Foster Caring for Shelter Pigs, helps in so many different ways, by choosing to become a foster carer - you are commiting to take fantastic care of a cavy, who may be in desperate need of 'one on one' time (due to being nervous or afraid from their past home). It can also be a huge relief of 'numbers' should we receive in a very large mistreatment or neglect case. Often we call upon foster carers to help us, if we are completely out of room and require help.
There are a few different reasons why Foster Caring can be a great idea for you or your family. In some cases, families may not understand how to care for guinea pigs and wish to learn more about them or to see if they are in fact suited to their family. In cases like these, we can offer a foster care system, where by you can trial the piggies in your home and move to adopt down the track - or you may simply like foster caring on an ongoing basis.
Each one of my current foster carers take on Pigs for different reasons, I have foster carers who are experienced, (due to fostering for many years) and will take on my pregnant sows as they arrive to the shelter. These sows are closely monitored for the duration of their pregnancy and are returned to the shelter once their healthy babies are weaned and are ready for their adoption journey.
Other Foster carers may be up for the 'challenge' of a pig who is very skittish or very shy, it is a very rewarding process to have a pig so terrified that it will cause, self inflicted wounds (smashing into the walls of their hutch when ever a person walks near - usually due to previous, cruelty trauma). To then completely relax and come up to the front of their enclosure to take food treats from your hand, to be able to handle the pig without fear and to know that this particular pig has been given a second chance of being adopted.
In most cases, a foster carer will take on a pair of pigs that will benefit from some one on one time and that are already healthy and in need of some conditioning (fattening up).
Foster Carers are now welcome to apply to foster Mice or rats. If you already have a suitable enclosure you can use - just email the shelter manager.
Otherwise, the shelter manager in most cases can also provide a complete set up for fostering mice and rats.Mice are more delicate and also require parental supervision - information can be provided from the shelter on housing and care requirements of mice.
If you are unsure if a mouse is what your family is looking for as their new pet - Palm View shelter is also able to offer a 2 week Foster to Adopt Trial. Contact the shelter for more information.
Mice may not always be available at the shelter - just check to see what we've got.
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer for Guinea Pigs, Rats or Mice - please email for more information, homes will still need to be approved as we have strict guidelines that need to be met. In some cases, I can lend a shelter hutch with the animals. Fostering can be for as little or as long as a person is able to foster, changing pigs is also an option as well.
