HandbookThe Foster Handbook, 2026
Foster
Foster a dog or cat for three weeks. We pay for everything.
Fosters are the reason we can say yes when the county shelter is full. You give an animal a quiet home for a few weeks; we handle food, vet visits and finding their family.
- Food, crate, bowls and leash provided
- All vet care paid for, at Riverbend Animal Hospital
- Pick dogs, cats, puppies, kittens or seniors
- Going away? We'll find a sitter foster
Questions first? (555) 018-2274
Thank you, .
Nico, our foster coordinator, will call within two days to talk it through and book you into the next orientation.
Kinds of fostering
Pick the kind that fits your life
Standard foster3 to 5 weeksDogs and cats ready for adoption
Give them a home base, bring them to Saturday adoption hours, and send us a few honest notes and photos each week.
Get connectedBottle babies4 to 6 weeks, spring and summerKittens under five weeks
Feeding every three to four hours, including nights at first. We train you, supply formula and scales, and a mentor is a text away.
Get connectedMedical recovery2 to 8 weeksAfter surgery or heartworm treatment
A quiet room, medicines on a schedule and limited exercise. Ideal for people who work from home.
Get connectedWeekend sleepoverFriday to SundayDogs living with other fosters
Take a dog on a hike or a lazy weekend, write us a report, and give their regular foster a rest.
Get connectedSenior hospice fosterOpen-endedOld or terminally ill animals
A soft bed and good company for an animal's last months. We cover every cost, including the end, and we never rush it.
Get connected
A foster's view
People say they couldn't foster because they'd get too attached. That's the point. You get attached, you hand them to someone who'll love them for fifteen years, and then you go and get attached again.
Questions
What new fosters ask
Do I need a fenced yard?
No. Most of our fosters live in apartments or rentals. We match dogs to your space, and some dogs need no yard at all.
I work full time. Can I still foster?
Yes. Adult dogs and most cats are fine with a work day, and the weekend sleepover program was designed for people with busy weeks.
What if the animal gets sick at night?
Call the foster line. After 8 PM it forwards to whoever is on call, and we have an arrangement with the emergency hospital on Hendersonville Road.
Can I adopt my foster?
Of course. About one in five do. We call it a foster fail, and we celebrate it.
Foster handbook
Read it before orientation
Everything we cover in the ninety-minute orientation, in print.
Bottle-feeding kittensFormula, weights, warmth and what is normal at three weeks.
KittensMar 202610 pages
PDF · 1.1 MBDownload
The first 72 hours with a nervous dogDecompression, crates and why you shouldn't throw a welcome party.
Dogs20256 pages
PDF · 740 KBDownload
FormsWeekly foster report
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