Foster

Foster Care

Fostering for the RHSPCA means temporarily opening your home to an animal (or animals) in need of extra time and attention. Foster homes are mostly used as a quiet place for pets to recover from illness or injury, or to simply grow big enough to be placed up for adoption. Foster care providers are essential for pets with special needs and for when we've reached capacity at the shelter. Fosters can also provide the shelter and potential adopters with more accurate information on what an animal is like in a home environment. Our foster care providers tell us what types of animals they would like to work with: cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, small mammals, contagious or non-contagious illnesses, etc. The length of stay can be for as short as a week or for as long as the foster is able to help. Fosters may always decline an animal if they are unable to care for it at that time.

Foster Application

Are there any fees or costs?

You are welcome to buy any materials to help if you can, but we can lend you a crate, carrier, litter trays, toys or special items if needed. We can also provide a small amount of food to get you started, especially if an animal is on a special diet.
The shelter will cover the cost of any necessary veterinary care or medication required during the pet's stay in foster care. You pay no fees to the shelter for fostering! We appreciate the service you provide to your foster pet.
Costs incurred for fostering a pet may be claimed on your income tax returns.

How do I become a foster?

Step 1: PREPARE
Make sure all your current pets are up to date on vaccinations. At the very least, we would recommend rabies, distemper for cats/dogs, and feline leukemia for cats. Talk to your vet about any other vaccines they might recommend.

Step 2: APPLY
Fill out the foster care application. The Foster Coordinator will review your application and contact you as soon as they're able.

Step 3: FOSTER
You will be added to our foster contact list and facebook group. We'll contact you when we have an animal in need of fostering who is right for your home. We will always work with our fosters and their availability to ensure a stable and low-stress experience for both humans and animals.

Which pets go to foster care?

We mostly use foster homes for puppies and kittens that are too young to be adopted or animals with specific health or behavioral needs. Kittens and puppies younger than 8 weeks of age are placed in foster care for socialization and to keep them healthy until they are old enough to go up for adoption or transferred to rescue partners. Occasionally, animals in our care have special behavioral or medical needs that are difficult for us to meet in the shelter environment. Our Foster Coordinator will communicate with fosters about any upcoming boosters, health check ups or procedures necessary to keep the animal happy and healthy.

If I get attached to my foster pet, can I apply to adopt it?

Nothing makes us happier than seeing our animals get adopted! If a you are interested in adopting your foster pet, contact the RHSPCA. We'll have you complete our adoption application and we will work on approving it. Fosters are welcome to tell their friends and social media about their foster pets and encourage potential adopters to apply, however, all adoptions MUST go through the RHSPCA.

Ready to foster?

Download and complete our foster care application today!
Questions? Call (540) 434-5270 or email jmontalvo@rhspca.org.