Fostering Saves Lives.

Fostering is one of the most impactful and fulfilling things you can do for animals in need.

• It is at $0 cost to you, we provide supplies + vet care.

• Each fostered animal = more room at the shelter for others.

• We work with you to find the best foster pet for your individual situation.

Scroll down for more info about fostering. Join our Foster Family, apply below today!

Frequently asked foster questions…

Who can foster?

If you are >18 years of age, you can foster! If you're younger, please have a parent/guardian apply.

I have never owned a pet before. Can I foster?

Yes, we believe fostering is a great way to see if you are ready for a pet. We will guide you and work with you to find an easy fit — either a senior or easygoing, calm, and friendly dog or cat for your home.

I work a lot, can I still foster?

You can foster! Many fosters work 9-5’s or even 12 hour shifts, we can match a low-energy pet with your schedule. Cats and senior dogs are great options for busy schedules!

What time commitments are required?

If you can only foster for a short time, no worries! Some animals only need 2-3 weeks of foster care. We work with your schedule. If you have upcoming vacations, you can also bring your pet back to our shelter temporarily. During fostering, there are two main time commitments:

1. Adoption appointments — at our shelter (Rowland Heights) and are 1 hour long generally between 10 AM - 3 PM all days of the week. We work with your schedule accordingly. We ask that you drop off your foster pet on time or ahead of time, depending on their needs. Sometimes, we can also be flexible and set up adoption meetings at a park closer to your home if you live far away.

2. Veterinary appointments — as needed at our shelter or our local vet, often ~20 minutes. Animals are up to date on shots, flea medications, and dewormer, but sometimes they need reapplication. These appointments are infrequent.

How long will I foster an animal for?

As long as you can! If it’s only a few weeks, no problem. If you can foster indefinitely, that’s amazing! Some animals are in our shelter for over 365 days — that can be really hard on a dog or cat. We do our best, but a shelter is still a shelter. Some animals can take up to 2 years to find homes, but this is very uncommon. Some animals may get adopted within a month of fostering!

What if my foster pet isn’t a good match for me?

It is very important to us that your foster is a good match. Your foster coordinator can help evaluate your situation and give you guidance. Pets take time to adjust to new settings — there’s something called the Rule of 3’s in the rescue world:
3 days to decompress and come out of their shell.
3 weeks to settle in and learn routines.
3 months to truly feel comfortable and confident.

I have another pet at home. Can I foster?

Absolutely! We will match you with a dog or cat friendly pet. All of our animals are up to date on vaccines, dewormer, and flea medications and are health-checked before going to a foster home.

What if I live far away?

We are flexible and have fosters even in San Diego. We can sometimes arrange transport if you live far away and match you with an animal that may need a longer term foster (often animals that are difficult to adopt out like seniors or black cats/dogs). Ideally, fosters are closeby to our shelter (Rowland Heights) in cities like Hacienda Heights, Industry, Covina, Walnut, Diamond Bar, West Covina, Claremont, San Dimas, Orange, Yorba Linda, Chino Hills, La Habra, Brea, Fullerton, Pomona, Whittier.

Can I adopt the pet that I foster?

Absolutely! Some people specifically are looking to “Foster to Adopt.” Please note this in your application. If you decide later that you’d like to adopt them, you won’t have to fill out our adoption application and await approval because we will have already approved your foster application! You will have to pay the same amount of adoption fees, which are listed on our Fees page.

Have other questions? Visit our Contact Us page.