San Diego County Kitties Need You!

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About Saving One Life:
Saving One Life is an animal welfare organization in Arizona and San Diego County, CA. We save over 1500 animals per year. We are an entirely volunteer-run organization.

Our mission: Committed to a never-kill principle, Saving One Life Animal Rescue and Sanctuary protects, provides and cares for at-risk cats and dogs through foster and adoption programs, animal sanctuary services, feline colony management, community outreach and collaboration.

Cuddle a Cat or Kitten.

We are looking for kitty friendly folks who might be willing to share a spare bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, office, etc. with a kitty, kitties, or kittens in need of a safe place to prepare for adoption. Every foster family helps us to make a tremendous difference in the number of cats we save each year. There is no cost to you but a commitment of time and attention. Fostering is flexible enough for most lifestyles. We will match the kitties to each foster home's needs and wants. By offering your time, energy, and home to a cat in need, you prepare the animal for adoption into a permanent home as well as help prevent overcrowding in our shelters.

What Does Fostering Entail?

• Have a dedicated space to place foster cat(s) away from your household pets for at least 14 days (required quarantine).
• Refresh food and water daily
• Clean Litter Box
• Give medicine when necessary (i.e. for kitty cold)

If you have a cat, this might seem incredibly familiar. The only difference is that we provide the food, litter and cover the medical expenses.

Am I eligible to foster??

• The primary caregiver must be at least 18 years of age.
• Everyone in the home must be in agreement about fostering
• Have a spare room or space to dedicate to the cat or kittens while at your home.
• Be willing to heap love and attention on the kitties
• Own your home or have a rental that permits animals of this nature
• Reliable transportation, insurance, and valid driver's license (Although we do have volunteers who can assist when necessary
• Property Insurance (homeowners or rental)

If you are interested in fostering, you will need to complete a foster application. Fostering also requires a home visit/interview to determine a proper fit and criteria. We recognize that becoming a foster family is a commitment. We work with each family to determine how often and how many kitties they wish to help at one time.

We coordinate to ensure that animals are cared for and/or relocated when a foster is out of town or needs a temporary break from fostering (having company in, surgery, etc.). The average time a cat or litter of kittens is with a foster family is between two-six weeks. The timeline is based on whether the animal has been vaccinated, altered, is healthy (not having a kitty cold), socially ready for adoption, and availablity at our adoption center.

This is a great opportunity for empty-nesters, families assessing whether they are ready to adopt or someone who wants to help save lives. Please consider getting involved. We cannot help cats when we don't have foster families available. It is that simple.

Fostering Opportunities

Respite Fostering: Welcome a fully vetted kitty for a week or two. Most likely, these kitties are either needing a break from the adoption center or need a place to hang out until there is room at one of the adoption centers.

Long-Term Fostering: Welcome a kitty who is ready for adoption but cannot go into the adoption center. It may be due to daily meds or the kitty doesn't do well at the adoption center. Kitty is fully vetted and needs a loving family to spend time with. This option is also available for kitties who are not eligible for adoption (i.e. hospice care, serious medical condition, etc.).

Traditional Fostering: Welcome kitties from a shelter or the like who are in need of vetting (vaccines, deworming, microchipping, etc.) before adoption. Kitties remain in foster for 2 - 8 weeks depending on the previous vetting received. Kitties of all ages are available.