our Foster Care Application Form can be printed out (or attached to an email, or copied and pasted into a message) by clicking here.