The first step to becoming a foster is completing our foster application. Once submitted, our team will review your application and follow up by email to let you know whether you've been approved or if we need any additional information. If you don't hear back from us within 48 hours, please don't hesitate to reach out. Foster Application: https://new.shelterluv.com/form/other/HFL/160210-foster-application

Once you've been approved to foster, we encourage you to keep an eye on our social media, especially Facebook, where we most often share animals in need of foster homes. Because we are a small team and foster needs can change quickly, reaching out when you see a post you may be able to help with is usually the best way to get involved. While we may occasionally contact approved fosters directly, reaching out to us is usually the best way to get involved, as foster needs can change quickly. Foster applications remain active for 6 months, unless something changes on your end.

We most often rely on foster homes due to limited space at our facility or because an animal's specific needs are best met in a home environment. Foster situations vary, but we commonly need fosters for: 🐾 Pregnant or nursing dogs and cats, so they can give birth and care for their babies in a quiet home setting 🐾 Neonatal puppies and kittens without a mom 🐾 Injured animals who need time to heal and recover 🐾 Animals requiring frequent veterinary care, such as follow-up appointments 🐾 Dogs that are heartworm positive 🐾 Adult dogs and cats who do better in a home environment Healthy puppies and kittens who are already of adoptable age typically remain at our facility unless there is a specific need for foster placement. We do offer short-term fostering, referred to as sleepovers, which can range from overnight to about two weeks or so. If you're interested in helping in this way, please visit our sleepovers section to learn more.

We do our best to make fostering a positive, supported experience from start to finish. We cover all veterinary expenses and provide the supplies needed for your foster animal(s), so fostering with us should never come with out-of-pocket expenses. What we do ask is that foster families provide consistent care and support for their foster animal while they are in their home. This includes offering a safe and loving environment, as well as taking your foster animal to veterinary appointments if needed. In most cases we allow fosters to schedule veterinary visits at a time that works for them. Once your foster animal is ready for adoption, we also ask that you help share their story on our social media. This doesn't mean posting every day, even just a couple posts a week can really help. If you don't use social media, that's completely fine, you can send us updates and we're happy to share them on your behalf. Lastly, we may also ask fosters to help coordinate meet-and-greets for interested adopters. This does not apply to every foster situation, and we always work with you to ensure meet-and-greets take place at a location where everyone feels comfortable. We know every foster experience looks a little different, so we're always here to help when questions or challenges come up!

Fostering can be an incredibly meaningful way to help, but it's important to make sure it's the right fit for you. Foster situations can vary in length depending on the animal and their needs. In many cases, animals do best staying in a foster home until they are adopted, though sometimes we are looking for shorter-term or temporary fosters. It's helpful to consider your availability and comfort level with different lengths of time before committing. Fostering rescue animals can also be emotional. Many come from difficult situations, and while there are joyful moments, there can also be challenges along the way. Because of this, commitment is incredibly important to us. When a foster agrees to take in an animal, we rely on that commitment to ensure the animal's stability and well-being. Of course, emergencies happen and we always understand when life circumstances truly change. If you're unsure about your availability, emotional readiness, or ability to commit, fostering may not be the right fit at this time, and that's okay. There are many other ways to support our mission, and we're always happy to help you find the role that feels right for you.