Home Fostering

Fostering With Our Special Friends

With support from the office team at Our Special Friends (OSF), our volunteer fosterers provide a safe, secure and loving environment for individuals’ pets when they are unable to care for them, which brings enormous peace of mind to their owners, enabling them to focus on their current situation.

People unable to care for their animals for a short time do not usually wish to give them up; they want to be reunited when they are in a better place, be that mentally, physically, practically, or financially, and this is where OSF and our wonderful volunteers come in. The client’s love for their animal, and the companionship and unconditional love they receive in return, may be the only thing that has seen them through some very hard times. OSF does all it can to ensure that this life-enhancing, life-saving bond remains intact. Our fantastic fosterers enable people experiencing vulnerability to avoid giving up their beloved pets and help them keep connected with regular communication including photos and videos.

We offer care for most types of pets, from dogs and cats to tortoises and rats!

How to apply:

To get started, please complete our Volunteer Application Form which can be found here. We will then be in touch to speak more specifically about fostering with us.

If you are interested in fostering with us, but have some questions, please read our FAQs. If you have any further queries, please get in touch and we would be more than happy to answer them.

Fostering With Our Special Friends

At Our Special Friends, we always need more volunteers to join our fostering team in West Suffolk and the surrounding area. We provide both short and long-term fostering to reunite when owners are in a difficult situation and don’t want to relinquish their beloved pet/s. For example, if they are going to be in emergency accommodation with a no pet policy, hospitalisation, fleeing domestic abuse. Unlike many other charities that offering fostering, we foster with the aim of reuniting them with their owner when their situation has improved or has become more stable.

FAQs

What animals need to be fostered?

Usually, we get requests to help people foster their dog/s or cat/s. For this reason, we want to recruit volunteers who are interested in looking after dogs or cats (or are happy to do either). If you are fostering a cat, please note that they will need to remain inside for the duration of their stay with you to keep them safe. Therefore, you will be required to use and clean their litter trays. There may be occasions when we support someone with a different animal for example rabbits or rodents.

How long will I foster an animal for?

Each case is different therefore the time needed for fostering is different each time. Sometimesit can be as little as 1 or 2 days, other times it can be weeks or months. If you have a preference,you can state this when you apply to be a fosterer with us. If you can provide a longer time fosterplacement, and you need a break or are going on holiday during this time, we can support youwith finding an alternative foster home, pet sitter or boarding kennels.

How do I join the Our Special Friends foster community?

Please fill in our form and we’ll be in touch with you

https://ourspecialfriends.org/get-involved/volunteer/

What does the volunteer recruitment process involve for fosterers?

Complete our volunteer form
Complete our S18 ideal match form so we can match you to a suitable animal
A DBS check funded by Our Special Friends
Volunteer interview (preferably online but in person may be arranged)
Induction pack containing all our foster information and safeguarding training

Why do I need to have a DBS check and complete safeguarding training?

Some of the people we help can be very vulnerable. If you are fostering their pet, you may come into contact with them for example when the animal is dropped off or collected. However, it can be arranged so you don’t have any contact with the animal’s owner and in certain circumstances this will be the case. By having a DBS check and completing our safeguarding training, you are fully covered by our public liability insurance which protects you as a fosterer for Our Special Friends. It also provides comfort to those we support who can be rest assured their beloved pets are in safe hands until they can be reunited.

What support will I get from Our Special Friends?

As a fosterer with Our Special Friends, you will be joining a very supportive community. If you are a first-time fosterer, we can support you by pairing you with a more experienced fosterer to provide guidance, help and reassurance. We have specialist volunteers who can offer advice on animal behaviour. In addition, we have veterinary trained members of staff who can offer advice if there are any concerns regarding the animal’s health. We keep in touch regularly with our fosterers whilst they are caring for an animal but also during the in-between periods. We are easily contactable should you need to discuss anything. There are also opportunities to further your knowledge by attending our training events that are held regularly throughout the year.

Can I foster if I already have my own pets and/or if I have children?

Absolutely! We work hard to carefully match animals to suitable foster homes and take into consideration both your preferences and the foster animal’s characteristics. Some pets may not be suited to a busy family environment or may not get on with other animals, but others may thrive. Generally, cats are less easy to integrate with other animals. Ideally, they go to homes where they are the only animal, or some of our fosterers have an outdoor catio.

Are there any costs involved for me?

No. Any costs regarding food, litter trays etc are either covered by the owner of the animal or Our Special Friends. If you do collect the animal, drop them off, take them to vets, groomers appointments etc you can claim back petrol costs at £0.45 per mile. Likewise, if you need to buy anything to look after the animal and once agreed by us, the cost can be claimed back. Our Special Friends can also provide equipment to loan such as bedding, collars, leads and toys.

Why should I foster for Our Special Friends?

Becoming an Our Special Friends fosterer is one of the most rewarding things you can do for pets and owners in need. Fostering is a great way to give pets love and respite in your own home without the responsibility of owning a pet full time. You are not only helping the animal/s by providing a safe home, but you are also helping their owner by providing much needed comfort at what is often a time of great distress. They will forever be grateful that you could care for their animal until they can be happily reunited.

“We have met some lovely people during this time and have seen some very tough situations turn around and resolve which is heartwarming and rewarding.”

“We love being part of OSF because of the ethos of the charity, keeping animals and their owners together is such a vital thing if it is possible.”

“All the team at the charity are so supportive to us. We can call them anytime and they will help and support. Even on Easter Sunday! OSF are unique in the charity sector locally and we personally are very proud to say we support them and hope to do so for a long time yet.”

All our fosterers will receive a copy of our Foster Handbook which provides comprehensive guidance of our process and useful information when caring for a foster animal.
Download and read our Foster Handbook here.