West Valley City Animal Shelter

Revised December 2024

About WVC Animal Shelter

Our Mission

West Valley Animals Services is dedicated to the care of companion animals in our community while providing quality public service and adoption outcomes. We are committed to promoting responsible pet ownership through education to the public while adhering to City ordinances, State laws, and enforcement, for the protection of citizens and animals. In addition, we are devoted to participating in community collaborations and offering outstanding humane education opportunities to further our goal of offering hope, service and mercy to our community.

About This Manual

This manual outlines key policies, procedures and requirements for the WVC Animal Shelter foster program. WVC Animal Shelter has additional specialty manuals available with species-specific information and tips as well as other documents to help you be the best foster caregiver you can be.

Other foster manuals include (and more are being developed):

  • Cat Foster Care Essential Manual
  • Dog Foster Care Essential Manual
  • Kitten Foster Care Essential Manual
  • Puppy Foster Care Essential Manual

Manual Notices and Disclaimers

West Valley City Animal Shelter may modify, delete, or add to the provisions of this manual at any time, with or without notice. If at any time you are unable to abide by the requirements of the West Valley City Animal Shelter foster program, including those described in this manual, you agree that you will inform West Valley City Animal Shelter that you are no longer able to foster.

Nothing in this manual creates a contractual relationship or employee relationship between you (the foster caregiver) and the West Valley City Animal Shelter. Any West Valley City Animal Shelter foster animal in your care is owned by West Valley City Animal Shelter.

General Information

Routine Care of Foster Animals

As a foster caregiver, you’ll provide everything the foster animal needs to have a healthy and happy life. In addition to lots of love, foster caregivers provide routine care, including:

  • A loving home environment
  • Socialization, exercise and fun times
  • Proper food, water, treats and toys, as approved by or recommended by WVC Animal Shelter
  • Health care, including transportation or coordination of transportation for veterinary care

Although the care of the foster animal is your responsibility, you can enlist others (such as family members, pet sitters, relatives, and friends) to support you. The only thing you can’t do is give away the foster animal to another person, which would mean giving up the responsibilities you agreed to when you signed up to be a foster caregiver.

Housing and Outdoor Access

Cats and kittens

  • Foster cats and kittens must be kept indoors for safety
  • In some situations (e.g., unsocialized community cats in working cat programs), outdoor enclosures with shelter may be appropriate with prior discussion/approval from WVC Animal Shelter staff

Dogs and puppies

Adult foster dogs and puppies should be kept indoors

  • Outdoor access should be via leashed walks or a secure fenced area (such as a fenced yard)
  • Do not leave dogs unattended outside for extended periods without access to indoor space
  • Crates are recommended for most dogs
  • Puppies may need additional containment (closed room or exercise pen)
  • Dog doors to a secure fenced yard can work for house-trained dogs, but some dogs may not understand them and some may attempt to escape if unattended

If you have questions about what is most appropriate for the foster animal you’ll be caring for, please discuss your housing situation and options with WVC Animal Shelter staff before bringing the foster animal home.

Resident Pets and Other Animals

  • Keep resident pets separate from foster animals for at least the first 7–10 days (recommended) for health and safety
  • If your pet becomes ill or is injured, WVC Animal Shelter will not provide medical care for your pet
  • Do not foster animals from another organization while caring for a WVC foster animal unless approved by both WVC Animal Shelter and the other organization

Lost Foster Animal

  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter immediately using the contact information provided to you
  • Begin searching right away
  • With guidance from WVC Animal Shelter, actively search for the animal and post missing-pet signs

Note: Please refer to the Lost Pet Guide for more information

Adopting a Foster Animal

If you would like to adopt your foster animal, contact WVC Animal Shelter using the contact information provided to you and let the shelter know you’d like to convert from foster caregiver to adopter.

Returning a Foster Animal

  • If you are unable to continue fostering or need a temporary break, contact WVC Animal Shelter using the contact information provided to you
  • Please provide at least 72 hours’ notice to allow arrangements (including another foster placement) when possible
  • Emergency situations may occur; contact WVC Animal Shelter as soon as possible

Finding Adopters and Finalizing Adoptions

Unless specifically instructed that an animal cannot be promoted for adoption, all foster animals may be promoted for adoption, even if they are not yet ready to be adopted due to age or another reason.

