LifeLine’s lifesaving efforts are made possible through the many foster parents who care for our animals on a short- and long-term basis. The information that we are able to gather from our foster parents is invaluable! If you are able to foster for any length of time, from days to weeks to months, you are making an impact and directly contributing to LifeLine’s mission of ending the euthanasia of healthy, treatable, and adoptable pets.
DOGS
Learn more about dog fostering opportunities below
CATS
Learn more about cat fostering opportunities below.
Short-Term Fostering
Friendly Finder
If you found a lost dog, you can help prevent them from living in the shelter while helping find their family by becoming a Friendly Finder.
Temporary Rescue/Transport Fostering
Surprisingly, there are some animal shelters in U.S. cities that are practically empty and welcome pets from out-of-state shelters. We transfer pets to these shelters. By law, all transport animals must be held away from the shelter for at least 14 days prior to transport, so we regularly need temporary foster homes for these dogs.
Spay/Neuter Surgery Recovery
Foster homes are an ideal place for our dogs to recover after surgery, and when they return, they are ready for immediate adoption.
Dog for the Day
Dog for the Day is a great way to give our pups a break from the shelter environment, learn more about their personality and get them seen by potential adopters! You can take one of our pups to the park, go for a hike, or simply relax at your house. The potential for fun is endless! We provide a leash, harness, and an “adopt-me” vest for the dog you choose.
Weekend Warrior
Take a dog out of the shelter for the weekend! Learn more about our Weekend Warriors program.
Long-Term Fostering
General Fostering
Many dogs in our care are happy, healthy, and ready to find their forever home. Space in the shelter is very limited, and it is important that our animals find a foster home to make space for the pets entering our shelters daily. All they need from you is a comfy place to stay, a little love, and help finding their perfect match!
Unicorn Fostering
A Unicorn is the name that we’ve given to dogs with a specific set of circumstances: they may need a home without other animals or children, and/or have manageable behavior issues that we are unable to address in the shelter. Unicorn fostering is a combination of finding a proper home environment and willing foster parents! We’ve experienced Unicorns exhibiting certain behaviors while living in the shelter, but those behaviors may subside when they live in a foster home. Additionally, foster homes are less noisy and crowded than a shelter, which allows Unicorns to learn and focus better on individualized training. If you are willing to learn, we’ll provide you with all the information and support you need.
Young, Medical and Heartworm+
Whether they are young puppies with fragile immune systems, dogs recovering from surgery or elderly dogs who need calmer surroundings, pets with special needs benefit from living in a quiet environment where they can heal. All veterinary costs are covered by LifeLine.
Fospice (Foster + Hospice)
Fospice volunteers provide loving homes for a shelter pet who has received a terminal diagnosis. Instead of a noisy shelters, these pets spend their remaining time in a loving home where they thrive. Being a fospice parent can be emotionally challenging, but our fospice volunteers share that it is equally rewarding.
Court-Case Holds
Sometimes a dog comes into our care who was neglected or abused. Their condition may be so poor that the county pursues legal action against the owner. When this happens, the pet will not be available for adoption until the case goes to court, and the judge releases the pet to us months later. A noisy shelter is not a good place for an abused pet to rehabilitate. You can foster a court-case hold dog and help that pet begin to heal.
Mom and Babies
When a pregnant dog or new mother and her litter come into our care, placing them into foster care is critical to ensure that the babies stay healthy and learn proper socialization skills.
Short-Term Fostering
If you found a lost cat or kitten, become a Friendly Finder and help reunite them with her family.
Weaned Kittens
When kittens are old enough to eat on their own but not yet old enough to be spayed or neutered, they benefit from living in a foster home where they can continue to grow and play until they are ready to be adopted.
Temporary Rescue/Transport Fostering
Surprisingly, there are some animal shelters in U.S. cities that are practically empty and welcome pets from out-of-state shelters. We transfer pets to these shelters. By law, all transport animals must be held away from the shelter for at least 14 days prior to transport, so we regularly need temporary foster homes for these cats.
Long-Term Fostering
Bottle Babies
Fosters for these neonatal kittens act as surrogate mothers. Bottle babies must be fed formula every two-to-four hours, stimulated to go to the bathroom, kept on a heat source, weighed before each feeding and closely monitored for illnesses. Foster parents tell us it’s more than worth the effort when they see the babies grow and thrive.
Families (Mom and Babies)
When a pregnant cat or a new mom and her litter come into our care, placing them into foster care is critical to ensure that the babies stay healthy and learn proper socialization skills.
Special Needs (Socialization/Medical)
Whether they are kittens who need additional socialization, cats recovering from surgery or injury, cats with a specific medical concern or elderly cats who need a calmer environment, cats with special needs benefit from living in a quiet, non-stressful environment where they can heal. All veterinary costs are covered by LifeLine.
Court-Case Holds
Sometimes a cat comes into our care who was neglected or abused. Their condition may be so poor that the county pursues legal action against the owner. When this happens, the pet will not be available for adoption until the case goes to court, and the judge releases the pet to us months later. A noisy shelter is not a good place for an abused pet to rehabilitate. You can foster a court-case hold cat and help that pet begin to heal.
