The more foster homes we have, the more animals we can save.
Welcome! This page is all about volunteer fostering. A volunteer foster is someone who opens their home and heart to an animal already in the Friends For Life (FFL) system. When you volunteer as a foster, you provide a safe, loving temporary home while we take care of everything else — food, supplies, medical care, and finding them their forever family. Your role is simple: give love, care, and bring your foster to adoption events.
Fostering isn’t a lifetime commitment — it’s a commitment to saving a life. ❤️❤️
Important: If you’ve found an animal or are surrendering one and are willing to foster it, that’s considered a rescue foster. You’re in the wrong place for that — click here to access the correct resources for rescue fosters.
Fostering FAQ
Have questions? We’ve got answers! Still have questions? Reach out to us.
Where do I start?
Let’s make sure you are in the right place, first. If you found an animal or are surrendering an animal and are willing to foster it, go here to be directed to the correct resources.
If you have room in your heart and home to help an animal already in the Friends For Life program by providing a foster home, please fill out our foster care application form.
What do you expect from a foster?
As a foster, here’s what you’ll do:
Help with rides to vet appointments if you’re able (or let us know, and we’ll find a volunteer)
Provide a safe, loving home where they can feel comfortable and cared for
Share photos and updates so we can help them shine online
Bring them to adoption events (no need to stay — we’ll take it from there)
What does Friends For Life provide?
We take care of all the essentials for your foster — food, treats, toys, bedding, and crates — so you can focus on giving love and care. Any veterinary needs or training are covered, and we handle all the adoption marketing to help your foster find the perfect forever home.
What animals need fostering?
Puppies, kittens, dogs and cats! This includes nursing kittens and puppies, senior animals, pets recovering from injuries or medical issues, and healthy animals who just need a temporary home.
We work with you to find the perfect match — helping you choose the type, species, size, and age that fit your lifestyle. You’ll never be asked to foster an animal that isn’t right for you. The opportunities are only limited by your training, experience, and desire to help — there’s a foster role for almost everyone who wants to make a difference.
How long do I have to foster?
It’s totally up to you — just let us know what you’re comfortable with. While long-term fosters are wonderful, short-term fosters are just as important. Even giving an animal a safe place for a week can make a huge difference, especially when they’re first arriving or in between homes. Temporary fosters are also a great alternative to boarding, providing comfort and care when an animal needs a place to stay. Whatever you can offer, we’re truly grateful.
Does short-term fostering matter?
Absolutely — fostering can be lifesaving! Around the holidays, many long-term fosters travel, and new animals are often coming in. Even just a weekend in a loving home can greatly reduce a shelter animal’s stress. If you only have short windows of time to foster, that’s completely fine — just let us know, and we’ll do our best to match you with a schedule that works.
What does it cost?
Fostering costs… time. From picking up the animals, helping them settle into their new surroundings, feeding and caring for them, to providing socialization, play, and affection — your time and attention make all the difference to an animal in need. Fostering also means taking them to adoption events or vet appointments when needed, and giving updates so we can help them find their forever home. Every moment you spend with your foster helps them grow, thrive, and feel loved.
And the best part? Every second of your time is life-changing — you’re helping save lives and creating happy, confident animals ready for their forever homes.
Okay. But I’ve been burned by fostering with other groups before. Am I going to get stuck with a dog/cat that destroys my house?
Absolutely not.
Our top priority, just like with adoptions, is making sure every animal in our program feels safe, comfortable, and as stress-free as possible. If your foster animal shows any signs of distress while in your care, please reach out — we’re always here to support you and will respond promptly.
We want you to continue fostering and enjoy the experience, but ultimately, our decisions focus on what’s best for the animal. Sometimes an environment, through no fault of your own, may cause stress or anxiety, and we won’t put an animal through that. With your help and communication, we can make sure every foster has a positive experience, and every animal thrives on their journey to a forever home.
Does this really save animal lives?
Yes. More than you can imagine.
Friends For Life gets almost 100 requests for help with animals each day. The unvarnished truth is this: the number we can save from staying in abusive situations or dying in other shelters is directly dependent on how many foster homes we have.
If I rescue an animal, and I want to foster through Friends For Life what are my obligations?
Fosters who rescue animals will out all the required paperwork
Share photos and updates so we can help them shine online
Bring them to adoption events (no need to stay — we’ll take it from there)
Additionally, fosters who rescue animals and bring them to Friends For Life are asked to cover the cost of spay/neuter surgery, food, and in-home care for that animal. If you need a list of low-cost spay/neuter clinics click here.
“A little over two years ago, when I started my foster journey, I was concerned about how Friends For Life could trust me and wondered whether I would succeed as a foster. I wondered how Friends For Life would be able to support me when I had questions or challenges fostering.
I had very little experience with cats before I started my foster journey. ( Yes, I was one of those dogs only people!) But I knew I wanted to help, so I started fostering. I quickly learned that each cat has a different personality and I wanted to be better for them. I started my Behavior Volunteer journey and YOU taught me to be better!
I kept fostering. It broke my heart when they got adopted and had to leave. It made me question, again, whether this was the right journey for me.
Two years and 12 cats later, I still question whether I should be doing this, I still fear the tearful goodbyes. This morning, I woke up to see my latest foster cat, Koby, sleeping on my husband, not a care or fear in the world; I knew right then that this is why I do what I do.
I may not change the world, but at least for this one animal, I will make their world beautiful.
I really want to thank everyone at Friends For Life for giving me and the animals the platform to have such a beautiful foster and volunteer journey. None of the most joyful parts of my life are possible without Friends For Life – not the fostering, not the learning journey, not the amazing friends I have made (both people and animals).”
– Joann S., Friends For Life Foster × Behavior Volunteer