Ways to promote your foster animal:

  • Introduce the animal (when appropriate) to neighbors, friends and acquaintances
  • Share photos and stories on social media
  • Tell coworkers; share via workplace channels where appropriate
  • For dogs, consider using an “Adopt me” bandana on walks

WVC Animal Shelter will also promote the animal for adoption. Since foster caregivers observe the animal in a home environment, your notes and insights are valuable to potential adopters. Notify WVC Animal Shelter as soon as you identify a potential adopter (or if you decide you want to adopt).

Bites and Injuries to People

If a foster animal bites and breaks skin, causing bleeding, you must report the bite to WVC Animal Shelter immediately or within 24 hours. Policy and laws in most states require recording and reporting all bites. Bites are incidents where the teeth (not nails) break skin.

If other parties are involved in a bite incident, collect everyone’s contact information.

Bite Procedure

  • Reporting a bite is not an automatic reason for euthanasia
  • Notify WVC Animal Shelter immediately using the contact information provided to you
  • Provide contact information for all injured parties and witnesses
  • Include pictures (if possible) and a detailed description of what happened
  • WVC Animal Shelter may ask follow-up questions for a Statement of Personal Injury report
  • Reporting enables WVC Animal Shelter to develop a more customized plan for the animal when neede
  • Seek appropriate medical treatment promptly

Liability notice: WVC Animal Shelter is not liable for damages relating to a bite or responsible for medical bills or other costs associated with a bite (including injury to another animal).

Quarantine Periods

When a bite breaks skin and draws blood, the foster animal may need to complete a mandatory bite quarantine. Depending on jurisdiction requirements, quarantine can often be completed in your home. WVC Animal Shelter staff will work with you to make arrangements.

Medical Care

Medications

  • Give medication exactly as instructed
  • Give all prescribed doses and do not end medication early unless directed by WVC Animal Shelter or a veterinarian through WVC Animal Shelter
  • If the animal has not responded after five days (or within the instructed timeframe), contact WVC Animal Shelter for guidance

Common Conditions

Reminder: If you seek alternative or emergency veterinary care for the foster animal without authorization from WVC Animal Shelter, you will be responsible for any costs incurred.

Symptoms and recommended actions

Appetite loss / not eating

  • Common cause: stress
  • At home: offer regular food; do not change diet (diet changes can cause diarrhea); allow time to adjust
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if the animal hasn’t eaten in 24 hours, or if the animal has been eating well and suddenly stops eating for 12–24 hours

Dehydration

  • Common causes: diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite
  • At home: scruff “skin tent” test (dehydration may be present if skin stays taut/raised when released)
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if you believe the animal is dehydrated, especially with other concerning symptoms

Diarrhea

  • Common causes: stress, food change, parasites, infection
  • At home: soft stool can be normal for the first few days after arriving in foster care
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if the animal has liquid stool; if bloody or mucoid stool, follow emergency contact protocols

Eye and nose discharge

  • Common cause: upper respiratory infection (or “kennel cough”)
  • At home: bathroom steam (hot shower running, animal not in shower); or carrier covered with a towel with a nebulizer/humidifier under the towel; monitor eating to ensure adequate intake
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if discharge becomes colored; if open-mouth breathing or wheezing occurs, follow emergency contact protocols

Ears: scratching, swelling, irritation

  • Common causes: ear mites or ear infection
  • At home: check for dark “coffee grounds” discharge
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if dark discharge is present, excessive scratching/head shaking persists, or ears are irritated/swollen/reddened

Hair loss

  • Common causes: dermatitis, ringworm, mange
  • At home: thin fur around lips/eyelids/in front of ears can be normal; watch for patchy hair loss or thinning on body
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if patches of hair loss or thinning hair appear (with or without irritated skin)

Lethargy

  • Common causes: illness or injury
  • At home: note baseline activity levels; an activity log can help identify changes
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if lethargy is combined with other symptoms (loss of appetite, eye/nose discharge); if the animal cannot be roused, seems weak, or cannot stand, follow emergency contact protocols

Urination pain or strain

  • Common causes: stress, infection, obstruction
  • At home: quiet room; clean litter box for cats; extra leash walks for dogs
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if the animal hasn’t urinated in more than 24 hours; if straining with little/no results or crying while urinating, follow emergency protocols (can be life-threatening)

Vomiting

  • Common causes: hairballs (cats), upset stomach
  • At home: one or two episodes may be normal if otherwise acting normally; monitor eating and behavior
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if vomiting occurs with loss of appetite, diarrhea, or lethargy

Emergency Conditions

If the foster animal displays any of the following symptoms, contact WVC Animal Shelter using the emergency contact information provided to you.

