Adoption Centers at PetSmart
Volunteers staff the adoption room, help socialize the cats and kittens, greet the public, accept applications for adoptions, monitor play time with potential adopters and keep the cat adoption area spic and span!
Bottle Babies
Volunteers provide necessary, multiple feedings and socialization in their homes for very young kittens. These kittens have been abandoned or became motherless and are unable to survive without direct intervention. Our Bottle Babies give these little fur babies a chance for survival with feedings every two hours. When old enough the kittens are spayed/neutered and ready for adoption. Friends offer a $100.00 stipend for each litter taken.
Kitten Foster Care
Once survival of a young kitten is assured, we frequently move them from the Bottle Babies Program into foster care until they reach appropriate size for our veterinarians to perform spay/neuter and other medical services. We are always looking for fosters to help us in this important work and spring and summer are especially busy. There are two kitten foster programs. One is operated from the SOCAF and the other is operated by Friends.
Dog Foster Care
Occasionally, a dog at the shelter may require short term foster care while awaiting adoption. Typically the dog may be older, smaller, shy or fearful; stressed by the shelter environment with difficulty adjusting. Dogs recovering from a medical condition or procedure may recuperate better in a home. Foster volunteers take the dog into their home while Friends work to secure a permanent home. Nurturing and caring for a homeless dog in your home helps the dog to become a member of a family who will love them forever. Please e-mail dogwalkers@fosocas.org if you are interested in becoming a Foster Family.
Shelter Cats
Our volunteers work in teams of two at the Southern Ocean County Animal Facility socializing the felines and moving them in and out for exercise. They also show kittens to potential adopters. This important program develops appropriate feline behavior and increases the likelihood of adoption! Please email for more information sheltercats@fosocas.org
Dog Walkers
Dogs need exercise – and lots of it! They can’t walk themselves so we invite you to join our group of dog walking volunteers. Must be 21 years of age and have enough strength and balance to get the dogs in/out of their kennels and walk for extended period of time. If you want to make a difference in the life of a shelter dog, please contact dogwalkers@fosocas.org to get started.
Trap, Neuter, Return
An abandoned domestic cat living on its own and without human contact is considered feral. Cats in this category have a short lifespan but do play an important role in the food chain (small rodents). Controlling the feral cat population protects the environment while keeping nature’s balance.
The Friends humanely traps feral cats, provides spay/neutering treatment, vaccination, and ear tipping (the universal symbol of a neutered, vaccinated cat). TNR program needs trappers and fosters for kittens until big enough to be spayed/neutered, micro chipped and adopted. We will work to control feral colonies where citizens agree to provide food and water so the animals can live out their lives without reproducing.
If you are aware of cats needing to be trapped, please call/text Linda – 609-709-8583 or Val – 609-661-3817. With your help, we can spay/neuter these cats BEFORE the kittens appear!
Coin Boxes
Perhaps you have seen one of our coin boxes in the businesses you frequent. We have them all over! Amazing how pocket change can add up and do worthwhile work! Coin boxes are monitored and emptied by FOSOCAS Board members. Consider donating your extra change! A simple, but most worthwhile way to help.
Pet Food Pantry
We contribute to the Pet Food Pantry located in the Community Church, 1492 Rt. 72 West, Manahawkin, 609-597-5151, which is open on Wednesdays from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM for food. All families experience times of hardship, please use the pet food pantry to help those in need and their beloved pet(s).