Fostering means temporarily welcoming a Helping Paws animal into your home while they receive veterinary care, recover, or wait for their permanent home. Helping Paws remains responsible for the animal while you provide the safe, loving home they need along the way.

It depends! Some animals may only need a place to stay for a few days, while others may need several weeks or months. We'll give you as much information as possible before you agree to a placement, and you always have the option to say no to a foster opportunity.

Yes. Being an approved foster doesn't mean we'll randomly send an animal home with you. We'll contact you when we have an animal who may be a good fit based on your foster profile, household, experience and preferences. You decide whether to accept each placement.

No. Approved veterinary care for your foster is the responsibility of Helping Paws. Foster families should never schedule treatment, authorize services or pay a veterinary bill on behalf of Helping Paws without prior approval except as specifically directed.

Absolutely. Many of our foster homes have animals of their own. We'll use the information on your application to help determine which fosters may be appropriate for your household

It varies tremendously. You may hear from us about puppies or kittens, adult dogs and cats, seniors, animals recovering from surgery, animals undergoing medical treatment, pregnant or nursing mothers, bottle babies, frightened animals that need decompression, or perfectly healthy animals who simply need somewhere safe to stay.

Yes! You can tell us exactly what you're comfortable with. This includes species, age, size, medical needs, behavior, length of stay and more. Someone willing to foster only senior dogs is just as valuable to us as someone willing to take bottle babies at 2 a.m.

If you'd like to! Our foster application allows you to tell us what you're comfortable doing and what you're willing to learn. Medical fostering can range from giving a pill once a day to caring for animals recovering from surgery or requiring more intensive care.

Tell us as soon as possible. We understand that circumstances change and that sometimes an animal isn't the right fit for a particular home. Giving us as much notice as possible helps us arrange another safe placement.

Sometimes! Because we may not initially know an animal's complete medical or behavioral history, outings, public events, and interactions with unfamiliar animals may be restricted. We'll let you know what's appropriate for your individual foster.

You probably will, we hope you do, and that's okay! Saying goodbye can be hard, but fostering makes it possible for us to help the next animal who needs somewhere safe to land. And if you decide you'd like to be considered for adoption, talk with us.