A large foster program is critical to any shelter’s success. Fostering animals creates more space in the shelter for other dogs and cats. Animals who get to go to foster homes get a break from the shelter and their time in foster can increase their adoptability. Fostering is an incredibly rewarding experience and we highly recommend giving it a try, even if just for a month or two.
The Yakima Humane Society provides care for thousands of animals each year, some of which require time in foster care before they are ready to be adopted. Fostering a homeless pet is both a rewarding and enriching experience; it is also great for families or individuals who love animals but cannot commit to having a full-time companion animal.
For more information about being a foster or if you have any questions, please call 509.457.6854 or email Rachel at: [email protected]. If you are located in Kittitas County please call 509.925.7387 or email Kristine at: [email protected].
The Yakima Humane Society cares for thousands of animals each year, and we are deeply grateful for the support of our dedicated foster families. Their compassion, commitment, and love have a profound impact on the lives of countless animals in need.
During this month of August, we are honored to spotlight Heather Watson and her family. Heather has been fostering for YHS since 2024, but her history of caring for animals in need dates back to 2010. Her kindness and dedication have saved many lives and have enabled us to expand our capacity to help even more animals.
Heather shares: “I have been fostering animals for local rescues and self-rescuing in some capacity since 2010. In 2023, I became increasingly aware of the rise in dumped dogs and animals in need of foster care, which led me to welcome many more into my home. In 2024, I expanded my fostering efforts to include the Yakima Humane Society, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to make an even greater impact.
While I am passionate about helping all animals, I have a special affinity for larger breeds that are often overlooked or misunderstood. I am fortunate to share my home with five wonderful dogs who warmly welcome foster visitors and serve as incredible companions. I’ve had the privilege of taking in very shut-down, frightened dogs from shelters and watching them blossom into confident, happy animals. Witnessing them come out of their shells and thrive once they feel safe is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of that process.
I believe every pet deserves a second chance, and I know it truly takes a community – a village – to make this happen. I am so thankful that YHS trusts me with their most vulnerable dogs, providing opportunities for them to heal and thrive. Currently, I am fostering a sweet puppy with a broken leg who has already stolen my heart. YHS does extraordinary work, and I am proud to be part of this mission. Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of animals in our community.”
Thank you, Heather and family, for opening your home and hearts to animals in need. Your compassion and dedication are making a meaningful difference in our community.
Here are some photos of Heather and her family with some of their past and present fosters.
#FosterFamily #YakimaHumaneSociety #SecondChances #CommunitySupport
The Yakima Humane Society provides care for thousands of animals each year, some of which require time in foster care before they are ready to be adopted. The foster program allows those to move out of the adoption center and into homes until they are adoptable, which helps open space for the adoption center for more animals. Fostering a homeless pet is both a rewarding and enriching experience; it is also great for families or individuals who love animals but cannot commit to having a full-time companion animal.
The animals that come into our care that need fostering include dogs and cats that are pregnant and/or nursing, underage / unweaned (bottle-fed babies), sick and injured, underweight, and un-socialized / feral. In addition, sometimes animals are otherwise healthy but are stressed in the shelter environment and do better in foster home settings.
Anyone 18 years of age or older who has time, dedication, willingness, and energy to give the best of care to animals that need additional support in a foster home setting. Foster parents need to be caring, compassionate, willing to learn, and wanting to make a difference in the lives of animals. Foster parents must live in Yakima County or in the City of Ellensburg.
Foster parents must be 18 years of age or older, need to keep the animals in their homes (must own their homes or have landlord permission), must submit a foster application and be approved, and are responsible for feeding, sheltering, and taking care of basic needs for the animals. Foster parents must be able to teach an animal basic commands as well as how to be a loving and well-behaved pet, assist with mental and physical growth, and follow the guidelines of the YHS Foster Program. Foster parents must also make sure the animals make it to their appointments including spay or neuter, vaccinations, and weigh-ins.
With foster coordinator approval you can foster multiple of the same littermates, and it is preferred to have at least 2 littermates fostered per foster home.
