Foster Care Volunteering

Fostering orphaned kittens and puppies is a rewarding process that saves thousands of lives in our community each year. We place neonate (or newborn) kittens and puppies in foster homes until they are big enough to undergo spay/neuter surgery then be available for adoption.

We encourage fosters to take more than one foster at a time to help promote socialization and normal behavioral growth. Kittens and puppies are self-entertaining and so much fun.

No experience needed! You will be taught everything you’ll need to know to become a successful foster. This presentation will provide useful information to successfully fostering neonate animals.

When applying to be a foster, you will have to sign a Foster Agreement with rules and regulations that must be followed. Here is a summary of some of those rules:

• Foster caretakers must commit to fostering each animal for at least two weeks or until animal is of weight and age to be spayed/neutered and placed for adoption.

• Fours days' notice required if need to bring animals back to PAWS before animal is ready for adoption.

• All cats and dogs on the foster caretaker’s property must be current on a rabies vaccine and proof must be provided to the Foster Coordinator.

• No travel with foster animals outside a 20 mile radius.

• Foster caretakers are to keep regular contact with the Foster Coordinator and report any issues or concerns with foster animals to them in a timely manner.

• Foster caretakers must submit good quality pictures/videos of animals and provide a detailed bio for each animal.

• Foster caretakers have no ownership rights to PAWS’ animals in foster care.

• PAWS is not responsible for any damage caused by foster animals to foster caretaker’s property.

• PAWS is not responsible for foster animals’ behavior.

• While a foster animal may appear healthy, there is always a risk the animal could have an underlying medical issue or carry a disease.

• If foster animal is taken to a vet without permission of PAWS, PAWS will not reimburse foster caretaker for the cost of the medical treatment.

• Foster caretakers are bound by the provided PAWS Foster Handbook.

Fostering is very rewarding; however, it does take a lot of time and energy. You will need to make sure your schedule allows you to be a successful foster. Neonates will require your constant attention as they do not have a mother to care for them.

This includes:

• Feeding and weighing every few hours

• Keeping them warm and healthy

• Cleaning up their inevitable messes

• Socializing them

• Making sure they gain the required weight for their survival

It is best to have a room or space designated to your foster(s) prior to bringing them home. We recommend a spare bathroom or a large empty closet. The most important aspects of the space are…

• Temperature controlled

• Easily disinfected

• Separate from other resident animals

• Can withstand kitten messes (accidents, vomit, diarrhea, loose stool, etc.)

• No breakables

• Electrical outlets and wires covered or blocked

• No small choking hazards (strings, rubber-bands, etc.)

• Windows are secured

• Appliances are secured (toilet lid down)

As the fosters get older they become more adventurous. They will want to explore and get into all kinds of trouble. Fosters will need to have a safe space to prevent accidents and injuries.

Supplies you will need for fostering:

• Heating source

• Digital scale (food or postal) for weighing

• Milk replacement (PetAg KMR/Esbillac powder formula recommended)

• Bottle kit

• Hard and soft food

• Puppy pads/litter box

• Secure pet carrier for transportation

• Old towels or blankets

• Karo Syrup

• Thermometer

• Pedialyte

As donated, PAWS will provide a “Foster Kit” with most everything you need to be a successful foster.

Kittens and puppies must eat 5% of their body weight at each feeding. The only way to ensure they are eating enough is to weigh them before and after they eat.

As a foster, you are responsible for weighing the kittens/puppies each day, before and after feeding, and reporting those weights to the Foster Coordinator by the end of that day. This is extremely important.

What to expect:

• Will need to be fed milk replacer with a bottle every 2-3 hours during the day and 4-5 hours overnight.

• Kittens and puppies under three weeks old will need help urinating and defecating. This is called stimulation.

• Kittens under three weeks old are not able to regulate their own body temperature. They will need a heating source available at all times.

What to expect:

• Should be weaning off of the bottle and moving on to eating gruel (a mix of wet food and water) out of a bowl. They will need to eat every 4-6 hours during the day and 6-8 hours overnight.

• May need to be supplemented with syringe feeding.

• Litter box or pee pad training will begin.

What to expect:

• Should start eating gruel (a mix of wet food and water) and hard food. They will need to eat about every 4-6 hours during the day and 8-10 hours overnight.

• Should start using the litter box or pee pads independently.

• Will become more adventurous and playful.

Maddie’s Pet Assistant (MPA) is a free mobile app for smart phones that was made to make a foster’s life easier! PAWS uses MPA to keep track of fosters.

MPA allows you to view your foster kitten’s information, enter in their weights (in pounds and ounces), keep track of vaccinations, and take surveys for each kitten or litter!

To get registered for the app, the Foster Coordinator will have to manually create your account. They will create a login and password and link each animal to your account.

Vet care for fosters is provided by the veterinary staff at Rutherford County PAWS during normal business hours. The Foster Coordinator will work directly with the shelter vet staff to manage the health and well being of each foster pet.

• There will be routine check ups and re-vaccinations.

• Once they reach around 2 pounds and 8 weeks old, they will come back to the shelter to be spayed/neutered and then adopted!

Since the orphaned neonatal animals are so susceptible to illness, it is extremely important the Foster Coordinator is kept in the loop on any issues and concerns you may have with your fosters.

Fosters will have the Foster Coordinator’s direct phone number and email to report any medical issues.

Kittens and puppies can occasionally appear healthy but suddenly stop thriving. They stop growing, socializing and crawling around. They may start losing weight and cry continuously. If not dealt with immediately, it can be fatal. Fosters must be prepared and will learn how to help prevent this.

Even with all the love, attention, and perfect treatment, some kittens and puppies will not make it. Fosters give them a fighting chance when they may not have had one in the first place. This is important to keep in mind before deciding to foster.

• Fostering is a rewarding process that saves thousands of lives.
• No experience needed!
• Cats and dogs on the foster caretaker’s property must be current on a rabies vaccine.

• Must be able to provide the time and attention required.

• Must have a safe space.

• Most supplies provided by PAWS.

• The priority is for foster animals to gain weight and stay healthy.

• Must keep up with weights and send them to the Foster Coordinator every day.

If you have any questions or concerns about the PAWS Foster Program, please let us know!

• PAWS main line: 615-898-7740
• PAWS email: [email protected] (Note 'attention to foster coordinator')

If interested in becoming a PAWS Foster Care Volunteer, please complete the online volunteer form below. To apply, you must be 18 years or older and be a Rutherford County, TN resident. Applicants will include information about minors on their form. *Please Note: The application unfortunately cannot be saved - please ensure enough time to complete the application in one sitting.

Please prepare the following to upload before beginning:

• A photo of the front of your current, non-expired driver's license or other state photo ID

• Proof of rabies vaccinations for all cats and dogs on the property

Most communication is sent through email, so please be sure to enter a valid email address on the form. 

If you experience any issues with the online form or have any questions, please contact the shelter at 615-898-7740 or email [email protected]. Thank you!

[Continue to Foster Form Here]