How to become a foster for a rescue animal, and what it's really like
Updated · 7 min read · By the Second Tail team
Find a local rescue or shelter with a foster program, apply, do a short screening call or home check, sign a foster agreement, and get matched with an animal that fits your home and schedule. The rescue usually pays for food, supplies and vet care; you give the animal a home, time and care until it is adopted, from a weekend to a few months. It is one of the most direct ways to save an animal's life.
What fostering actually is
Many rescues have no shelter building at all. Every animal they save lives in a volunteer's home until it is adopted. Fostering means being that home: you take an animal in, look after it, and help the rescue get to know it, so it can go to the right family. Each foster home is one more animal a rescue can say yes to.
How to get started
- Find a rescue. Search for animal rescues and shelters near you and look for a page about fostering. Smaller foster-based rescues often need fosters the most.
- Apply. Most rescues have a short online application about your home, schedule, other pets and what kind of animal you could take.
- Talk to the rescue. A quick call or video walk-through of your home. Ask your questions here; see the list below.
- Sign the foster agreement. It sets out what the rescue covers, who to call for vet care and what to do in an emergency.
- Get matched and pick up your animal, with supplies and a care sheet.
Questions to ask a rescue before you foster
- What do you cover: food, supplies, vet care? How do reimbursements work?
- Who do I call with questions, and who do I call at night in an emergency?
- How long would a typical placement last for me?
- What happens if it isn't working out, or I need to travel?
- How involved am I in finding the adopter?
What the first week is like
Expect an adjustment period. Many animals are nervous, hide, have an upset stomach or don't eat much for the first few days. Keep things quiet, give them a small space of their own, stick to a routine and let them come to you. Write down what you notice and send the rescue regular updates and photos: they help the rescue plan and help find the right adopter. If anything worries you, ask. A good rescue would much rather hear from you.
Saying goodbye
The hardest part is the best part. Most fosters say letting go gets easier once they see their animal settle into a family, and that the next animal is what makes it worth it. Some fosters fall for one and adopt it, and that's fine too.
If your rescue uses Second Tail
Some rescues run their foster programs on Second Tail. If yours does, you apply on the rescue's own application page, sign the foster agreement from a link, and then use a free app on your phone to send updates with photos, ask for supplies, see vet appointments and message your rescue in one place. Fosters never pay. You can see what that looks like on our page for fosters, and our foster care sheet covers what to have written down before your animal comes home.
Common questions
How do I become a foster for a rescue?
Find a rescue or shelter near you that has a foster program, fill out its foster application, have a short call or home check, sign its foster agreement, and get matched with an animal that fits your home and schedule.
Does it cost money to foster a dog or cat?
Usually not. Most rescues cover food, supplies and all vet care for the animals in their foster program. Fosters provide a home, time and care. Some fosters choose to buy extra toys or treats, but it isn't expected. Ask the rescue what it covers before you start.
Can I foster if I work full time?
Yes, many fosters do. Adult dogs and cats often do fine with a normal work schedule. Puppies, kittens and animals recovering from surgery need more time at home, so tell the rescue your schedule and it will match you with an animal that fits.
Can I foster if I rent or live in an apartment?
Often, yes. Check your lease and get your landlord's permission for pets, since rescues usually ask. Plenty of cats, small dogs and calm adult dogs do well in apartments.
How long does fostering last?
Anywhere from a weekend to a few months. Some fosters keep an animal until it is adopted, others help for a set time, like two weeks of recovery after surgery. Tell the rescue what you can do; short-term fosters are valuable too.
What if I want to adopt my foster animal?
Tell the rescue. Most are happy when a foster adopts, which fosters jokingly call a foster fail. You usually go through the same adoption process as anyone else, often with priority.