Become a Foster Hero
Fostering With Us
Helping pets heal, grow and thrive before adoption
Fosters make it possible for Foothills Animal Rescue to care for more animals and give each one the attention and love they need to thrive. By opening their homes, foster families provide safe, temporary havens where pets can decompress, heal from illness or surgery, grow and learn important social skills. Fosters provide daily care, basic training and valuable feedback to our rescue team, helping prepare animals for adoption while freeing up shelter space. With medical care and supplies provided by the shelter, every foster serves as a vital bridge to a pet’s forever home.
There’s no pressure and no long-term obligation
Our foster program is designed to fit your life. You choose your level of involvement. You will have a single, dedicated point of contact, so support and answers are never far away. And even after your foster leaves your care, you’ll stay connected—receiving updates, adoption news and their adoption photo.
Eligibility & Application
Must be 18 years old with a valid ID, ability to meet a foster animal’s needs, all personal pets must be altered and up to date on vaccinations. To apply, complete the foster application, A member of our team will follow up after review.
Why Foster?
- Help animals thrive outside of the shelter
- Provide critical socialization and love
- Create space at our adoption center for more rescues
- Enjoy the joy of companionship—short term, long-lasting impact
- Care for adult dogs, puppies, cats or kittens in home environment
- Work with shelter staff to ensure health and happiness of animal(s)
- Provide feedback to staff about animal in a home environment
- Give medicine/provide medical care of animal, as needed
- Transport foster animal to adoption events, medical appointments or the shelter, as needed
We provide all the supplies and medical care—you provide the love!
Opportunities That Fit Your Lifestyle
From tiny puppies and kittens to adult and senior pets, or even moms with babies, fostering can fit seamlessly into your home and routine. You choose the type of foster, and we support the match.
- Puppy/Kitten Foster: Support young animals until they are old enough or healthy enough for adoption. This may include bottle feeding, socialization or basic training.
- Short Term Foster: Provides temporary care for an animal needing a brief place to stay, often due to space constraints, recovery from a procedure or transport timing.
- Hospice Foster: Provides extended care and comfort for pets with advanced needs.
- Behavior Foster: Ideal for animals who are shy, under-socialized or adjusting to a home environment. These fosters help build confidence through patience, routine and love.
- Medical Foster: Care for an animal recovering from illness, injury or surgery. Foothills provides medical care, supplies and clear instructions, no medical experience required.
Why Our Fosters Say Yes
These testimonials come from fosters who have welcomed pets into their homes.. Their experiences offer insight, encouragement and inspiration for those considering fostering.
Kathy, Dog foster
“You don’t need experience. You don’t need everything figured out. You just need a heart that’s willing to try. FAR provides the vet care, the supplies, the support and answers to all your questions. I’ve been fostering puppies for a couple of years. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. Nothing is more worthwhile than watching puppies grow and experience the world. While my role in their lives is temporary, I am the lucky human who got to prepare them for their forever family. There’s not a more profound honor than that.”
Cheryl, Cat foster
“I started fostering because I wanted to do my part for animals who need a safe place to grow. Opening my home frees up space in the shelter so even more lives can be saved, and it gives kittens the chance to socialize and grow confidence before heading to their forever families. It’s a simple act that fills our home with purpose and helps make a difference. The experience has been incredibly rewarding for me and my family, offering daily reminders of kindness, responsibility and the realities of pet overpopulation.”
Kim, Dog foster
“We evaluate each dog’s needs upon entering our home and determine what is best; structure, security, love, training, socialization. Those are the basic root elements to help these animals thrive. We always put ourselves in the dog’s “paws” to help guide them through their journey in our home. Our goal is to work with them to become their best and most adoptable selves. Most importantly, our mission is to validate their importance in this world and give them unconditional LOVE. Seeing them get adopted into their wonderful, furever home is our great reward!”
Michelle, Cat foster
“Fostering with Foothills Animal Rescue has been an incredibly rewarding experience for our family. We’ve been fostering for over nine years, eight of them with FAR, after adopting our dog Mia and deciding it was the right place for us to continue helping animals. The shelter team and foster coordinators have always been supportive and responsive whenever we’ve needed guidance or help. We’ve fostered over 100 kittens and cats, ranging from two weeks to three years old. We especially love “project” kittens—those who need socialization and patience to come out of their shells. We foster to do our small part in saving lives, and because we truly love cuddling kittens.”
Interested in Fostering?
Interested in fostering but have questions first? Complete the form below, and our team will be happy to help you learn more.
