The time depends on the animal’s needs. Most animals need at least one to two hours of care and attention each day, given multiple times throughout the day.
This might include feeding and changing water supplies three or four times each day, petting the animal while you watch TV, cleaning up after the animal poops, and playing with the animal to give them exercise. As the primary foster, you can involve other members of your household in animal care and even encourage them to review training information with you.
Some animals, like bottle-fed babies or those recovering from sickness, may need care every two to three hours, even at night. Spending this time helps the foster animals feel safe and comfortable.
Another thing to consider around your time is your responsibility for taking foster animals to and from their appointments. These appointments are usually scheduled on weekdays between 8am and 5pm. They can be frequent, sometimes once or twice each week, and may be scheduled on short notice.
Your observations while caring for the foster animal help them get adopted and thrive. If you’re unsure about the time needed for a specific foster animal, the BC SPCA team is here to help!