Foster
By opening your home to a foster animal, you can save lives and help those in need find their forever home. Fosters provide temporary shelter, love, and care for adoptable animals. Since Animal House is a volunteer-led organization with no physical location outside of our PetSmart partnership, foster homes are the backbone of our rescue and our success would not be possible without them. The more fosters we have, the more animals we can save!
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Fosters are responsible for coordinating veterinary care and meet and greets with perspective adopters.
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Applicants must be the homeowner or leaseholder of the home address listed on the application.
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Applicants must ensure that any current family pets are up-to-date on vaccinations and preventative care. We will request a veterinarian's contact information for verification.​​​​
Foster FAQ
1. Why are animals put into foster homes?​
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While there are many reasons why an animal may be placed in a foster home, it's usually because they require mandatory veterinary care before they can be placed at the store or put up for adoption. Being a foster home during this period has proven better for the physical and mental health of the animals.​
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Foster homes are also needed for kittens who are too young to be spayed and/or neutered, cats with special dietary or medical needs, or simply because there is not enough space available at PetSmart.​
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2. Are fosters responsible for providing food, litter, and other supplies?
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Animal House provides wet and dry food, litter and boxes, toys, carriers, beds, supplements and medications, and other select supplies at no cost to fosters.
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Fosters may choose to provide select supplies on their own if it is more convenient or if they wish to further support the rescue.
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Fosters are invited to join our community of volunteer groups via text message and/or social media to share supplies, get advice, coordinate vet care, and more.
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3. Are fosters responsible for paying for vet care?
Animal House covers all necessary vet costs at partner veterinary offices for foster animals. Animal House does not cover costs for care outside of our approved partners.
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4. Can my foster animal interact with my other pets?
Many foster animals—especially kittens—are placed in foster homes while awaiting necessary veterinary care, so they may require important vaccinations and tests that require quarantine from other animals until they are fulfilled.​ If you are unable to ensure separation from other pets, we will work to place you with a foster animal that does not require it.
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5. Can I adopt my foster animal?
Of course—we love foster fails! If there isn't approved application for your foster animal, you can adopt them. Contact us to start the process.