Tender Loving Caregivers

Welcome to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton’s Foster Program, Tender Loving Caregivers. The Humane Society often receives animals that cannot be immediately adopted into permanent homes for various reasons. Typically, these young or injured animals just need a little extra time before they can be placed in the adoption program. Foster parents generously open their homes to special needs animals and help the Humane Society continue to find great homes for great pets. These Tender Loving Caregivers truly make a difference for these animals.

Becoming a Foster Parent

Application Process

All potential foster parents must first attend a general volunteer orientation. Active volunteers are welcome to pursue foster training at any time. Junior volunteers interested in becoming foster parents must have parental consent, and a parent must be willing to attend a foster orientation.

Anyone 14 years or older who is interested in fostering should fill out a Tender Loving Caregivers application and return it to the Foster Care Coordinator

Foster Screening

Foster parents are Humane Society representatives when they are caring for our animals. As such, it is important that each foster parent’s standards for animal care match our own.

Once a potential foster parent has turned in an application, the Animal Care Administrator will arrange an interview. The interview accomplishes two things. First, it allows us to familiarize potential fosters with the policies, procedures, expectations, requirements, and guidelines for foster care. Second, the interview allows us to determine the suitability of individuals for foster care within our organization. Our goal is to match the foster with the animals for which they are best suited.

Once a foster parent has been accepted into and agrees to participate in the foster program, he or she will be asked to sign a foster agreement and, as necessary, enroll in the appropriate foster training.

Foster Training

Based on previous foster experience, new foster parents are place into various Tender Loving Caregiver Levels and required to attend a brief training session. Levels of the TLC program are described below:

TLC Level One

  • May foster cats and kittens that fall into the following categories:
    • Litter of kittens viable without a mother’s care (6 weeks or older)
    • Mother with a litter of kittens 4 to 6 weeks of age
    • Shelter cats in need of a shelter-break
    • Adult cats needing more socialization
  • May foster dogs and puppies that fall into the following categories:
    • Litter of puppies viable without a mother’s care (6 weeks or older)
    • Mother with a litter of puppies 4 to 6 weeks of age
    • Shelter dogs in need of a shelter-break

TLC Level Two

  • May foster cats and kittens that fall into the following categories:
    • Litters of kittens 4 to 6 weeks of age
    • Mother with a litter of kittens newborn to 6 weeks of age
  • May foster dogs and puppies that fall into the following categories:
    • Litter of puppies viable without mother’s care (6 weeks or older)
    • Mother with a litter of puppies newborn to 6 weeks
  • May act as a Foster Mentor to TLC Level One Foster Parents
  • May teach a TLC Level One training course

TLC Level Three

  • May foster cats and kittens that fall into the following categories:
    • Litters of kittens or orphaned kittens under 4 weeks of age
    • Injured/sick animals
  • May foster dogs and puppies that fall into the following categories:
    • Litter of puppies or orphaned puppies under 6 weeks of age
    • Injured/sick animals
  • May act as a Foster Mentor to TLC Level One and Two Foster Parents
  • May teach a TLC Level One and Level Two training course

Active Duty

Call for action

Once new foster parents have completed the appropriate training, they are able to actively participate in the foster program. When the Humane Society receives animals in need of foster care, the Foster Care Coordinator will call and offer you a foster opportunity. He/she will tell you who needs to be fostered, how long the foster may last, and what special concerns need to be addressed. You will be asked to make your decision quickly to accept to refuse the foster assignment.

If you decide to accept the foster animals(s), you should pick them up at the shelter as soon as possible. You will need to speak to the Foster Care Coordinator, who will give you specific information and directions for the care of the animal(s) going out to foster. You will receive a copy of the foster card, which will describe the animals(s) going into your care, the reason for the foster care, when they received vaccinations, and the date they are to return to the Humane Society. Be sure to ask for careful directions regarding how to apply or administer any medication.

Before leaving with your new foster pets, you will be supplied with the following items:

Cats and Kittens
· Cat carrier (if needed)
· Starter bag of litter*
· Starter bag of food*
· Play cage (if available)
· Medical supplies (if necessary)

Dogs and Puppies
· Leash and collar
· Crate
· Starter bag of food*
· Medical supplies (if necessary)

*The Humane Society is generally only able to provide foster parents with starter bags of food and litter. When the supplies run out, it is the responsibility of the foster to purchase food and litter at their own expense. These purchases are, however, tax deductible. In certain circumstances (i.e. special dietary needs, large litters of puppies, etc.), the Humane Society may be able to provide more assistance. If your foster animal(s) fall into one of those special circumstances, you will be informed at the beginning go foster care.