  • Not breathing or labored breathing
  • Parvovirus symptoms in dogs: bloody diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, high fever (above 103.5)
  • Panleukopenia symptoms in cats: diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, depression/lethargy, loss of appetite, dehydration, painful belly, high fever (above 103.5)
  • Extreme dehydration: dry mucous membranes, weakness, vomiting, skin tenting
  • Abnormal lethargy: weak, wobbly, or unable to stand
  • Unconsciousness or unable to wake up
  • Cold to the touch
  • Broken bones
  • Trauma: hit by a car, dropped, stepped on
  • Large wound or profuse bleeding that doesn’t stop with pressure
  • Loss of appetite for more than 24 hours or continual vomiting
  • Inability to urinate

If the animal is vomiting or has diarrhea but is still active, eating, and drinking, it may be appropriate to wait until the next day. If you believe the animal may incur permanent damage or pass away without immediate veterinary care, proceed to the approved emergency clinic and start the emergency phone chain on the way.

Behavior Care

If the animal is displaying a concerning behavior not listed below, contact WVC Animal Shelter for guidance.

Reminder: If you seek alternative or emergency veterinary care for the foster animal without authorization from WVC Animal Shelter, you will be responsible for any costs incurred.

Excessive vocalization

  • Common explanations: stress, boredom, excess stimuli
  • At home: increase stimulation (food puzzles, interactive toy play, teaching tricks); allow decompression; block views if reacting to passersby
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if additional guidance is needed

High energy

  • Common explanations: personality, age, boredom
  • At home: increase stimulation and add physical activities to routine
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if you need more ideas, or if it’s a challenging lifestyle match and additional enrichment isn’t possible

Overstimulation

  • Common explanations: stress, excess energy/stimuli, adjustment to new environment
  • At home: increase stimulation; allow decompression (small area such as separate room/crate/bathroom); allow time to adjust from shelter environment
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if behavior escalates to rough mouthing/play biting or becomes unmanageable

Potty issues

  • Common explanations: stress, fear, adjustment, marking, not house-trained
  • At home: help animal adjust to routine; increase opportunities to potty (extra walks for dogs, clean litter boxes for cats); use enzymatic cleaners for accidents
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if potential medical concern (incontinence/excessive urination > 24 hours) or if additional guidance is needed

Resource guarding

  • Common explanations: adjustment, past experiences, need for safe boundaries
  • At home: feed separately; create safe boundaries (especially with resident pets/children)
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if redirected toward people in household, without cause, escalating, or not manageable with separation

Rough play and play biting

  • Common explanations: excess energy, lack of in-home manners
  • At home: redirect to toys; disengage if redirection fails; reward polite play; increase mental/physical outlets
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if escalating/unmanageable, lifestyle mismatch, or if a bite breaks skin (contact immediately)

Separation anxiety / isolation distress

  • Common explanations: stress, past experiences, decompression, fear
  • At home: allow decompression; provide safe space; practice calm departures/arrivals; increase confidence and enrichment
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if self-harming, or if lifestyle mismatch prevents adequate supervision/stimulation

Shy or fearful behavior

  • Common explanations: stress, past experiences, low confidence, lack of socialization, decompression
  • At home: allow decompression; provide safe space; let the animal approach at their pace; provide encouragement and treats
  • Contact WVC Animal Shelter: if guidance is needed, or if behavior escalates to defensiveness/unmanageable

Behavioral Emergency Conditions

If the animal is exhibiting extreme behavioral concerns that put another animal or person at risk, or has resulted in bites or severe injury, contact WVC Animal Shelter immediately using the emergency contact information provided to you when you picked up the animal.

  • Biting, aggressive lunging, attempting to bite
  • Fighting with and/or biting other animals
  • Unexpected guarding behavior (or guarding under treatment that escalates rapidly)