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A Stepping Stone to a Forever Home
Become a BRHA foster home
There is no better way to make a difference in the life of a shelter animal. Foster homes give in-home care to animals who for whatever reason do not adjust well to a multiple dog or cat sheltering environment. These may be puppies or kittens who are too young for adoption or animals with special needs such as those recovering from surgery. Some animals come to us deeply wounded from their life's experiences or they may be an older animal who needs an extra chance to find a forever home. Foster homes also offer an additional opportunity for an animal's personality to be assessed and training offered. Fostering is a temporary arrangement, but the benefits to the fostered animals are life-long and life-saving.
Consider joining the BRHA foster home network. Download a foster home application today.
What's involved in being a foster home?
In general, we ask that foster homes be willing to accept animals into their home and make them a part of the family. And because fostered animals are often amongst our most vulnerable, we prefer fosterers who are experienced at caring for companion animals and willing to devote the time and resources to their particular needs. There are two types of foster arrangements.
Housing foster care is for animals who are temporarily not adoptable and may need time and special care to help them on their way. This includes puppies who are too young to adopt and animals with medical needs such as those recovering from surgery. The goal of this fostering arrangement is to provide a loving home and special care through this temporary period after which the animal will be returned to the shelter and put up for adoption. Ideally, housing foster care lasts as long as it takes to reach this goal and will vary depending on the situation.
Proactive foster care is for animals who are adoptable but for whatever reason are not thriving in the shelter environment. Let's face it, there is a lot going on at the shelter and some animals may not cope well. Maybe they aren't used to all the noise and activity, or they may just need a break from shelter life. Our staff is quick to recognize these situations, and foster care is the ideal solution. With proactive fostering the shelter continues to advertise the animal for adoption, and we ask that the foster family help "get the word" out by taking the animal into the community and bringing him or her to the shelter to meet potential adopters. Some animals may need additional training and the foster providers may be asked to attend a training class with the dog. Ideally, a proactive foster arrangement lasts until the animal is adopted.
What are the benefits to the foster family?
It sounds a bit hard - taking an animal into your home and then giving it up. But the rewards of fostering are rich. There is no better way to make a difference in the life of a shelter animal. Some of our fostered animals have made heroic recoveries from adversity and do so with courage and dignity and not one scrap of remorse or self-pity. Their efforts are both heart-warming and inspirational. Seeing an animal you care about go to a forever home is an emotional, but immensely satisfying experience. Our fosterers insist that the lessons they learn and warm fuzzy feeings they get from their fostered friends are life-changing and life-affirming.
See what they have to say.
I'm interested in providing a foster home. Where do I go from here?
To start with, download a foster home application. Read it carefully. If you are interested in applying to be a foster home, fill out the application completely and mail, fax or email it to
Bitter Root Humane Association
P.O. Box 57
Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: 406-363-5311; FAX: 406-363-3531
(If Faxing, call 363-5311 first so the machine can be turned on)
Our Foster Home Coordinator will contact you after your application is received. In addition to the application, potential foster homes must go through an interview and home visit process. For more information please contact the shelter.
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