CACC Foster Home Resource Page
Welcome to the Companion Animal Community Center Foster Home Resource Page.
Foster Home volunteers are essential to our live-saving mission. We have built touchpoints of support for you throughout this journey from rescue to new loving home.
CACC Foster Home Resources
Welcome! Thank you for joining us in our life saving mission of finding loving homes for cats and dogs in need. We couldn’t do this without you!
Here are the Cat and Dog Foster Manuals for reference while caring for your foster cat or dog. Please bookmark for quick reference.
Join our Facebook CACC Foster Home Group
Join Here
Join our Facebook CACC Foster/Adoption Group
Join our CACC Foster/Adoption Facebook group that allows you to share stories, photos and videos, ask questions, and keep up to date on all the pawsome things our fosters and adopters are up to!
Foster Training and Flash Classes video Training
These videos are great guide for first time foster homes, and are excellent resources throughout your foster journey. The videos are also good review for experienced foster homes.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your Foster Home Coordinators. Thank you!
Maddie’s Fund (www.maddiesfund.org) does so much for the dog and cat (and human) community, including this extensive virtual library of support for foster homes.
Maddies Foster flash classes below provide an excellent guide through your fostering journey. #thankstomaddies
Flash Classes
- Bringing Your Foster Cat Home
June 2019
In this short class, you will learn how to set up your home in a way that creates a safe space for your foster cat and help your foster cat acclimate to their new environment. Learn More - Learning your Foster Dog’s body language.
August 2021
Dogs communicate with their own special body language. It demonstrates their emotional state and their intentions. Being able to read these signals can really help in encounters with other dogs and humans, especially meetings with potential adopters. Learn more - Keeping Interactions between Foster Dogs and Children Safe
August 2017
By following a few simple guidelines and educating your children on how to properly interact with your new foster dog, you can keep your children and your foster dog safe, calm and happy.
Learn More - Introducing Your Foster Dog to New People in Your House
March 2017
This short video, on introducing your foster dog to a stranger at your house, will demonstrate easy and ultimately rewarding steps to help your foster dog greet new people in a safe and relaxed manner. Learn More - Helping Your Foster Dog be Comfortable Home Alone
August 2017
Some dogs can become stressed when being left home alone even to point of becoming destructive. Learn some tips on how to best prevent your dog from feeling anxiety when left home alone. Learn More
Medical
Behavioral
- Pet-to-Pet Interactions
- Pet-to-person Interactions
- Training and play
- Stress Reduction
- Shy/ Fearful Behavior
- Safety
- Common Behavior Challenges
- Adoption Tips
Medical Health Assessment
- How to Check Foster Pets for Dehydration
March 2019
In this short class, you will learn how to assess for dehydration in foster pets Learn More - How to Weigh Your Foster Pet
November 2018
In this short class you will learn how often you should weigh your foster pets, different methods of weighing your foster pets depending on their size, and when you should contact your foster manager about weight changes in your foster pet. Learn More - Emergencies in Cats and Dogs (5 weeks and older)
June 2017
Do you have questions about when to take your fostered dog or cat to the veterinarian, or is this an emergency? Find information in this presentation. Learn More - Emergencies in Kittens and Puppies (0-4 weeks)
April 2017
Learn More - Taking the Temperature in Kittens and Puppies
January 2017
Taking a temperature in a kitten or puppy is a great way to help gauge the overall health of your young foster pet. Learn More
Illness/Sick or Injured Animal Care
- Diarrhea in Kittens and Puppies
June 2019
Persistent young kitten or puppy diarrhea is one of the most challenging problems that foster programs face.There can be multiple different causes and solutions to kitten or puppy diarrhea.
