Animal lovers open their hearts and homes to foster over the holidays

The festive season is a particularly busy time for SPCA, with many existing foster carers heading away on holiday, and high numbers of animals coming into our Centres amid kitten season.

SPCA has been asking animal lovers from around the country to sign up to foster, to help alleviate some of the pressures on our often-overwhelmed teams.

“The response has been incredible, and we’re so very grateful,” says Dr Corey Regnerus-Kell, General Manager of Animal Services at SPCA.

“We and the animals desperately needed this help. We want to ensure that our Centres can continue taking in vulnerable animals over the coming months, and we’re only able to do that with the assistance of foster homes.”

Fostering involves bringing an SPCA animal into your own home for a short-term period, generally between two to six weeks. Around 40% of the cats and kittens that we meet at SPCA require at least some time in foster care before they’re ready for adoption.

“Animals of all kinds require foster care, whether it’s for socialisation, recovery time from an injury or a surgery, or just time away from the often busy environment at our Centres,” says Dr Regnerus-Kell.

SPCA received over 900 initial applications of interest, and over 300 completed foster applications over the three week period.

There are still some regions that are particularly low on foster homes – Taupō, Napier and New Plymouth in the North Island, and Renwick, Ashburton, Thames, Timaru, Greymouth and Invercargill in the South.

“If there’s anyone who is still on the fence about fostering, particularly in those areas, please do reach out and chat to our teams who can answer any questions you may have,” says Dr Regnerus-Kell. “We know that many consider getting a new pet for the family over the holiday time, and fostering is a great way to have a risk-free opportunity to ensure that taking on a full-time animal is the right fit, not only for the family members, but for the pet too.”

“SPCA also provides everything you’ll need, including food, bedding, toys, and medication if required. We’d love to hear from you, and get more of these deserving animals into home environments.”

On behalf of the animals, SPCA would like to thank everyone who has already put their hand up to foster. With your support, we’ll be able to continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming countless animals over the coming months.