Our foster homes are the backbone of our entire program.  Foster homes provide a safe, secure environment for our animals, and allow the animals to live a normal life in a home environment. Each animal is evaluated while in foster care for personality traits, behavioural and health issues, and any special needs. The foster home’s evaluation is critical to determine how each animal interacts with people and other animals. Knowing each animal well allows us to choose the best home for each pet, and provides potential adopters with the opportunity to choose the best pet for their home.

As a SCAR foster, you are responsible for the temporary care of any foster animals in your home. You can choose how many animals you foster at one time. Typically, each animal stays in a foster home between several weeks and several months. However, SCAR cannot guarantee that any animal will be adopted within a specific time period. Some animals stay longer than a few months, and we advise that you take this into consideration when deciding if you would like to participate in our foster program.

Receiving the Animal into your Home

Once it is determined that you can foster the animal, arrangements will be made to get the animal to you. This will happen after we receive your Foster application, had a phone conversation and completed your home visit. Getting your animal may involve you picking the animal up or the animal being dropped off to you. All efforts will be made to vet and test the animal before placement into the foster home, but in some cases, the animal may need to be separated from your current pets until vetting can occur. Transportation to the vet may be done by the foster home or by a transportation volunteer.

Taking Care of the Animal in your Home 

Most animals adjust to the foster home without major difficulties. Be sensitive, however, to the stress that such a change can cause your animal and be especially careful to introduce the foster animal to other pets and children slowly. Also, your foster pet may act one way in certain environments and completely different in others. If it turns out that the animal has a behavioral issue, Second Chance Animal Rescue representatives can offer advice or recommend trainers if needed. Since we don’t have a shelter, it is not as easy as giving them back. There’s no place for them to go back to (foster homes are ALWAYS full!) so please make every effort to keep your foster animal until placement is made.

If you notice that your foster pet is showing signs of illness, get in touch with a SCAR board member to discuss these signs and to make a medical plan. Diarrhea and bloody stools are often common with dogs and pups and is usually the result of stress. We generally give the animals a week to get acclimated to their new environment and may suggest different foods to help with their symptoms. Please note: bloody stool, lethargy and vomiting are signs of something more serious and should be addressed immediately. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have concerns about the animal’s health. We will make every effort to address any issues in a timely manner. The health of our rescued animals is very important to us!

SCAR holds adoption events at different locations across Windsor and Essex County at least once a month. Due to the fact we do not let people to come to your home to meet your foster, and we don’t operate out of a shelter, this is the only way all of the adoptable animals can be showcased at one location. Please make sure that your foster is groomed (bathed and nails trimmed) for these events. If your dog needs to be groomed and you are not able to do it yourself, please let a SCAR representative know. We want these animals to put their best paw forward and get adopted!

Adoption Process

Your foster pet will remain on the website through the entire adoption process. A SCAR representative will accept applications and conduct phone interviews of prospective adopters. Once we have adequately screened a person, checked references and found the person to be a good fit, we will schedule a home visit at the prospective adopter’s home. A representative will come and pick up your foster (at a day/time previously discussed with you). The home visit is completed and in most cases, the animal stays in their new furever home. If for some reason there are some concerns, your foster will be returned to you until these concerns have been taken care of. Once the foster is adopted, you can arrange to drop off all property belonging to SCAR (left over food, toys, bedding, crates etc.) unless you are taking in another foster immediately.

THANK YOU!