Fostering

 Fosters are an invaluable resource for Animal Services: 

* Animals are out of the loud, stressful environment of the shelter and in a quiet home 

* Fosters have the time to get to know an animal and learn their personality

* They pave the way to help an animal get adopted.

* They help orphaned babies get through the first couple months of life.

 Interested in fostering for us? Please fill out our Foster Application here.

FAQs

 What do foster families need to provide?

• A healthy and safe environment for their foster pet(s)
• Transportation to and from the shelter for vet appointments as needed
• Socialization and cuddle time to help teach pets positive family and pet relationships
• Lots of exercise and positive stimulation to help them develop into great pets

Can I foster pets even if I have a full-time job?

Absolutely! You would just need to provide ample exercise before or after work.

Can I let my foster pet play with personal pets?

While foster pets playing with other pets is often fine, we advise that you consult with your veterinarian before fostering to ensure that all your personal pets are healthy and up-to-date on all vaccines. Pets in shelters are very susceptible to illness and can carry or catch different diseases. If, for any reason, your personal pet becomes ill while you are fostering a Kings County Animal Services pet, we cannot provide medical care for your personal pet.

What if I want to adopt my foster pet?

We fully encourage the adoption of foster pets to their foster family. If you do decide to adopt your foster, please contact the foster coordinator as soon as possible so the pet is made unavailable for adoption to the public.

What if my foster pet is not working out?

You are not required to continue to foster a dog if you feel it’s not working out. Please contact the foster coordinator immediately if the pet needs to come back to the shelter. We do not always have immediate space, but will work to take the pet back as soon as possible.

Can I foster a dog to fulfill a community service obligation?

We cannot sign off on any community service obligation for fostering as community service needs to be supervised work. If you need community services hours, on-site volunteering is an option. 

Volunteering

Kings County Animal Services is always looking for volunteers that want to help our animals. There are many different ways you can help!

At the moment, our main focus is help with cleaning - kennels, crates, dishes, laundry, etc. There are also opportunities to help walk dogs and socialize dogs and cats, but most of that would depend on how much of the "basics" have been done around the shelter.

Requirements:

*  At least 16 years of age - under 18 will need to bring in our underage application and parental consent form - here

*  Must commit to at least 10 hours a month for 4 months

       If you are interested, please follow the link to fill out our application       

                       https://form.jotform.com/230606859504055

                              We would love to add you to the team!

 Friends of Kings County Animal Services (a nonprofit that assists Animal Services) also needs volunteers. You can find out more and how to contact them by going here - https://www.friendsofkcas.org/about