Information and protocol on coronavirus (COVID-19) is changing rapidly. Stay-up-to date with the latest information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Emergency foster care will likely become a lifeline to shelters that are experiencing overcrowding, economic hardships and as staff members are unable to come in. We've seen many shelters send out pleas to their communities asking for help, especially now that many people who have the ability to do so, are working from home.

Please stay safe and thank you for all that you are doing for the pets and people in your community. We will update this page as more resources become available. We've included an "added on" date next to resources to show when we've added new resources to this page. (This has no reflection on when the link's content has been updated).

Funding Opportunities

• Other funding opportunities
  Please note, this is not an exhaustive list, and information may have changed since we learned about it.

COVID-19 Protocols

• Webcast recording: Boots on the Ground: Caring for COVID-19 Exposed Pets in Shelters.
  Sandra Newbury, Director of University of Wisconsin's Shelter Medicine Program, for practical guidance for essential shelter workers caring for pets who have been exposed to COVID-19.
  
• Webcast Recording: Don't Be a Fomite! Principles of Disease Transmission in Shelters
  Presenter Dr. Erin Henry
• Guidelines for community cat intake
  American Pets Alive!

Spay/Neuter During COVID-19

• Webcast recording: Spay/Neuter in the COVID Era
  Million Cat Challenge
• Webcast recording: COVID-19 Spay/neuter and Vaccine Clinic Preparedness Guide.
  Learn how to follow social distancing guidelines while safely performing spay/neuter surgeries.
  
• Webcast Recording: Emergency Contraceptive Option for Cats During COVID-19 Delayed Surgery

Upcoming Webinars

• PST Fundraising for Public Shelters and the 501(c)(3)s that Support Them
  Gina Knepp, Michelson Found Animals Foundation and Jim Houpt, Front Street Shelter
  
• Best Friends Animal Society is hosting a series of COVID-19 town halls
  Learn more about upcoming town halls and watch recordings of previous town halls

COVID-19 General Information

• COVID FAQ and Resources
  Humane Society of the United States
• Webinar recording: Coping with Stress During COVID-19: Resources For Animal Care + Welfare Workers
  Jessica Dolce, Certified Compassion Fatigue Educator
• ASPCA COVID-19 Information Hub
• National and state resources for pet owners in need
  The Humane Society of the United States
• COVID-19 Resources for Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups
  Best Friends Animal Society has an exhaustive list of resources on fostering, transport, adoption, operations and more
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Shelter Kit
  Animal Sheltering
• COVID-19 Resource Center
  National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA)
• COVID-19 Animal Shelter Preparedness Guide
  American Pets Alive!
  - Emergency foster protocol
  - Emergency Foster Application
  - Emergency Foster Social Media Pleas and Press Release Templates
  - Emergency foster recruitment

Foster Care

• Petco webinar series for foster caregivers
  Have you welcomed a foster or newly adopted pet? We’re here to help! We are hosting a webinar series to provide you with additional resources during your new adopter or foster journey. Check out the previously recorded webinars.
• Keeping your volunteers engaged during COVID-19, and into the future!
  Gimme Shelter: Cornell
• Webcast recording: Empowering Fosters to Help Market Pets From Foster Care
  Through training, automating processes and making sending foster pet feedback as easy as possible, empower your fosters to help get their pets adopted.
  
• Communications & Marketing Guide for Shelters Amid COVID-19
  HeARTs Speak
• #stayhomeandfoster Campaign
  Greater Good
• Short-term Fostering webinar
  Best Friends Animal Society
• Customizable Fostering Video
  Animal Care Centers of New York City
• How to Safely Get Shelter Pets into Homes Right Now
  Chew on This Blog
• 6 Tips for Using Foster Care as a Lifeline During Animal Shelter Crises
  Chew on This Blog
• Communicating Urgency without Negativity in Emergency Fostering
  Chew on This Blog
• Emergency Foster Cheat Sheet
  Austin Animal Center
• Basic Principles of Managing a Large-Scale Animal Emergency or Disaster
  Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference
• Foster Care Program Creation and Implementation
  This document outlines the steps to building a foster program or pilot program and includes links to resources and templates
• COVID-19 Emergency Foster Course
  Maddie's^® University

Extras

• FAQ: What will your organization keep from the pandemic?
  Gimme Shelter: Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell
• Shelter Animals Count
  Data has never been more important during this time. Check out the March Report to see the national and regional trends.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Eligible Emergency Protective Measures
  FEMA
• A range of vetted funds addressing immediate and long-term needs related to coronavirus and COVID-19
  Giving Compass