Be a foster parent and experience the joy!

Four weeks.  That’s typically all the time it takes to prepare a puppy’s or kitten’s immune system for life at the shelter and, ultimately, at its new home.

If you have four weeks to give a puppy or kitten, consider being an AAR puppy foster. From food and basic supplies (including crate, newspapers, litter box, and medications) to on-call support, AAR provides fosters with everything needed to give a puppy or a kitten a healthy new beginning. Getting started is easy! First, review Foster Requirements below.

Also, before submitting an application, be advised that all fosters must:

  1. Complete a waiver which will require the signature of all occupants of the home that are 18 years of age or older.
  2. Provide AAR with a copy yearly of a home owners policy with no animal exclusion and a minimum of $300,000 in personal liability coverage.
  3. Complete a basic background check, which will be paid for by AAR.

If fostering is right for you, complete and submit the Puppy/Dog Foster Application Form or Kitten/Cat Foster Application Form. A member of AAR’s Foster Team will review your application and contact you regarding next steps.

Foster Parent Benefits:

  • Fostering is free of financial expenditure. AAR provides the necessary food, litter, medications, etc. needed for our foster animals.  Reimbursement will be provided with prior approval.
  • Fostering is fun and full of ever changing and entertaining experiences.
  • Fostering provides a realistic outlet for animal lovers who must put a cap on the number of their own personally owned pets.
  • Fostering provides ready made hugs and kisses in an ever-changing variety of sizes and colors.
  • Fostering will enhance your photography and video skills as you document every cute furry thing your temporary pet does.
  • Fostering is an automatic entry into a group of like-minded individuals.
  • Fostering provides enriched household experience where everyone learns about animal care, responsibility, and respect for living beings.
  • Fostering provides personal fulfillment and satisfaction. There is nothing as wonderful as knowing that you are helping to save homeless pets and ready them for adoption into forever homes.
  • Fostering makes a small piece of the world just a little better.

Puppy/Dog Foster Requirements:

  • While the entire family can help care for and love your foster puppy, Puppy Fosters must be at least 18 years old.
  • Getting your foster puppy ready for shelter life and adoption takes a little time. You must be willing to commit at least four weeks to your foster puppy.
  • Puppies need their space. You must be able to provide a separate area away from your other pets for your foster puppy.
  • Puppies make messes! You should be ready and willing to deal with animal sanitation.
  • Sometimes puppies need special medicine during their foster stay. You should be willing and able to give your fostered puppy medication as required.
  • Puppies need safe space to roam and explore. Your home and fenced yard (required) must be puppy safe!
  • While our puppies are important, your own pets must be the first priority. Therefore, all pets in your home must be up-to-date on all their vaccinations, including Rabies, DAPPV and Bordetella.
  • There may be circumstances where we need you to bring your foster puppy to the shelter during the foster period. You must be willing and able to do so as necessary.
  • Most importantly, you must provide your foster puppy with lots of love, cuddles, kisses and playtime. You make all the difference to these babies.

Cat/Kitten Foster Requirements:

  • Must be 18 years of age; however the whole family is encouraged to become involved in the care of fosters. We find a real family experience helps fosters successfully fit into their new adoptive homes.
  • Must have a dedicated safe space for fosters that is away from your own pets. A spare bedroom, bathroom, or other inside space with will work.  The space should be foster proofed which means no live plants, hanging cords, or open toilet seat lids, etc.
  • Must commit to the time period required to ready the foster to enter the shelter or an adoptive home. Time commitments can vary from a few days to several months in some cases.  You can accept the foster commitments that fit with your life and schedule.
  • Must be willing transport fosters to and from veterinary and surgery appointments. The number of appointments can vary with the age and health of the foster, although we try to keep these to a minimum.  These appointments will normally be at the AAR clinic and occur on weekdays.
  • Must be willing to medicate fosters as needed. This can include giving oral liquids or pills, eye or eardrops, and topical medications.  At times, fosters will need to be bathed or dipped. Training can be arranged, if needed.
  • Must insure that your own cats do not have FIV or FeLV.
  • Your own pets must be up to date on vaccinations. For cats this includes rabies and FVRCP.  If you have indoor/outdoor cats, they must also be current with FeLV vaccinations.  Although separate foster spaces are required, some illness can be transferred in the air or by hand contact.
  • Dogs in household must be cat friendly and supervised. We find that fosters who are comfortable with a dog in the household are often requested by adopters.
  • Must be willing to feed, water, scoop litter box, and sanitize on a regular basis.
  • Must be willing to pet, hold, cuddle, and provide playtime for fosters on a regular basis.
  • Must be willing to provide regular updates on foster health and well-being. Updates on personality traits and other interesting facts are also needed so that a personal “Cat Tale” can be written for each foster.
Drive With Google Apple Waze