Fostering a Pet

If you’re longing for a cat to caress or a puppy to play with—but you’re not ready to adopt a permanent pet right now—fostering for the Dumb Friends League may be the perfect solution.

Our Homes with Hearts foster care program lets animal lovers bring pets from our shelters into their homes on a temporary basis to prepare them for adoption. With the help of our dedicated foster volunteers, nearly 2,900 pets entered the program during our 2011 fiscal year. 

Interested? Here are some frequently asked questions about becoming a foster parent:

• What is a foster parent?
• Why should you foster?
• What types of pets need foster care?
• How long is the foster care commitment?
• What are the expenses for a foster parent?
• What are the requirements to become a foster parent?
• Is it hard to take pets back to the shelter after you have fostered them?
• What else should I consider before becoming a foster parent?

What is a foster parent?

A volunteer foster parent helps care for one or more shelter pets at home until the animals are ready for adoption or space is available at one of our two shelters. As a foster parent, you may give a mother cat and her kittens a place to live until the kittens are old enough for the entire family to return to the shelter for adoption. You could care for a cat with an upper respiratory infection until he feels better, or help rehabilitate a dog with a broken leg that is healing. You might take home a rabbit to make room for new arrivals in our small-mammals area, or you could give an older cat a break from the stress of the shelter environment.

No matter what type of pet you foster and for what reason, you’re providing a clean, safe, loving environment for a homeless pet and helping it prepare to find a new forever home.

In addition to in-home foster parents, we also need volunteers at our shelters to help with medicating, cleaning and feeding the foster animals in our care.

Why should you foster?

• It’s rewarding. You can truly make a life-changing difference for the pet you’re fostering, in addition to helping make room at the shelter for more animals that need homes.
• It includes free supplies and veterinary care. We provide our foster families with everything they need: food, bedding, toys, cat litter and other supplies, as well as veterinary care and medicine, if required.
• It’s fun. You get all the enjoyment of owning a pet without the long-term commitment.
• It’s up to you how long you foster and what type of pet you choose. We work with your schedule, your preferences and your needs.

What types of pets need foster care?

All kinds! Our foster program includes cats, kittens, dogs, puppies and a variety of small mammals (rabbits, hamsters, mice, gerbils, rats, ferrets and guinea pigs) that just need a little extra help before they’re ready to find a forever home. Typical foster pets include:

• Kittens and puppies that are too young for adoption 
• Mother cats and dogs nursing their litters
• Pets recovering from illness or injury
• Animals needing extra socialization 
• Adult cats that would benefit from living in a home environment while being available for adoption through our Home Buddies program

We also rely on foster homes to help provide needed space at our shelters for incoming animals.

How long is the foster care commitment?

The length of foster care varies depending on the pet’s needs. Fostering may last anywhere from two weeks to several months. We have a need for foster parents throughout the year; however, our greatest need is from the spring through the fall, particularly for kittens and cats.

What are the expenses for a foster parent?

We furnish all the supplies you need, including food, litter, bedding, toys and enrichment items, and medical care. Foster parents are responsible for traveling to and from the shelters for medical care and foster care appointments. The frequency of appointments varies depending on the reason an animal is being fostered.

What are the requirements to become a foster parent?

Foster parents are either:

• Adults age 18 or older
• Youths from 12–17. Our Junior Foster Parent program provides an opportunity for young people to gain hands-on experience with the responsibilities involved in caring for animals.

To become a foster parent, you must:

• Submit a foster volunteer application
• Interview with the Volunteer Services department
• Pass a home inspection conducted by our Investigations department

To support our foster volunteers, we offer classes on caring for kittens, cats, puppies and dogs. In addition, our behavior counselors can provide advice on all these types of pets, as well as small mammals. Mentors are provided for interested foster volunteers.

Is it hard to take pets back to the shelter after you have fostered them?

If you love animals, you will naturally enjoy having a foster pet in your home—and it’s also natural for some people to feel sad when it’s time for the pet to return to the shelter for adoption. But our foster parents agree that helping save the lives of tens—or even hundreds—of pets by preparing them to find forever homes is one of the most rewarding things they have ever done. Read testimonials from some of our fabulous foster parents. 

What else should I consider before becoming a foster parent?

Since most foster animals have limited immunity, it is best to keep them physically separated from your own pets (preferably in a different room) for the duration of their time in your home. When outside, puppies and dogs must be supervised in an enclosed yard or on a leash. Kittens and cats must be kept indoors at all times.

Become a foster parent today! Complete a foster volunteer application and enjoy the many rewards of opening your home—and your heart—to pets that need a little extra help on their way to forever homes.

If you are unable to open your home to an animal at this time, you can still make a difference by making a donation.