Fostering a Pet: What to Expect and How to Start
Foster families give rescued pets a safe place to heal. Here is what fostering involves and how to get started.
Fostering means opening your home to a rescued pet for a short time while it recovers, gains confidence and waits for adoption. It is one of the most direct ways to save a life, because every foster home frees up space for another animal in need.
What foster families do
- Provide a safe, loving home and daily care.
- Help pets get used to household life, such as house training, leash walking and meeting new people.
- Share updates and photos so we can find the right adopter.
- Bring the pet to veterinary appointments when needed.
What we provide
Rescue organizations typically cover the costs of veterinary care and provide guidance and support throughout the foster period. Contact us to learn exactly what support is available for each foster placement.
Is fostering right for you?
- You have time each day to care for and spend with a pet.
- Your landlord or housing allows pets.
- Everyone in your home agrees to foster.
- You are ready for a little goodbye when your foster pet finds a family. It is bittersweet, and deeply rewarding.
How to get started
Tell us about your home, your schedule and the kind of pet you can care for through our contact page, and our team will follow up with next steps.
Can’t foster right now? A donation helps cover food and vet care for pets in foster homes.
