FOSTERING

Do you have patience, time, and plenty of love to give? Join our FAHS foster care program and make a difference in the lives of animals in need!

Our foster families play a vital role in saving homeless pets by providing temporary care for young, small, or medically fragile animals who aren’t yet ready for the shelter. By opening their homes and hearts to these animals, fosters create a renewable lifesaving resource—giving each pet the time, care, and socialization they need to thrive before adoption.

How Does The Program Work?

Families interested in fostering must first submit a Foster Application. This helps us ensure that our foster families are prepared for the experience and that their homes provide a safe environment for foster pets.


As part of the approval process, FAHS will verify that all pets in the home are current on vaccinations. Many of our foster animals are young and may not yet be fully vaccinated, so this step is essential to protecting both the foster pets and your own pets.


Once a foster application is approved, the next step is attending our Fostering 101 class, a one-hour session designed to prepare new foster families. In this class, we’ll cover:

  • How to care for puppies and kittens at different stages of development
  • Other types of animals in need of foster care
  • Proper cleaning and sanitization protocols
  • Socialization techniques
  • Medical care and common health concerns
  • Best practices for a successful foster experience


Fostering 101 classes are hosted monthly at the Fairfield Area Humane Society (1721 Granville Pike, Lancaster, OH 43130). Attendees are encouraged to complete a foster application before attending class.


Class Schedule

  • Wednesday, March 19 at 4pm: RSVP on Facebook
  • Wednesday, April 16 at 4pm: RSVP on Facebook
  • Wednesday, May 21 at 4pm: RSVP on Facebook
  • Wednesday, June 18 at 4pm
  • Wednesday, July 16 at 4pm
  • Wednesday, August 20 at 4pm
  • Wednesday, September 17 at 4pm

What Happens After Training?

Once you’ve attended Fostering 101, you’ll be added to our FAHS Foster Facebook group, where we post notifications about animals in need of foster care. If you're available to foster, we’ll coordinate a pickup time for you to collect the animal and any necessary supplies from the shelter.


FAHS provides all food, supplies, and medical care—our foster families provide love and snuggles! Support is available for after-hours emergencies, and fostering is typically a 2-8 week commitment, though this may vary depending on the animal’s needs and your availability.


What Types of Animals Need Fostering?

  • Foster families provide critical care for a variety of animals, including:
  • Nursing mothers with kittens/puppies
  • Bottle babies (orphaned kittens/puppies needing to be bottle-fed)
  • Weight gainers (weaned kittens/puppies too small to stay in the shelter)
  • Medical special needs (animals recovering from surgery, illness, or chronic conditions)
  • Weaned kittens/puppies waiting for kennel space to return to the shelter
  • Adult cats/dogs or older puppies/kittens needing a break from the shelter
  • Adult dogs/older puppies with behavioral special needs (such as leash manners, house training, separation anxiety, etc. —not aggression)