WVC Animal Shelter

Revised January 2025

This manual is supplementary to the Foster Care Manual. Please ensure you have completely read and understood the Foster Care Manual and Foster Agreement, as it includes important information about the WVC Animal Shelter foster program and your responsibilities as a foster caregiver.

Section 1: Introduction

Fostering puppies saves lives. Neonates are among the most at-risk animals in shelters because they require intensive, around-the-clock care. Foster homes provide feeding, cleaning, transportation to veterinary appointments, and daily socialization until puppies are old enough and weigh enough (two pounds / 1,000 grams) to be spayed or neutered and placed for adoption.

Foster Family Responsibilities

  • Provide a safe and healthy environment
  • Transport puppies to and from appointments
  • Provide daily socialization and positive interaction
  • Follow strict feeding and cleaning schedules

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Neonates require feeding every 2–3 hours; older puppies eat independently
  • Puppies are typically fostered in pairs or litters
  • Foster period continues until puppies reach two pounds and are altered
  • Medication may be required depending on health status
  • Puppies must be isolated from resident pets for at least two weeks
  • Report bites that break skin within 24 hours
  • Adoption requires completing the full adoption process

Section 2: Preparing for Your Foster Puppies

Puppies must be housed indoors in a small, warm, draft-free room such as a bathroom or spare room. Garages and outdoor-access areas are not permitted.

Supplies You’ll Need

  • Food and water bowls (multiple for larger litters)
  • Puppy food
  • Bottles and Breeder’s Edge formula (for bottle-fed litters)
  • Puppy pads
  • Soft bedding (towels or blankets)
  • Secure sleeping/play area
  • Puppy-safe toys (toys that can be sanitized easily)

Puppy-Proofing

  • Remove swallowable objects
  • Hide breakables and toxic plants
  • Close toilet lids
  • Block tight hiding spaces
  • Place potty area away from food and water

Section 3: Scheduling Appointments

  • Schedule all appointments at least 48 hours in advance
  • Vaccinations every 2–3 weeks until 18 weeks old or adopted
  • Dewormers begin at four weeks old
  • Spay/neuter at two pounds (1,000 grams)
  • Call foster department to schedule vet visits
  • Supplies available at pickup, vaccine visits, and surgery appointments

Section 4: Caring for Your Foster Puppies

Daily Health Monitoring

  • Weigh daily and record in journal
  • Track eating, activity, and elimination
  • Watch for crying, lethargy, hypothermia, diarrhea, dehydration, breathing difficulty
  • Keep all foster puppies indoors

Bottle-Fed Puppies

  • Feed every 2–4 hours depending on age
  • Mix formula (2 parts water : 1 part powder)
  • Refrigerate mixed formula (discard after 24 hours)
  • Warm before feeding; test on wrist
  • Feed belly-down position only (never on back)
  • Stimulate elimination after every feeding
  • Weigh before and after feeding
  • Keep puppies warm (SnuggleSafe disc covered with towels)

Weaning (Around 4 Weeks)

  • Offer gruel (2 parts wet food : 1 part formula)
  • Provide dry food and water at all times
  • Discard uneaten gruel every 4–6 hours
  • Continue bottle supplementation every 8 hours initially
  • Begin potty area introduction

Independent Eaters (6–7 Weeks)

  • Dry food primary diet
  • Offer wet food frequently
  • Replace water twice daily
  • Continue daily weighing
  • Provide structured play and enrichment
  • Discourage play biting

Cleaning Between Litters

  • Clean all surfaces with bleach solution (1:32 bleach to water)
  • Soak items for 10 minutes
  • Wash bedding in hot water with bleach
  • Discard non-sanitizable toys

Puppy Bottle Feeding & Stomach Capacity Chart

The following chart (see page 11) outlines approximate feeding volumes based on weight.

Puppy Weight Weight (grams) Formula Per Day (ml) Amount Per Feeding (ml) Feedings Per Day
2 oz 57 g 13 ml 2 ml 6
4 oz 113 g 25 ml 5 ml 6
6 oz 170 g 38 ml 7 ml 6
8 oz 227 g 50 ml 9 ml 6
1 lb 454 g 101 ml 18 ml 6
2 lb 907 g 202 ml 36 ml 6
3 lb 1,361 g 302 ml 54 ml 6
4 lb 1,814 g 403 ml 73 ml 6

Section 5: Fostering Moms and Puppies

  • Provide a quiet, private room
  • Use a whelping box (kiddie pools work well)
  • Keep bedding dry and warm
  • Separate from other pets
  • Monitor for maternal neglect or aggression
  • Do not separate puppies from mom without approval

Section 6: Medical & Emergency Protocols

Common Signs of Illness

  • Colored eye or nasal discharge
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lethargy
  • Dehydration (skin tenting)
  • Vomiting multiple times per day
  • Straining to urinate
  • Watery or bloody diarrhea
  • Hair loss patches

Serious Conditions

  • Fading Puppy Syndrome
  • Distemper/Parvo

Emergency Criteria

  • Not breathing or labored breathing
  • Extreme dehydration
  • Unable to stand
  • Unconsciousness
  • Cold to the touch
  • Trauma or broken bones
  • Profuse bleeding
  • No appetite for more than 12 hours

Section 7: Socialization & Behavior

Potty Training

  • Introduce potty area at 4–5 weeks
  • Redirect every 15–20 minutes during play
  • Use positive reinforcement only

Discipline

  • Reward desirable behavior
  • Distract unwanted behavior
  • Never punish or use negative reinforcement

Play & Enrichment

  • Provide solo toys (Kong, hard rubber)
  • Supervise interactive toys (rope, squeaky toys)
  • Discourage play biting

Structured Socialization Plan

  • Days 1–7: Quiet presence, hand-feeding, gentle play
  • Days 7–14: Gradual handling, increased interaction
  • After 14 days: Puppies should show measurable improvement
  • Contact foster department if no progress after two weeks