Why Foster?
Fostering is a rewarding and enriching experience that provides pets with a loving, temporary home while they’re in our care. Pets may need foster while undergoing medical treatment, to get a break from the shelter environment, or while growing old enough to be adopted. Pets in our SPOT Program need foster while their owners are experiencing housing insecurity, hospitalization or another personal crisis.
Time commitments range from a couple of days to several months depending on the pet. Foster parents will receive more information about available pets and can commit to fostering pets that fit their home, lifestyle and comfort level.
Still not convinced? Check out our Foster Parent Spotlights on the blog to hear from our foster parents about their experience.
Ready to foster? Sign up below!
Become a Foster Parent
Thank you for your interest in becoming a foster parent! If you’re at least 18 years-old and would like to get started fostering, check out the details below to learn more about the kind of foster homes we’re looking for and how to apply.
We are so fortunate to have a large pool of foster parents that are wonderful caregivers to the pets that come through our doors. At this time, we are only in need of foster homes for our pets that have specific needs. Healthy pets are usually adopted within a few days of arriving at the shelter, so the pets that need foster are often those with additional medical or behavior needs.
We are currently most in need of foster parents for the following populations of pets:
DOGS
- Mom dogs + their puppies
- Litter size can vary from 2-12, with most litters being between 5-7
- Most of the care will be focused on the mom dog and creating a low stress environment that she can take care of her puppies in.
- Puppies
- Fostering puppies is highly fulfilling as you can help raise a healthy, well-adjusted adult dog! Along with basic puppy care, foster parents provide socialization to their puppies by introducing them to new things.
- Puppies need potty training, so accidents in the home can be expected while they’re figuring it all out. Puppies have a high level of energy and a need to chew. Having a littermate and proper toys can help channel that energy in a healthy way!
- Large dogs
- Many folks feel they don’t have the space to house a large dog. However, even the smallest of apartments is bigger than the kennel dogs stay in at the shelter!
- You can expect to need to provide some level of exercise, which will vary by dog. Many of our dogs are perfectly satisfied with time in the yard, if you happen to have a fenced-in yard. Others will enjoy a neighborhood walk, hike or maybe even a run, depending on the health of the dog.
- Ringworm dogs or puppies
- Dogs and puppies with Ringworm are at a high risk for euthanasia in most shelters as their care requires isolation and treatment that many shelters aren’t able to provide. Fostering this population helps us avoid euthanasia for a perfectly treatable condition.
- These pups need to be kept separate from other pets and people, as ringworm is contagious.
- SPOT dogs
- Our SPOT program supports pet owners in transition. This program provides temporary foster to pet who’s owners have found themselves temporarily unable to care for their pets. The standard amount of time they will need foster is 90 days. Learn more about SPOT here.
CATS
- Diabetic cats
- Foster parents should be experienced in or willing to learn how to collect a Blood Glucose reading as well as administer insulin via needle and syringe.
- Cats for experienced caregivers
- These are cats that may require more cautious handling and be better suited for folks who are confident in reading cat body language. Most suitable for adult-only homes.
- Foster parents with friendly cats and without cats are equally helpful! Some of our fearful cats would benefit from a confident cat in the home, and some prefer to be the center of your attention.
- SPOT cats
- Our SPOT program supports pet owners in transition. This program provides temporary foster to pets who’s owners have found themselves temporarily unable to care for their pets. The standard amount of time they will need foster is 90 days. Learn more about SPOT here.
SMALL ANIMALS
- SPOT small animals
- Our SPOT program supports pet owners in transition. This program provides temporary foster to pets who’s owners have found themselves temporarily unable to care for their pets. The standard amount of time they will need foster is 90 days. Learn more about SPOT here.
Ready to foster? The first step is to get started on our volunteer orientation.
Don’t see the population you’re interested in fostering listed above? We recommend you check with shelters and rescue groups near you that may be in need of foster parents!
Questions?
Please email volunteers@seattlehumane.org or visit our Volunteering page to learn about other volunteer opportunities!