You will learn to understand how to recognize diarrhea, some common causes of diarrhea, when a kitten or puppy with diarrhea needs veterinary attention, and how to help prevent and address kittens or puppies with diarrhea. Learn More - Diarrhea in Cats and Dogs
June 2019
There are many causes and solutions to diarrhea in cats and dogs. In this class, we will focus on the “how-to’s” of dealing with pets who have diarrhea. You will learn what to look for when examining a cat or dog who has diarrhea, recognize when veterinary attention is needed, and understand how to care for a cat or dog who has diarrhea. Learn More - Straining to Poop in Cats and Dogs
June 2019
There are many causes of straining to poop in cats and dogs. The most common causes are diarrhea, constipation, or overly full anal glands, which are usually an “easy fix”. Other causes, like gastrointestinal blockage, are more complicated to treat. In this class you will learn how to identify the symptoms of a cat or dog who is straining to poop, recognize when emergency veterinary attention is needed, and learn what you can do at home to help your dog or cat. Learn More - Straining to Pee in Cats and Dogs
June 2019
There are many causes of straining to pee in cats and dogs. The most common causes are bladder inflammation or urinary tract infection, which are usually an “easy fix”. Other causes, like urinary blockage and bladder stones, are more complicated to treat. You will learn how to monitor for straining to pee in your cat or dog, recognize when an emergency veterinary visit is necessary, and what you can do for your pet in the meantime at home. Learn More - Upper Respiratory Infection in Kittens and Cats
April 2017
There is a high chance that you might encounter upper respiratory infection in one or more of your fostered felines. Learn how to recognize the illness, and what to do about it. Learn More
Young Kitten and Puppy Care
- Kitten and Puppy Bottle Feeding Problems and Solutions
June 2017
Problems such as not taking the bottle, weight loss, restlessness or crying are covered. Learn More - Transitioning Kittens and Puppies to Solid Food
June 2017
This class will make the weaning process easier, especially if you are trying to wean kittens or puppies for the first time. Learn More - How to Stimulate an Orphaned Kitten or Puppy to Pee and Poop
June 2017
How is this done? How often should a kitten or puppy be stimulated? Learn this and more. Learn More
Preventative Care
- Cleaning and Disinfection in Foster Homes
January 2018
During this short class your will learn ways to prevent the spread of disease if a pet in your home is already sick. Learn More - Preventing the Spread of Disease in Foster Homes
January 2018
You will learn how you keep the foster pet from getting your own pets sick or vice versa, and more. Learn More
Behavioral Pet-to-Pet Interactions
- Introducing Your Foster Dog to Cats
August 2017
Follow these simple steps and you can have your foster dog and your feline co-exist safely and peacefully. Learn More
Pet to person Interactions
- Bringing Your Foster Cat Home
June 2019
You can set up your home in a way that creates a safe space for your foster cat and help your foster cat acclimate to their new environment. Learn More - Keeping Interactions between Foster Dogs and Children Safe
August 2017
By following a few simple guidelines and educating your children on how to properly interact with your new foster dog, you can keep your children and your foster dog safe, calm and happy.
Learn More - Introducing Your Foster Dog to Strangers in Your House
March 2017
This short video, on introducing your foster dog to a stranger at your house, will demonstrate easy and ultimately rewarding steps to help your foster dog greet new people in a safe and relaxed manner. Learn More
Training and play
- Choosing the Appropriate Walking Gear
November 2018
In this class, you will learn the various different types of dog walking equipment, the pros and cons of each equipment, and what might be best for your foster dog. Learn More - How to Handle Leash Walking
November 2018
Learn the best tips for training your foster dog to walk properly on leash as well as a few other training scenarios leashes come in handy for. Learn More - Playing with your Foster Dog
January 2017
Playing is a great way to bond and get to know your foster dog. Learn More
Stress Reduction
- Fear Free Eye Treatment
November 2018
In this video, learn how to make these treatments more of a positive experience for your foster dog or cat and make the entire process less of a struggle for both you and your foster pet. Learn More - Fear Free Tooth Brushing
November 2018
Learn how you can gain your foster pets approval of teeth brushing as well as turn a potential negative experience into a positive one. Learn More - Fear Free Pet Brushing
November 2018
Learn the best way to brush your dog or cat that makes the process fun and easy for both you and your foster pet. Learn More - Fear Free Ear Cleaning
November 2018
Here are techniques for helping your foster pet learn that ear treatments don’t have to be a frightening and unpleasant experience. Learn More - Treatment Station: Training for Care
February 2018
Watch this short video on conditioning your foster pet to a treatment station to find out how to best utilize it to help you care for your foster pet. Learn More - Basket Muzzle Training
February 2018
Conditioning a dog to be comfortable wearing a muzzle is an important life skill. In this short video by Fear Free you can learn how to do exactly that. Learn More
Shy/Fearful Behavior
- Introducing Your Shy Foster Dog to Strangers in Your Home
August 2017
Learn some helpful tools and techniques to make your shy foster dogs interactions with new people a good experience instead of something to fear. Learn More - Bringing Your Shy Foster Dog Home
March 2017
To help start a foster family of a shy dog get off on the right foot, er paw, this short video will provide helpful tips for bringing your foster dog to your house for the very first time. Learn More - Fostering and Socializing Unsocial Kittens
January 2017
The good news is that many unsocialized kittens can learn to not only tolerate interaction with humans but even enjoy it. Learn More
Safety
- Low Stress Cat Transport
March 2017
These low stress techniques can be useful for bringing their cats to and from adoption events, veterinary appointments or other locations. Learn More
Common Behavior Challenges
- Solving Litter Box Problems
November 2018
In this class you will learn how to understand the various issues related to cats with a history of inappropriate litter box use, the various medical and behavioral causes of peeing and/or pooping outside the litter box, techniques to eliminate behavioral causes of not using the litter box, and how to facilitate a successful adoption of a cat with a history of inappropriate litter box use. Learn More - House Training Your Foster Dog
January 2018
Learn some easy methods to help in house training your foster dog in this short video. Learn More - Helping Your Foster Dog be Comfortable Home Alone
August 2017
Some dogs can become stressed when being left home alone even to point of becoming destructive. Learn some tips on how to best prevent your dog from feeling anxiety when left home alone. Learn More
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