HEALTH & TRAINING
Thank you for taking the time to read more about how to best help your foster. There is a lot of information on Health, Training, Introductions, Saying Goodbye and more!
Health Assessment
Taking the Temperature
Taking a temperature in a kitten or puppy is a great way to help gauge the overall health of your young foster pet.
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.
Emergencies 5+ Weeks
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.
Emergencies 0-4 Weeks
Do you have questions about when to take your foster baby to the veterinarian, or is this an emergency? Find information in this presentation.
Sick Animals
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.During this class, foster caregivers 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.
Straining to Pee
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. In this class 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.
There are many causes and solutions to diarrhea in cats and dogs. In this class, we will not into detail on causes or prevention of diarrhea in cats and dogs, but rather 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.
Respiratory Distress
Are you a foster caregiver of cats or kittens? Then 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.
Straining to Poop
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.
Parvo Virus
Parvo is deadly, Parvo is deadly, Parvo is deadly. We can't emphasize it enough. Every foster needs to know how to recognize the signs of Parvo and how to prevent it.
It can be on the soles of your shoes, on your hands, or on your buddy's paws or butt. That's why it's so important that you don't take the puppy anywhere unless (fully vaccinated.) Puppies should be in a crate only, and if not, you should thoroughly clean your floors before you take in a puppy and leave your shoes outside. It's that serious.
Litter Care
Problems such as not taking the bottle, weight loss, restlessness or crying are covered in this Flash Class.
This class will make the weaning process easier, especially for foster caregivers who are trying to wean kittens or puppies for the first time.
Straining to Poop
How is this done? How often should a kitten or puppy be stimulated? Learn this and more during this short flash class.
Preventative Measures
During this short class your will learn ways to prevent the spread of disease if a pet in your home is already sick.
In this short instructional class you will learn how you keep the foster pet from getting your own pets sick or vice versa, and more.
Animal to Person Introductions
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.
Introducing Your Foster Dog to Strangers in the House
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.
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.
Stress-Free Grooming
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.
In this video, learn how you can gain your foster pets approval of teeth brushing as well as turn a potential negative experience into a positive one.
Brushing the Fur
In this short video, learn the best way to brush your dog or cat that makes the process fun and easy for both you and your foster pet.
Muzzle Training
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.
Creating a Treatment Station
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.
Shy Fosters
Learn some helpful tools and techniques to make your shy foster dogs interactions with new people a good experience instead of something to fear.
Bringing Your Shy Foster dog Home
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.
The good news is that many unsocialized kittens can learn to not only tolerate interaction with humans but even enjoy it.
Training & Play
Playing with your Foster Dog
What is more fun than playing with your foster dog? It is a great way to bond and get to know your foster dog. During this short video you will not only learn several fun ways to play with your dog but also how to make sure the play is safe for both you and your foster dog.
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.
In this short class, 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.
Low Stress Cat Transport
These low stress techniques can be useful for staff or volunteers transporting cats between shelters, as well as for fosters bringing their cats to and from adoption events, veterinary appointments or other locations.
Behavior Problems
Harmful Sucking in Kittens
Harmful Non-Productive Suckling in Orphaned Neonatal Kittens
Harmful non-productive suckling in your foster kitten can be a potentially life-threatening problem.
Separation Anxiety in Dogs
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.
In this class you will learn how to understand the various issues related to owner surrender of 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 some easy methods to help in house training your foster dog in this short video.
Saying Goodbye
We've all been there. The closer the day of saying goodbye gets the more we get onto the emotional roller coaster of happiness (for the foster) to sadness (for us). So how do other fosters do it? How do they manage to move from one foster animal to another and still stay emotionally healthy? Here is what they said.
Choose a foster that would you would not necessarily choose if you were to adopt. If you prefer large dogs, choose a small one. If you like the fluffies, choose a short hair. If you like white poodle, choose a black Doxie. You get the idea.
Recruit others.
If everyone who ever fostered an animal were to recruit just one other person to foster, just think of how many more animals would be safe and happy. Share your experience on your social media and help recruit others to follow in your footsteps. Make it your mission to recruit ___ others to foster!
Try not to get attached.
Easier said than done, I know. But mindset helps. Check in with yourself to make sure you are not looking at your foster as "your" dog or cat. Try to keep in mind that your arrangement is temporary. Having said that, if you do end up with a foster fail, you're in good company. The best foster fail is the one that continues to foster!
Help us choose.
Your are integral part in choosing the right family for your foster. Observe the applicants carefully and choose the one that is the best fit in lifestyle, safety, and love. Spark will not place an animal with an applicant that does not have your blessing.
Many fosters stay in touch with the adoptive families for years. You don't have to but feel free to choose to so.
Give a good start.
Enable your pet to have the very best start with his or her new family. Keep a diary, take loads of pictures, and put everything in a digital file for the new family. Give them all the information they need, all the little quirks, favorite things to do to eat and to play with, and things to watch out for. Give them a little care package.
Here is a great article that a foster wrote and that we really liked!
The first great thing you did is save a dog from misery and a very possible death on the street or in a shelter. That alone makes you an awesome human being. The second thing you did was to teach the little guy (or gal) that there are humans that love them and take good care of them. High fives (paws in this case)! And the final step, because we can't save them all, even if we want to so badly, is that you provided this one (and every other one you fostered) with the thing they need the most - a home and a new family! You are truly a hero to your foster and to us. Celebrate! You deserve it!
SPARK RESCUE SANTA BARBARA
Spark Rescue Santa Barbara is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit charity animal rescue organization, founded in February 2014, in Santa Barbara, CA, by Susan Park.
WE PROVIDE
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Rescue of cats & dogs from kill shelters and from the streets of Southern California
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Foster homes to provide our rescues with a loving temporary home.
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Adoption of rescued pets to qualified homes that have been properly screened and counseled by our Adoption Coordinator.
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Rehoming of pets that are surrendered by owners who can no longer care for them.
OUR MISSION
Our Mission is to bring adoptable homeless pets that have been abused, abandoned and overbred into our program for social rehabilitation and emotional recovery and re-home them to permanent, loving homes. We hope to educate the public to help end euthanasia in Santa Barbara and Southern California through spaying and neutering and by preventing backyard breeding.
OUR GOAL
Our Goal is to acquire land and have the ability to rescue and house as many animals as possible. We would like to offer a sanctuary where the animals will be free to roam and socialize, but still be in a family environment. We want a place where potential adopters can come visit our rescues and where volunteers can come together and give the rescues as much love and attention as possible.