The Ballarat Animal Shelter is calling on residents to provide a temporary home to the dogs and cats in the shelter through its foster care program.
Foster carers provide temporary care for an animal while the shelter finds a suitable long-term home for them. The temporary care could be as short as a few days or as long as a few months, depending on the capacity of the foster carer.
While some animals thrive at the animal shelter, others find the adjustment difficult. For such animals, a temporary home environment with loving foster carers is more suitable.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson, said that while adoption is always preferable, there are a range of other ways residents could support the Ballarat Animal Shelter, including providing temporary foster care to animals seeking long-term homes.
"Foster caring is a great option if you're looking for a pet companion but not sure if you're ready for the long-term responsibility of pet ownership," he said.
The call for animal foster carers follows a successful adoption drive at the shelter, in which 27 dogs were adopted over two days. In early October, the shelter was providing care for 63 dogs.
Currently, the animal shelter has 23 dogs and 82 cats available for foster care or adoption.
During kitten season, which typically runs from spring through to autumn, foster carers are needed to provide temporary care to mother cats and their kittens. The duration of this care is typically eight weeks.
If you're interested in fostering an animal at the Ballarat Animal Shelter, you will need to fill out a questionnaire. You will also need to have a yard with secure fencing.
