Some animals need a foster home carefully matched to their individual needs. The Paisley Project is the Guelph Humane Society’s (GHS) individualized foster care program for long-stay animals—animals who have spent an extended period in care and may benefit from additional time, consistency and support in a home.
Through the Paisley Project, foster volunteers help animals build confidence, establish routines and experience everyday home life while they prepare for adoption.
Current Paisley Project Foster Opportunities
The Paisley Project recruits foster volunteers for specific animals. Each profile below explains why the animal would benefit from a foster home and the experience, environment and availability that would best support their needs.
If an animal may be a good fit for you and your household, review their complete profile. When you are ready, follow the application steps below.
If no animals are listed, we are not currently recruiting for a Paisley Project placement. Please check back as new opportunities are posted when they become available.
How the Paisley Project Works
Each Paisley Project placement is built around the needs of one animal. Before making a match, our team considers the animal’s needs alongside your experience, household, home environment and availability.
If you and the animal may be a good match, you will receive training and a care plan tailored to that animal. During the placement, you will provide day-to-day care, follow the agreed care and positive-reinforcement training plan and share updates about the animal’s health, behaviour and progress.
The time an animal spends in foster care also helps GHS learn how they behave in a home and what they may need from their future adoptive family.
Paisley Project Foster Volunteer Requirements
Every Paisley Project animal has different needs. Their profile will explain the experience, home environment, schedule and level of support required for that placement.
Depending on the animal, you may need to:
- Have relevant experience with the species or with similar health or behavioural needs
- Provide a particular home environment, such as a securely fenced yard or a home without other animals
- Follow an individualized care and positive-reinforcement training plan
- Provide a stable routine and consistent support
- Communicate regularly with the GHS Foster team
- Continue fostering the animal until they are adopted whenever possible
Paisley Project foster volunteers must also meet the general requirements of the GHS foster program. Review the GHS Foster Volunteer Requirements.
Support for Paisley Project Foster Volunteers
Paisley Project foster volunteers receive the supplies, approved veterinary care, general orientation and ongoing support provided through the GHS foster program. Your care plan and additional training will be tailored to the animal you are fostering.
How to Apply for a Paisley Project Animal
Paisley Project applications are submitted for a specific animal. The application and matching process gives you and our team an opportunity to discuss the animal’s needs and consider whether the placement could work well for everyone involved.
The process generally takes one to three weeks, although timing may vary depending on the animal’s needs and training schedule.
- Review the current animals. Read each profile carefully to understand the animal’s needs, ideal home environment and expected time commitment.
- Submit an application. Use the button below to complete the Paisley Project foster application and tell us which animal you are interested in. Submitting an application expresses your interest but does not commit you to accepting the placement.
- Speak with our team and meet the animal. We will contact you if the placement may work well for you, your household and the animal. You will have an opportunity to ask questions, learn more and meet the animal.
- Complete your training. If you decide to move forward together, you will complete general foster orientation and training tailored to the animal. Before the placement begins, we will review their care plan, provide the supplies you need and explain how to contact us for support.
Why It Is Called the Paisley Project
The program was inspired by Paisley, an eight-year-old beagle who arrived at GHS in 2020 following the death of her owner. She had been found alone in an outdoor kennel without food or water and needed medical care, stability and time to adjust to living in a home.
Paisley spent five months in the care of GHS, much of that time with a foster volunteer. With a consistent routine, patience and individualized support, she gained confidence and became more comfortable with everyday home life.
Paisley’s experience demonstrated what a carefully matched foster home could make possible for an animal who needed additional time and support. The Paisley Project was created and named in her honour so other long-stay animals could benefit from the same approach.
Paisley Project FAQs
You can apply for a Paisley Project animal even if you are not already a GHS foster volunteer. If you are invited to move forward, you will complete the required general foster orientation and training tailored to the animal.
The experience needed to foster a Paisley Project animal depends on that animal’s individual needs. Previous experience with the species or with similar health or behavioural needs may be required for some placements. Each animal’s profile will explain the experience we are looking for.
A Paisley Project placement is intended to continue until the animal is adopted whenever possible. The placement may last several weeks, several months or longer. Our team will discuss the expected commitment with you before you decide whether to proceed.
If a placement does not seem likely to work well for you, your household and the animal, our team will let you know. We may discuss another current opportunity with you, or you are welcome to apply again when another animal interests you.
For information about travel, resident pets, transportation, adopting a foster animal and other general questions, please visit our main foster page.
Apply for a Paisley Project Animal
Have Questions About the Paisley Project?
Our Foster team can help you understand the Paisley Project, current opportunities and what a particular animal may need.
Please email volunteer@guelphhumane.ca.