Young puppies often need foster homes while they finish vaccinations, recover from illness, or simply grow big and strong enough to be spayed/neutered before they’re ready for adoption.

Some kittens arrive without mothers and need bottle feeding around the clock.

Others simply need a safe place to grow until they’re ready for adoption.

Whether you’re interested in bottle babies or playful weaned kittens, we’ll provide training and support.

Some dogs recover more comfortably in a quiet home than in a shelter kennel.

Your home gives them the opportunity to rest, heal, and receive one-on-one attention.

Many cats recover faster in low-stress environments where they can relax and receive individualized care.

Some pets just need a little time and patience.

A foster home allows them to decompress, build confidence, and discover what life in a loving home feels like.

Older pets often appreciate the peace and comfort that only a home can provide.

Not at all.

Many of our foster volunteers are first-time fosters. We provide training and ongoing support.

Often, yes.

Some foster pets may need to remain separated from resident animals, while others can safely interact. We’ll discuss each foster assignment beforehand so you can make the best decision for your household.

Assignments range from a few days to several weeks depending on the animal’s needs.

Simply let us know.

We’ll work with you to arrange another foster placement if needed.

You bet! Many foster volunteers experience what some affectionately call a “foster fail.” We prefer the term “foster win” because there’s nothing better than seeing a foster pet find a new home, whether that’s with a new family or the one who welcomed them in from the very beginning.

Our Foster Team provides information on how to communicate medical concerns, so you have the guidance you need and can get veterinary care if needed.

There is always a small risk that a foster pet could pass an illness to your resident pets, which is why we recommend keeping them separated for a quarantine period when they first arrive in your home. Even with initial medical exams and treatments at the shelter, some illnesses can have incubation periods or may not show symptoms right away.

Foster pets have often gone through a lot of transition—from their original environment to the shelter, and now to your home—and that stress can sometimes make them more susceptible to common illnesses. Shelter environments, like boarding facilities, naturally carry a higher risk of illness due to the number of animals in one space.

By following quarantine guidelines and monitoring your foster pet closely, you can greatly reduce any risk to your own pets. Our team is always here to help with support and guidance if anything comes up!

It depends! Some foster pets just need a short-term stay to decompress, recover, or grow big and strong, so they may return to the shelter when they’re ready for adoption. Others may need more time, support, or a quieter environment, and will stay in a foster home until they find their new family. We’ll let you know the expected timeline for your foster pet, and we’re always here to work with you if things change along the way.

Usually, no. If you’re fostering kittens or puppies, they typically stay at the shelter for adoption after coming in for their spay or neuter surgery. In most cases, you won’t need to take them back. However, there are some exceptions—medical fosters may continue caring for pets after surgery, especially if the procedure was more involved and the animal needs extra recovery time.

Yes, absolutely! We love when foster parents share photos and updates about their foster pets—it’s a great way to help them find their new family and show how well they’re doing in a home environment. The only exception is in rare cases where an animal is part of an ongoing animal control case; in those situations, we’ll let you know ahead of time if posting isn’t allowed. Otherwise, snap away and help us spread the word about your adorable foster!

We do ask that fosters live within Pierce County or within 25 miles of the shelter to ensure animals are close to us or to one of our emergency veterinary partners, should urgent situations arise and care is needed. We appreciate your understanding as we provide dedicated support to our foster homes and the highest level of care to every animal who depends on us.

Live outside of that range? We encourage you to check in with other local shelters or rescues that may be closer to you and would greatly benefit from a caring foster home like yours! We’re proud to be just one of many amazing animal welfare agencies in this region working together towards a shared mission of helping pets in need.

That’s okay! We’ll work with you to return your foster pet and help determine whether another foster opportunity may be a better fit.