The foster coordinator will inform you of the animals that need foster care that will fit your household, and foster preferences as well as the animal’s needs. The foster coordinator will make sure to match the foster home with the best interest of both the animals and foster's needs in mind.
YHS will provide food and supplies for foster animals as well as all approved medical care expenses at our facility. YHS will not reimburse medical expenses and/or supplies that are paid for by the foster family unless there is written, prior authorization by the Yakima Humane Society management.
Daily time commitment can range from a couple of hours each day to as much as eight hours a day if not more if you are bottle-feeding infant animals. Every situation will have different time period lengths for fostering. The time period length could range from a week to several months depending on the animals’ needs, and the fosters' preference in length of fostering.
No prior medical knowledge is required. However, if your foster animal is sick or injured, you may be provided medication to give to the foster animal following the directions of our veterinarian, or instructions to properly care for medical needs animals. Foster parents will also need to bring the fosters back to the adoption center for weigh-ins, vaccinations, follow-up exams, and take to spay or neuter appointments at the YHS Clinic.
If a foster animal becomes sick, foster parents should contact the Foster Care Coordinator to assess the situation, who will then contact proper YHS medical personnel if needed. All foster medical care must be through the Yakima Humane Society medical personnel. Fosters will have access to a 24-hour emergency phone number for foster parents to utilize in case of emergency with their foster animals. The Yakima Humane Society will not reimburse or pay for vet care by the foster family taking foster animals to their own vet, or to an outside vet unless there is written, prior authorization by the Yakima Humane Society management.
Yes, but keep in mind that it is always a health risk to expose your animal to other animals even if those animals are healthy. The health risk is minimal if your animals are current on their vaccinations, maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, and are not elderly or very young.
Fostering is a wonderful family experience and can build valuable animal care experiences for children. It’s important to foster an animal that is age-appropriate for your children. You must also be diligent about providing guidance, instructions, and rules to your children about caring for and respecting your foster animal.
Our foster animals already have names. We ask that you do not change the name we have given them as their name corresponds with medical and other important records.
YES! As long as foster parents meet the shelter requirements necessary for adoption, foster parents have the first choice to adopt their foster pet. Paperwork is required and our regular adoption fees usually apply.
Yes, but any potential adopter will have to fill out and submit an adoption questionnaire on our website www.yakimahumane.org, and be approved by YHS staff for adoption. Our regular adoption fees will apply. The animal must remain with fosters until the animal is ready for adoption (an adoption hold fee may be required if not ready, but they want the animal held until they can finalize adoption), spayed or neutered, and the adoption paperwork is finalized. Please contact the foster coordinator if you have a potential adopter in mind.
Photos, and bios are posted on our website and Petfinder that may include valuable information you provide as a foster parent about that animal.
We prefer that foster parents continue to foster until we find a permanent home for their foster animal. It is extremely stressful for an animal to be returned to the shelter environment.
However, we understand that situations change, and it may become necessary to discontinue fostering. We request that a foster parent provide as much notice as possible so that we can find an alternative foster home to transfer the animal to. Of course, in an emergency, a foster parent may always bring their animal back to the shelter, but we ask that you please contact the foster coordinator to let them know about the situation.
If given enough notice, we can usually find volunteers that can foster sit for short durations. We ask that foster parents always keep the Foster Program Coordinator aware of any temporary foster sitting situations.
This is a great opportunity to help animals that may be sick, too young, injured, or unsocialized/timid/stressed. Please fill out a foster application on our website. You can also email Rachel at: [email protected] if you live in Yakima County, or Kristine at: [email protected] if you live in the City of Ellensburg to express your interest in fostering. Please provide some information about your living situation including why you want to foster, information about you and your family, if you have other animals or children, and contact information for the foster coordinator to contact you.
In Yakima County, please contact Rachel at: [email protected] or City of Ellensburg please contact Kristine at: [email protected] with any additional questions. They would be happy to answer any questions you may have about fostering for the Yakima Humane Society.