P.O. Box 392 • 29th and Poplar Streets • Parkersburg, West Virginia 26101
Becoming a Foster Parent
All Foster Care Volunteers must complete a Volunteer Application before applying to
become a Foster Care Volunteer.
Volunteer applications are available at the Shelter and on-line at
www.hsop.org
In completing the application, be sure to mark that you wish to be a
Foster
Complete and return application to the shelter.
Attend a Volunteer Orientation session.
You will be notified of the orientation session that you are scheduled to
attend.
Orientations are usually scheduled the 2nd Saturday of each month,
beginning at 10:30 and lasting about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Volunteer in the shelter for 2 hours before applying to become a
Foster Care Volunteer
We feel it is beneficial to have at a minimum a familiarity with the
shelter, its operations, facilities and staff before becoming a Foster.
Volunteering in the shelter for just a few hours will allow you to become
more familiar with some of the practices and people that you will come into
contact with as a Foster.
You can also pick up a very informative article “Becoming a foster
parent, Are you ready?” that will give you insight into foster parenting
homeless animals. We recommend that you read this article before
completing your application.
Complete and submit your application back to the Shelter.
Pass Shelter Management review of application
Your application will first be reviewed by our Shelter Management
They will make calls to your landlord and veterinarian as applicable
Your application will then passed on to our Foster Care Coordinators.
Attend a group orientation session
The Foster Care Coordinators will schedule a group orientation session for
all interested foster applicants.
These are usually held once per month and normally in the evening for about
one hour to discuss being a foster parent and answer any questions you may
have.
At this meeting, you will be provided with a Foster Care Handbook that provides details,
procedures and expectations for fostering for the Humane Society of
Parkersburg.
Undergo a Home inspection
Our Foster Care Coordinators will need to do a home inspection prior to
your being approved to foster for the HSOP.
This is done to help determine what kind of foster animals would best fit
into your home, housing accommodations, family and lifestyle.
Coordinators will make final approval and determination as to what you are
approved to foster – adults only, puppies, kittens, newborns, etc.
Be approved
Once approved to foster you will be added to our foster call list.
