Foster Volunteering

• Thinking About Becoming A Foster Volunteer?
• Foster Volunteering Description and Duties
• Foster Volunteer Application (PDF Format)

Foster volunteers provide temporary in-home care for pets that need more consistent human companionship or would benefit from being in the calm of a home. These animals include:

• Kittens, including newborns with or without mothers
• Puppies
• Special-needs animals suffering from illness or kennel-related stress
• Pets in our Animal Safehouse Program

Foster volunteer Requirements and Commitment

• All foster volunteers must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must be able to bring animal(s) to RCHS anywhere from once a week to once a month for health check-ups. Safehouse animal(s) may need to be brought to the shelter for visits with their caregiver.
• Communicate with Animal Safehouse Coordinator and/or Animal Care Manager regarding health and general well being of animal.
• Provide in-home, day-to-day care for an animal, including administering medications if needed.
• All fosters must have appropriate living area for animals and agree to have them inside their home at least 50% of the time.
• If there are other animals living in home, they must be altered and be animal-friendly.
• The time commitment ranges from 24 hours to three months. The time commitment is flexible and depends on the needs of the animal and the availability of the foster volunteer.

Rancho Coastal Humane Society provides all of the following for foster animal(s):

• Food, if requested
• Medical care
• Kennel/crate if necessary
• Bedding if requested
• Toys and treats
• Training for foster volunteer
• Litter for cats/kittens

How fostering works

1. RCHS receives an animal that needs to be fostered.
2. Foster volunteers who are appropriate for the specific animal will be contacted. The foster volunteer can decide whether or not to foster that animal depending on time commitment and availability. Foster volunteers are not expected to be available every minute all year-round!
3. The foster volunteer has the opportunity to come visit the animal before making the final decision of whether to foster.
4. The foster volunteer picks up the animal and receives additional information about that animal's temperament and health.
5. After a pre-designated amount of time, the foster volunteer returns the animal to RCHS.

Please read Foster Volunteers Description and Duties for more specific information about how fostering works.

Get started today!

To get started as a foster volunteer...

1. Complete a foster volunteer application
2. After reviewing your foster application, the Volunteer Coordinator will contact you. If you qualify, the Volunteer Coordinator will schedule a one-on-one orientation with you.
3. Attend an orientation.

After you have completed the orientation you will be ready to foster! You will be placed in our database and contacted when we have an animal we think would be a good match for you to foster.

Please note: If you are interested in volunteering in the shelter, as well as fostering, you will also need to complete a volunteer application and attend a volunteer training.