How can you help?
Questions? Call 307-739-1881 or email adopt@animaladoptioncenter.org
What is a foster parent?
The Animal Adoption Center relies on the generosity of foster parents to provide loving and temporary homes for the dogs in our program. Each evening our goal is to have every dog leave the AAC with one of our selfless foster parents and spend the night in their home, often with their own pets and children. Foster parents supply temporary housing during the night, which helps prepare the dogs for placement with their future adoptive family by giving them the opportunity to learn valuable household manners. Additionally, foster parents help us understand each animal’s particular needs and determine the best long term placement for each dog. During operating hours the dogs are brought back to the AAC for visitors and potential adopters to view them.
What is involved?
The AAC provides an overnight bag with everything the dog will need for their “sleepover”. Foster parents are needed nightly. Tuesday through Friday is a one-night commitment. We ask that dogs are picked up between 4pm and 6pm and returned the following morning between 9am and 12pm. The AAC is closed Sundays and Mondays, so foster parents get to spend a whole weekend with their foster dog! Pickup is Saturday between 4pm and 5pm and drop off is Tuesday between 9am and 12pm.
Why are foster parents needed?
Some animal shelters are forced to euthanize hundreds of healthy and friendly animals each day to make space for the new ones coming into the shelter. Foster parents maximize the number of pets who can be saved by playing an indispensable role in preparing dogs for their future homes. It is a truly rewarding way to help an animal in need. Each time a dog stays at a foster parent’s home, we are able to learn more about the dogs personalities; their likes/dislikes, their optimal living environment, as well as any potential issues or quirks that we may need to address. The dogs benefit immensely from the individual attention, affection, socialization and additional exposure to the public that foster homes offer. In addition, fostering is the best way for potential adopters to get to know a particular dog better without any commitment until they find that perfect match! Want to understand why foster programs are beneficial to shelters? Here is a study proving that foster programs do indeed help homeless dogs find their forever families quicker and allows shelters to save more lives!
What animals need fostering?
Every dog at the AAC needs a nightly foster, even puppies. Puppies require extra love, attention and structure as well as longer term foster care. Puppy fostering is a great way to discover whether or not you are ready for the responsibility of raising a young dog. Periodically the AAC needs cat foster parents to provide a kitty with health or behavioral concerns with a little extra love and attention.
Animal Adoption Center dogs are exercised daily and benefit greatly from their outings with dog walking volunteers. Volunteers walk our adoptable dogs around town or on pet-friendly hiking trails. These walks are mutually beneficial to walker and dog; both parties get exercise, fresh air, and the opportunity to explore our beautiful valley. The dogs wear “Adopt Me” vests to ensure that everyone who sees them know that they are available for adoption. Many adoptable dogs have found their forever home because of someone seeing them on a walk. One of our many partners, PAWS of Jackson Hole, put together a dog-friendly walking map to find all the right places for you and your pooch.
DOG WALKING HOURS
Due to COVID-19, dog-walking hours have been suspended for the foreseeable future.
Stop in during these hours to check if there is an available dog or call in advance to reserve a walking buddy: 307-739-1881.