Do you care about animals? Help save their lives by volunteering to provide foster care!

They arrive almost every day: Helpless dogs, cats and other companion animals who are sick, injured or abused … puppies and kittens who are too young to go up for adoption … pets whose families are in crisis and need temporary care. To get the second chance they deserve, these animals desperately need foster care.

If you love and care about animals and want to help them enjoy the lives they deserve, please become an Tehachapi Humane Society foster-care provider today! You may be asked to give a few days or weeks of your time … to the pet who benefits, it means a lifetime.

We need caring people to become foster care providers and help us save the lives of thousands of pets every year.  The number of animals we rescue every year is staggering. We need people in our community to provide these animals with temporary respite until they can be adopted.

• To become a foster-care provider, the first step you must take is to fill out a form.
• If you are a current THS volunteer, please call  at (661) 823-0699 - (menu #5 for dogs & #6 for cats). 
•  Don’t delay … animals in need are waiting for you.
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By providing temporary foster care to a pet in need, you’re helping to ensure a bright future. Without foster care, many animals will not survive. As a foster-care provider, you’re asked to give love, care and time in a safe and nurturing environment.  Each case is different. The length of time a pet will spend in foster care depends upon that animal’s age, condition and ability to heal. But in ALL cases, you’re giving a pet the second chance he/she deserves.

You may also take care of Special needs Animals

Young or newborn puppies and kittens/pregnant female dogs and cats

During the cat and dog “breeding season” we need foster-care providers for dogs and cats about to give birth to new litters of babies, as well as young and newborn puppies and kittens who are not old enough to go up for adoption. Most of these youngsters simply need a safe, secure home in which to “grow up” until they reach 8 weeks of age and a minimum of 2 pounds (state law mandates that we spay or neuter all dogs and cats before placing them in new homes; however, pets cannot go under anesthesia safely and be spayed or neutered until they are a minimum of 8 weeks of age and weigh at least two pounds).

Between May and September, we typically take a lot of unwanted puppies and kittens! Many are too young and too small to go up for adoption; but if given time to “grow up” in foster care, they can be spayed or neutered and placed up for adoption … and get the chance to live a long, happy life.

Sick, injured or abused animals

Imagine having a very bad cold, a broken leg, a serious burn or other treatable medical condition – but no place to go while you recovered. That is the fate of many animals who arrive at the Tehachapi Humane Society each year.  Without a secure place to stay temporarily, and someone to feed them and care for them (and in some cases, administer medication or change bandages) these animals may not survive.

You don’t have to be a veterinarian to care for a sick, injured or abused pet. You simply need to provide tender, loving care under the direction of our veterinary team. It’s important to note that we will never place a pet patient with a foster-care provider who is not willing or able to provide the necessary level of care.”

Pets of Families in Crisis

We are always seeking foster-care providers to assist with our special-needs programs including Project Safehouse and Project Active Duty.

Through Project Safehouse, we take in the pets of domestic violence victims until they get “back on their feet” in a safe, non-abusive environment. Research has proven that many people will not leave an abusive environment because they have no one to care for their pet(s). Project Safehouse ensures safe haven for their pet(s), enabling them to flee to safety and get the help they need. Then, we happily reunite them with their pet(s).

Through Project Active Duty, we take in the pets of people activated to serve our country via the U.S. Military, National Guard or Reserves.  We firmly believe that people who serve our country should not have to surrender their pets as a result.  Thanks to Project Active Duty, the brave women and men of the U.S. Armed Forces can rest assured that their pets are in good hands while they complete their tours of duty.

*Note – This program requires the longest commitment, as many tours of duty have been lengthened. Pets may be in the program for six months to one year before being reunited with their families