Current Foster Parents: find your foster resources here!
Have you ever thought about fostering?
Thank you for your interest in the Foster Care Program! Together our foster parents make an enormous contribution to Greenhill and the animals of our community by caring for over 700 animals per year when they need us the most. Without these dedicated volunteers, Greenhill could not provide loving homes to nearly as many deserving animals as we do each year.
We are always looking for foster parents who can open their hearts and their homes to many types of animals such as kittens and puppies, adult animals recovering from surgery or illness, and animals who just need a break from the stress of the shelter environment. Foster stays can vary from 2 weeks to several months, depending on the animal’s needs and the foster parent’s availability.
If you have questions or would like more information about this rewarding opportunity, please contact Kristi Chizacky, Foster Care Manager, at 541-689-1503 
ext. 114 or e-mail foster@green-hill.org. Or click on the Foster Care Application link below to apply. We look forward to hearing from you!
Steps to Becoming a Foster Parent:
1. Please review the foster program requirements (please see below).
2. Please complete the online Foster Care Application by clicking here. If you would like to volunteer (not foster), please complete the online Volunteer Application on the Volunteering page).
3. Upon receipt of your Foster Care Application, we will contact you to further discuss your interests and the foster care program with you.
4. Attend a foster care interview and training session (to be scheduled with foster care staff).
Foster Program Requirements:
- You must be at least 19 years of age to become a foster parent. Children are encouraged to participate fully in this rewarding experience with their parents.
- Landlord approval is required for all foster parents who rent their residence. Please confirm with your landlord that you are approved to foster animals prior to scheduling a foster care interview and training session.
- Current vaccinations are required for all foster parents’ dogs/cats prior to
placing a foster animal in your home. Please confirm that your animals are up-to-date on their vaccinations prior to scheduling a foster care interview and training session. We also recommend you speak with your veterinarian to make sure fostering is a good fit for you and your pets.
August 2018
Meet Katie Gatlin, our Foster of the Month for August! Katie has been fostering with us for just over a year and has already fostered 19 kittens for us. She is always willing to take on whatever types of foster kittens we have for her, including bottle babies, and we are so grateful for the positivity and enthusiasm she brings to our foster team!
As a foster parent, Katie most enjoys meeting and falling in love with kittens with so many different personality types. Her most memorable foster case was a two-week-old kitten named Albert, whom she fostered for nearly two months. She loved having the opportunity to give him lots of care and attention as a single kitten who didn’t have other opportunities for socialization. In her own words, “Seeing how much he changed and learned from this little bean who needed his bottle every few hours to this long-legged kitten who wanted to run, play, and investigate everything was such a joy. He was so energetic, curious, and rambunctious (aka a kitten) but would always come back and snuggle for a kitten nap.”
Outside of Greenhill, Katie works for CASA of Lane County, a nonprofit that advocates for children in foster care. At the end of the day, she comes home to a 4 year-old rescue pup named Lucy and a 20 pound rescue cat named Miles. Her hobbies include reading, walking with Lucy, yoga, baseball games, and going on adventures in the Pacific Northwest.
So why should someone else consider fostering for Greenhill? To Katie, it’s pretty obvious: “I have perpetual kittens in my house – is that not the sweetest gig ever? Saying it is easy would be a disservice, but the amount of fun and joy it brings to my house, colleagues, and friends is amazing.”