As a foster parent, you're a volunteer who is helping us save lives of shelter pets in need.
Foster caregivers are crucial for pets recovering from illness or injury, orphaned kittens and puppies and many other animals that may thrive better in a home environment than in the shelter.
Most pets at FWACC that are available for adoption are also available for foster, and we welcome fosters who can take pets into their homes for any length of time.
Foster parents help increase the adoptability of these pets by providing care and a home during the time of transition from the shelter to forever home.
Whether you're able to commit to just an afternoon out or a longer opportunity, we have a variety of ways for you to get involved. And they ALL make a difference!
If you live within the radius shown below, you may be eligible to foster with us!
Foster parents are most in need for:
- Short-term foster placement, such as an Out & About day trip or an overnight sleepover. Short-term fostering decreases stress in our animals, gives them a much-needed break from the shelter and helps us gain valuable information about each pet to help match them with their future adopter. This is a great way to try out fostering because it's a short-term commitment that makes a HUGE difference in the life of a shelter pet!
- Medium-large adult dogs who have been in the shelter for longer than 30 days! Some animals (through no fault of their own!) can be passed by in the shelter. These "hidden gems" often just need to get out of the shelter and have someone advocating for them to find an adopter.
- Puppies/kittens or moms with newborns that are too young to be adopted.
- Pets recovering from an illness or injury needing some extra TLC and medical care.
VIEW PETS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR FOSTER
Please note: This list is updated frequently, but some pets may have already found their forever or foster homes!
Get details on our foster programs here:
Dog fostering
Foster care is most needed for medium and large adult dogs who have been in the shelter for longer than 60 days! Some animals (through no fault of their own) can be passed by in the shelter. These animals often just need to get out of the shelter and have someone advocating for them to find an adopter.
How to foster:
- Fill out our foster form and sign our foster agreement.
- Our foster coordinator will send a welcome email within 72 hours of you submitting your application, provide you with our foster manual and needed information and get you set up to come down to the shelter and pick out a foster pup!
What does the shelter provide?
- WE provide all vaccines, spay/neuter, microchip and preauthorized vet care for your foster pet. Food, treats and other basic supplies (beds, crates, leash, etc.) will be supplied to you, depending on availability (these are donation based).
- YOU provide the basics: your home, exercise, space, socialization and love.
Kitten fostering
The shelter often gets in young kittens without moms that need bottle feeding or other specialized care. We rely on foster homes to help us get these babies healthy and large enough for adoption!
How to foster:
- Fill out our foster form and sign our foster agreement.
- Our foster coordinator will send a welcome email within 72 hours of you submitting your application, provide you with our foster manual and needed information and get you set up to come down to the shelter and pick out a foster kitten!
What does the shelter provide?
- WE provide all vaccines, spay/neuter, microchip and preauthorized vet care for your foster kitten. Food, treats and other basic supplies (beds, crates, etc.) will be supplied to you, depending on availability (these are donation based).
- YOU provide the basics: your home, space, socialization and love.
Medical rehab fostering
Because we take in so many animals in need, the shelter's Medical Treatment Ward is often full of pets that have come in with an illness or injury. Foster homes help us provide a comfy, quieter place for these pets to recover.
The shelter provides all medications and instructions on medical care while these pets are in foster homes.
How to foster:
- Fill out our foster form and sign our foster agreement.
- Our foster coordinator will send a welcome email within 72 hours of you submitting your application, provide you with our foster manual and needed information and get you set up to come down to the shelter and pick out a foster pet!
What does the shelter provide?
- WE provide all vaccines, spay/neuter, microchip and preauthorized vet care for your foster pet. Food, treats and other basic supplies (beds, crates, leash, etc.) will be supplied to you, depending on availability (these are donation based).
- YOU provide the basics: your home, exercise, space, socialization and love.
Out & About: Shelter dog field trips
Our Out & About program is the easiest way to get involved in short-term fostering!
Stop by the shelter at any time during our open hours to browse through our field-trip-ready pups! Make sure to bring your ID if this is your first time.
A staff member will help you sign the dog out and grab a backpack full of supplies (as well as a map of pet-friendly places around the city to enjoy!).
You can return your foster dog any time before 5:30 p.m. the same day, or extend their stay with you for the weekend or longer.
When you return your four-legged field trip friend, staff will have you fill out a report card, indicating how the pet did on their Out and About. This helps give potential adopters more information on how the pet would do outside of the shelter.
Worried about the effect returning your foster dog will have? Don't be! Studies have shown even a couple hours away from the shelter can decrease stress in dogs and make them more adoptable.
Since the launch of Out & About in March 2019, we have seen long-stay shelter dogs get adopted quicker once they return from a field trip and have a report card. Read more about short-term fostering studies here.
READY TO FOSTER? FILL OUT OUR FOSTER FORM!
