PAWS is in desperate need of foster homes for its full grown dogs,

By taking an animal into your home on a temporary basis, you provide them with a safe place to rest and heal, while giving PAWS additional time to find them a permanent home.

PAWS saves more than 1,000 animals each year through its Foster Care Program.Some animals need as little as two weeks of care, while others may need care for up to three months.

By offering your time, energy and home to an animal in need, you prepare the animal for adoption into a permanent home as well as help prevent overcrowding in the shelter. PAWS is always looking for more foster homes, especially throughout the busy spring and summer seasons.

PAWS provides: all veterinary care and medicine for foster animals, plus plenty of support to foster parent volunteers.

Foster parent volunteers provide: time, pet supplies, food, a place in their home and lots of love.

When PAWS receives animals who are not ready to be put up for adoption, it contacts foster parent volunteers. If a foster volunteer is not available to foster at that time, PAWS simply tries another person. There will be plenty of other opportunities to foster, so there is no pressure to take an animal.

Foster parents come to the shelter located in Lynnwood to pick up the foster animal to take home. At that time, volunteers receive information about the animal’s condition and needs.

Foster parents may need to bring the animal to PAWS periodically to be examined by a veterinarian, receive vaccinations or other treatment.Once the foster period is over, the foster volunteer returns the animal to PAWS.

PAWS’ medical team will complete final steps necessary to prepare the animal for adoption.

If you are interested in volunteering with PAWS, please follow these steps:

Be of age. The primary caregiver of the foster animal must be at least 18 years old. However, young people can help at home and potentially receive school credit. Inquire more about school credit at the orientation.

Be in the area. Foster volunteers must be able to get to the shelter in Lynnwood on a regular basis. Please consider the potential commute before applying to volunteer.

Register for New Volunteer Orientation. Choose the class time that works for you and submit an online application.

Attend an orientation. You will learn about all volunteer positions available at PAWS, its history and policies. During orientation, you will also be shown how to register for foster training and any other areas that interest you.

Attend foster training. You will learn about program expectations, basic medical information, and have all your questions answered.

Start saving lives. PAWS will match you with the foster animals that suit your lifestyle.

For more information about fostering an animal, see https://www.paws.org/foster.html