Interested in becoming a Foster?
Five Acres relies on foster homes to provide a less stressful environment for animals, and free up space for new animals in need. Read below to learn more about our foster program and how you can make a life-changing impact by becoming a Five Acres Foster!
Foster FAQ's
Fostering an animal is a rewarding experience that not only helps get an animal out of the chaotic shelter environment, but it also allows us to bring more animals into our care. Foster homes also allow animals to decompress, learn the manners of being in a home, and form a bond with their family. They can also provide special needs for pets and give them a break from the stressful environment of a shelter.
We only ask that you provide a loving and safe home to your foster pet which includes feeding, exercising and socializing your foster regularly. We hope that you treat your foster pet as if it were your own pet. You must also keep all of your current pets up to date on shots, spayed/neutered along with making this your only foster pet. You may also be given specific instructions you will be expected to follow that pertain to the health and/or safety of your foster pet.
We will always work with you to match you with the foster pet that best fits your specific situation. We will work with you to find placement for the foster pet if you need to go our of town or on vacation, and only ask that you give us as much advance notice as possible.
The average length of fostering is 2-8 weeks (sometimes up to 10 weeks for small kittens) depending on the foster animal’s needs. If things aren’t working out, we ask that you give us time to find another foster home or an open kennel at the shelter, but if that is not ideal we will find a solution that works for everyone and as quickly as possible.
We hope that you want to spend as much time with our foster pet as possible. While we do understand that other things in life come up, we ask that you always keep your foster pets best interests in mind when making plans that will take you away from them for long periods of time.
Your foster might be able to be around other pets, depending on your pets and the foster pet we encourage interaction. We only ask that you take things slowly when introducing them and follow any and all instructions from the foster liaison or other member of the Five Acres Staff. Please note, there may be foster pets that cannot have any interaction with current pets due to medical conditions, but we will make sure you are aware of any restrictions prior to taking the animal from the shelter.
We ask that you give us time to find another foster home or an open kennel at the shelter, but if that is not ideal we will find a solution that works for everyone and as quickly as possible.
We will provide you with all food, veterinary care and medicine for your foster pet along with a crate for them to sleep in.
We will provide everything you need to make your foster experience successful. Just let us know what you need and we will help facilitate your request to the best of our abilities. We may also ask that you occasionally take your foster pet to the veterinarian or bring them to the shelter depending on your availability.
You can foster a dog without a fence, as long as you agree to always use a leash when outdoors, we encourage even those that have fences to personally take their foster pets outside while on a leash because you never know what might happen that could put you and/or the foster pet in danger.
We are excited to be able to give first priority to the foster of the pet when it comes to adoption applications. We encourage you to contact your Animal Care Manager as soon as you or anyone else you know decides they want to adopt the foster pet.
Why Fostering a Pet Could Change Everything—
for Them and for You
When most people think of animal rescue or pet adoption, they imagine bringing home a furry friend and giving them a forever family. Adoption is amazing, but it doesn’t work for everyone. There’s another equally powerful way to change lives: fostering a pet.
Fostering means opening your home temporarily to a dog or cat in need. Some of these animals may be too young for adoption, recovering from surgery, or simply overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the shelter. Others may have been through trauma and need time to rebuild their trust in humans. By becoming a foster volunteer, you provide them with a safe place to land, comfort in their time of uncertainty, and the love they need to heal. Fostering is a game-changer for households that have always wanted a pet, but don’t feel best suited to deal with medical expenses or having a pet for years on end.
How Fostering Transforms Animals
Every day, animal shelters across the country face the same challenge: too many animals, not enough space. When foster families step up, it changes everything. Each dog or cat that goes into foster care frees up room in the shelter for the next homeless pet waiting for help. But the benefits go even deeper:
- Stress relief and healing: A shelter can be loud, crowded, and stressful. In a foster home, animals finally get to relax, sleep deeply, and recover.
- Better behavior and socialization: Pets learn how to live in a home—house training, crate training, leash walking, and how to be part of a family. These lessons make them better candidates to be adopted.
- Stronger adoption matches: Foster families get to know the pets’ personalities—whether they love cuddles, prefer long hikes, or thrive in quiet homes. Sharing this insight with shelters helps match animals to adopters more successfully.
- Life-saving support for vulnerable pets: Puppies and kittens, senior animals needing extra care, or dogs recovering from surgery often thrive in foster homes where they can get specialized attention.
In short, fostering doesn’t just help animals survive—it helps them flourish and find their forever homes faster. Remember that every foster placed in a home means an extra spot in a shelter for a dog or cat to be rescued. Just one foster can have a tremendous impact and as the numbers rise, so do the amount of rescues and intakes for shelters.
How Fostering Changes YOU
If you ask experienced foster families, they’ll tell you fostering is one of the most life-changing volunteer opportunities out there. Why? Because the rewards are enormous.
- Flexibility without long-term commitment: Maybe you can’t adopt right now due to school, work, or housing. Fostering lets you experience the joy of caring for an animal without a permanent commitment.
- Choose what fits your lifestyle: You can foster for a weekend, a few weeks, or several months depending on your availability. Some people specialize in kittens, others love giving senior dogs a cozy place to nap, and others enjoy helping shy animals come out of their shells. Find your perfect match!
- Personal growth and critical experience: Fostering builds skills in animal care, patience, and compassion. Students interested in veterinary medicine, animal training, or community service can gain hundreds of hours and valuable hands-on experience.
Yes, sometimes it’s hard to say goodbye when your foster animal finds their forever family. But remember: every goodbye makes room for the next life you get to save.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Almost all shelters have foster programs, and here at Five Acres Animal Shelter, we’re proud to support our fosters every step of the way. We provide training, supplies, and resources so you can focus on what matters most: loving the pet in your care. Five Acres has an incredibly fast onboarding process that starts with filling out our application, and coming in once approved to be added to our system and fostering a dog or cat as soon as that same day.
By fostering through us, you’re not just helping one animal—you’re helping open a spot for the next homeless cat or dog waiting at our door
For more information about fostering, please email our foster coordinator, Enzo, at enzo@fiveacresanimalshelter.org