SPCA seeks foster families for hundreds of animals over festive season

Hundreds of SPCA animals are looking for a caring foster family this Christmas season as SPCA Centres around the country start to fill up.

SPCA is asking big-hearted kiwis to foster animals so they can be in a home environment over the Christmas break. SPCA foster families play an important role in the animal care process and provide love, care, and a safe place for animals in need.

With ‘kitten season’ in full-swing, SPCA resources are stretched to the limit. Centres across New Zealand are looking for families who can foster kittens, cats, neonates (kittens who are new-born to four weeks old), Queens (mother cats), puppies, dogs, rabbits, goats, horses, livestock, chickens, and even ducks.

Emma Epstein of Mangere Bridge has been fostering SPCA felines for four years, caring for more than 40 animals over that time with her partner, Tristan. The pair have fostered week old kittens, right through to adult cats. She says fostering is an amazing way to have animals in your life if you’re not in a position to adopt, or to learn what it’s like to have a pet full time.

“Just this week, I’ve given back a mother cat with her five kittens, and we are picking up our new foster cats in a few days,” says Ms Epstein. She describes fostering as “incredibly rewarding, and a great way to help animals who need it.”

Fostering involves caring for an animal from two to six weeks and comes at no cost to the foster family. SPCA supplies all food, medicine, bedding, and toys to make the animal comfortable while with their foster family.

Foster families need to have their own transport to bring animals to and from the centre and be available for veterinary appointments.

SPCA CEO Andrea Midgen says SPCA foster families are incredibly special people.

“I’m always blown away by the support of our foster volunteers who open their homes and hearts to animals in need. Animals who are taken in by fosters do extraordinarily well, coming back to us confident and happy, ready to find their forever homes,” she says.

Ms Epstein can’t wait to pick up her new fosters, but admits there is one big challenge to be being a foster parent.

“You get so attached to the foster animals; it can be hard to give them back! But it’s a wonderful feeling knowing they will be adopted by people who adore them, and we helped them on their journey.”

Across the country, the need for foster families vary. For fostering opportunities in your area, seehttps://www.spca.nz/fosteranimals

Full list of SPCA Centres seeking foster families:

North Island

·SPCA Kaitaia Centre needs foster families for kittens, Queens and kits and puppies.

·SPCA Kerikeri Centre is looking for their dogs to be fostered.

·SPCA Whangarei Centre needs queens and kittens foster families.

·SPCA Mangere Centre is looking for foster parents for their bottle baby feeding programme, 0-4 week old kittens that require round the clock care.

·SPCA Hobsonville Centre is looking for foster parents for their bottle baby feeding programme, 0-4 week old kittens that require round the clock care.

·SPCA Thames Centre is looking for fosters to take on kittens, Queens and kittens, puppies, and mums and pups together.

·SPCA Tauranga Centre needs foster families for kittens and puppies.

·SPCA Gisborne Centre seeks foster homes for kittens, queens and kits, puppies, dogs, and goats.

·SPCA New Plymouth Centre would like foster families for kittens, cats, and queens and kittens.

·SPCA Whanganui Centre want people to foster kittens and puppies.

·SPCA Rotorua Centre is looking for foster to care for neonates, queens and kits, puppies, and horses.

·SPCA Taupo Centre is looking to foster kittens, neonates, puppies, and horses.

·SPCA Whakatane Centre seeks fosters for their neonates, puppies, and horses.

·SPCA Kawerau Centre would like foster families for their kittens, and puppies.

·SPCA Tokoroa Centre needs to foster their kittens and livestock.

·SPCA Palmerston North Centre want people to foster kittens, and dogs.

·SPCA Hamilton Centre is looking to foster cats, queens and kits, dogs, and rabbits.

·SPCA Levin Centre seeks foster families for kittens, cats, and rabbits.

·SPCA Waikanae Centre seeks foster families for kittens, cats, and rabbits.

·SPCA Wellington Centre is seeking foster families for kittens, neonates, and puppies.

South Island

·SPCA Nelson Centre needs to foster kittens, queens and kits, puppies, dogs, and rabbits.

·SPCA Renwick Centre is looking for fosters to take on kittens, queens and kits.

·SPCA Motueka Vet Partnership needs fosters for kittens, queens and kits.

·SPCA Christchurch Centre want people who can foster neonates, dogs, rabbits, horses, fosters with dry lots, fosters who are confident to take shy/nervous dogs, or foster homes with no children or other dogs.

·SPCA Ashburton Centre is seeking foster families for kittens and cats

·SPCA Greymouth Centre is seeking foster families for kittens and cats

·SPCA Queenstown Vet Partnership would like foster families for their kittens, cats, ducks, and chickens.

·SPCA Oamaru Centre is looking for fosters for their kittens and cats.

·SPCA Dunedin Centre needs foster families for kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs.

·SPCA Invercargill Centre would like foster families for their kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs.