This isn’t West Seattle-specific, but if you go through the training, you CAN do it at your own home: The Seattle Animal Shelter has an orientation session coming up for people interested in providing foster homes to dogs. (SAS has a foster-cat program too; that’s where one of ours came from.) Read on for the announcement:

If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent for
homeless, sick or immature dogs and puppies from the Seattle Animal
Shelter, plan to attend a free orientation session on Saturday, Oct. 11,
2008 at the shelter, 2061 15th Ave. W. The session runs from 1 p.m. to
2:30 p.m. and will be held in the conference room located on the
shelter’s upper level. Space is limited, so please RSVP to
sasfosterdogs@gmail.com.

Those who attend an orientation session are under no obligation to
foster a dog. The orientation is just the first step in the process.
Each foster parent is provided with a foster-care manual and a
“consultant” who provides advice and answers questions. The
Seattle Animal Shelter pays for all pre-approved veterinary care for
dogs in foster care.

“The foster-care program is a proven life-saving program,” says
Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “Last year more than 1,000
dogs and cats were saved because individuals opened their hearts and
homes to these animals. The community plays a key role in our efforts to
get these animals ready for adoption,” Jordan adds. “We really rely
on our volunteers and appreciate their efforts. We couldn’t do it
without them.”

Jordan says the foster dog program is quite simple. Foster parents
provide food and a temporary home; the Seattle Animal Shelter provides
any necessary veterinary care (subsidized by the shelter’s “Help the
Animals Fund”). This is another effort by the Seattle Animal Shelter
to increase the number of adoptions and reduce the number of animals
that are needlessly euthanized each year.

“Volunteers have told us this is a perfect project for the whole
family and gives families an opportunity to teach their children about
the responsibilities of having an animal without making a long-term
commitment,” Jordan says. “The rewards and satisfaction are
high.”

For more information, please call (206) 386-PETS (7387) or visit the
shelter’s Web site at www.seattleanimalshelter.org