Interested in fostering a pet in your home? Wonderful—we need people just like you. Fostering helps pets leave the shelter environment and experience the comfort of a home. This gives them time to decompress and adjust to everyday life, including other pets, children, and family members, while they wait for adoption.

Why Foster?

How Long Must I Foster?

Foster commitments are flexible:

• Short-term: as little as three weeks
• Long-term: up to three months

We provide all medical care while the pet is in foster care. When a potential adopter is interested, our staff will contact you to arrange a meet-and-greet at our center

To learn more about fostering one of our shelter dogs or shelter cats, take a look at our

• Adult Dog Foster Manual
• Adult Cat Foster Manual

Foster-to-adopt program

Not sure if adoption is the right step yet? Our Foster-to-Adopt program allows you to foster a pet for 14 days before signing an adoption agreement.

This is a great option if:

• You have other pets at home
• You’ve never owned a pet before
• You want time to ensure a good fit

If someone else expresses interest in adopting your foster pet during this time, you’ll have the option to adopt or allow a meet-and-greet with the prospective adopter.

Kittens

Each year, more than 5,500 kittens are brought to our shelter. In many cases, bringing kittens in can do more harm than good. Learn what to do if you find kittens in your neighborhood.

When kittens do arrive at our shelter, we care for them through our on-site Kitten Nursery, a dedicated space where community volunteers help meet their critical needs until they can be placed in foster homes or rescue partnerships.

Foster Medical Concerns?

Non-Emergency Medical Issues

If you have any non-emergency medical concerns about your foster pet, please fill out our Foster Questionnaire. Once you have completed the questionnaire our medical team will get back to you within 24 to 48 hours. 

Emergency Medical Concerns

If you believe your foster pet is having a medical emergency, please contact the following numbers accordingly. 

Emergency Medical Concerns:

Monday through Friday

7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Text 408-797-6267

After Hours Emergency Medical Concerns:

Seven Days a Week

5 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Call 408-439-5726