Does HHS have a shelter?

• No. HHS is a foster-based nonprofit organization. Rescued dogs and cats live with a foster family until they can be placed in permanent, loving homes.

How long might a rescue be in the care of a foster family?

• HHS looks for volunteers who are willing to make a commitment of at least 3 months to provide love and care to a dog or cat until we can place them in their forever home. There are also several shorter-term opportunities.

What are the space requirements to foster an animal?

• HHS rescues dogs of all shapes and sizes. Some may need a fenced-in yard. Other than having the ability to keep a new cat in a separate room when they first arrive, there typically aren’t any specific space requirements to foster cats.

What special needs do rescue animals have?

• We need experienced fosters to care for animals with special needs. These dogs or cats are typically recovering from a medical procedure, have some kind of illness that requires frequent treatment, and/or have behavioral issues.

How long does it take to find a permanent home for rescue animals?

• Dogs: It typically takes 1 to 2 months to find the perfect home for an adult dog.

• Puppies: We rescue single puppies from shelters and will try to save an entire litter if we have enough fosters. Sometimes we take in both a mother and her puppies. Puppies aren’t available for adoption until they’ve been spayed/neutered, after which it usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to adopt them.

• Cats: It usually takes 2 to 3 months to find the perfect home for an adult cat, but it can take up to 6 months.

• Kittens: We’re looking for volunteers who can foster a single kitten, and at times we need someone who can take a litter of 6 to 7 kittens, depending on how young they are. Sometimes we take in both a mother and her babies who will typically need to stay in a separate area (like a guest room) if the kittens are very young. Kittens aren’t available for adoption until they’re 8 to 10 weeks old, from which point it usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to place them in a permanent home.

• Seniors: Sometimes we get in an older dog or cat which typically match well with volunteers interested in helping animals with a lower activity level. It can take a little more time to find the perfect home for a senior animal, so ideally the foster would be comfortable making a longer-term commitment.

Are there short-term opportunities to foster an animal?

• Kitten season: Spring and summer are “kitten season” when shelters can get flooded with kittens, so we need more kitten fosters than in the fall and winter.

• Vacations: We need volunteers to “babysit” an animal when a foster goes out of town, which can be for a weekend or for a 2-week trip. We have the highest need for these short-term fosters over the summer and during the fall/winter holiday season.

• Medical: When a dog or cat has a treatable medical condition they require special attention for a period of time, after which they can be transferred to another foster until they’re adopted.

• Emergencies: Sometimes we have an animal that needs to be taken in quickly, for example if they are about to be euthanized in a shelter. If we don’t have an open foster home, we need someone willing to provide care for a short period of time until a space opens up.