Foster Care Volunteer Program

Thank you for your interest in becoming a DAWS foster parent volunteer. DAWS will be able to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome more animals this year through our Foster Care Program.

Foster parents provide temporary care for cats, kittens, dogs and puppies in their own homes. Some animals need as little as two weeks of care, while others may need care for up to two months.

By offering your time, energy and home to an animal in need, you prepare the animal for adoption into a permanent home.  DAWS is always looking for additional foster homes, especially throughout the busy spring and summer seasons.

What Animals Benefit from Foster Care?

Foster programs aren’t just for kittens and puppies.  Nearly any animal we have can benefit from foster care:

• Orphaned kittens and puppies needing to be bottle fed
• Mother cat or dog with nursing kittens or puppies
• Under-aged, self-feeding kittens and puppies (4-8 weeks old)
• Animals recovering from injury or illness (may need medication)
• Shy or fearful animals that need socialization
• Healthy adult animals waiting for space at the shelter, or that need a break from life at the shelter
• Animals that are mildly sick; such as Kennel Cough in dogs or Upper Respiratory Infection in cats.  These animals may need medication.
• Animals that would benefit from home to home adoption

DAWS provides: all veterinary care and medicine for foster animals, plus plenty of support to foster parent volunteers.

Tell Me More about DAWS Foster Care Program

Want to know more about volunteering to foster an animal? Check out these frequently asked questions.

We also have an article on fostering for you to read, written by one of our foster parents.

Next steps:

If you are interested in volunteering with DAWS as a foster care provider, please follow these steps:

1. Be of age. The primary caregiver of the foster animal must be at least 21years old
2. Be in the area. Foster volunteers must be able to get to our shelter in Bethel on a regular basis. Please consider the potential commute before applying to volunteer.
3. Complete foster application.  Please print out and complete the foster application.  You can (1)  Drop off application to the shelter at 147 Grassy Plain Street , Bethel, CT 06801  Monday-Friday 9-2 and 6-8 or Saturday/Sunday 2-4. (2) Fax the application to DAWS, 203-748-6791, or (3) Mail application to the shelter, DAWS, 147 Grassy Plain Street, Bethel, CT 06801 ATTN:  Foster Coordinator. Foster a Dog/Puppy.  Foster a Cat/Kitten.
4. Attend an orientation. You will learn about all volunteer positions available at DAWS, our history and policies. After you submit your application a volunteer manager will be in touch to let you know when the next orientations are scheduled.
5. Attend a training. The foster care coordinator will work with you to schedule the required training.