Foster a pet – and save a life!

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 family!

WE URGENTLY NEED FOSTERS FOR KITTENS AND NURSING MOM CATS WITH LITTERS!

Steps to become a Five Acres foster:

  1. Complete a new Foster Application.
  2. After you submit your application, you will be contacted to attend a Foster Onboarding Session
  3. Once your onboarded has been completed and you want to continue as a foster, you will begin to receive foster requests!

Foster Program FAQ’s:

What do foster homes do?

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 what it is like being in a home, and form a bond with their family.

What are the requirements to foster?

We ask that you provide a loving and safe home to your foster pet which includes feeding, exercising and socializing your foster pet(s) 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.

How long will I have my foster pet?

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.

How much time do I spend with my foster pet?

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.

What if my foster pet isn’t a good fit for my family?

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.

What supplies do I need?

We will provide you with all food, supplies, veterinary care and medicine for your foster pet.

What if I want to adopt my foster pet, or I know someone who wants to adopt my foster pet?

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 Foster Coordinator as soon as you or anyone else you know decides they want to adopt your foster pet.

If you have questions, feel free to connect with us by sending an email to our foster team an email at foster@fiveacresanimalshelter.org

Thank you so much for your interest in fostering with us!