Foster a Shelter Pet

We are currently only recruiting foster families who have a home without other pets or kids, or who can take in a large dog (60+ pounds), bottle baby kittens or puppies or a mother dog and her pups.

• Dogs: all sizes, but our greatest needs is for large dogs over 50 pounds
• Puppies: orphaned litters or litters with their mom
• Small Pets: guinea pigs, hamsters or rabbits
• Cats: individuals or bonded pairs
• Kittens: orphaned litters (requiring bottle feedings or weaned) or litters with their mom
• Medical cases: requiring medication, cage rest or vet appointments
• Behavior cases: requiring training plans with support from our trainers
• Safety Net: 3-month assignment to help a pet owner who is experiencing hardship and needs a short-term home for their pet
• Adoption Ambassador: market the foster pet and talk to potential adopters (final adoption appointments are conducted by staff)

You will get an automatic response immediately after submitting your application! This message contains instructions for online trainings that you can get started on right away, steps to view foster candidates and how to submit your interest for specific animals. Once you submit your interest in a foster pet, the team will be in touch within 72 hours.

As much as we know! However, 75% of our animals come in as strays, so we often have limited information about their history. While in your foster home, you will observe and report what you learn to the foster team. These observations are added to the animal's record and shared with staff and potential adopters.

No, we don't conduct home checks prior to your assignment, and many of our foster families live in apartments or homes without a yard. Our Foster team will match you with a dog based on your living space and your availability to take the dog on potty breaks throughout the day. 

Hypoallergenic dogs at our shelter are very rare, and when they do arrive, they get adopted quickly and do not need to live in a foster home during their stay with us. The majority of our dogs are large (over 50 pounds) and a mix of breeds. You can check out our adoption page to see the types of dogs in our care who would be foster candidates. If we do not look like the right match for your home, there are several rescues in San Diego who are looking for foster homes and might be a better fit for the type of dog you wish to foster. Many specialize in specific breeds or smaller dogs. A few of our rescue partners include:

• Frosted Faces Foundation
• Kane’s K9s and Animal Rescue
• Lionel's Legacy (Senior Dogs Only)
• Second Chance Dog Rescue
• The Animal Pad

If your goal is ultimately to adopt, it is unnecessary to foster the animal first. Fostering is designed to be a temporary assignment, so if you know you are interested in adopting, we encourage you to start the adoption process! If you aren't quite ready to commit, we offer an Adoption Trial Program which gives you up to 14 days to see how a pet fits into your home and routine before finalizing the adoption. If for any reason you decide the pet is not a successful addition to your home, we are here to welcome the pet back without judgment.

Read more here about our adoption process!

Yes! Our foster families often fall in love with their foster pet and choose to adopt! However, adoptions are first-come, first served, which is why we encourage you to go the adoption route if you have a specific animal in mind.

We do! All training is virtual and accessible in your volunteer record immediately after you apply. Throughout the year, additional hands-on training is offered for bottle-feeding kittens and puppies.

The length of foster assignments varies based on the needs of the animal. You will receive an approximate assignment duration before you commit to an animal. Some of our youngest foster animals need around-the-clock care, including feedings every 2-3 hours, while other foster animals can be left at home for up to 10 hours at a time. We will match you with a foster assignment that works with your schedule, availability and interests.

You will be given options of animals from a variety of locations and will pick up animals from the campus where the animal is located. We have campuses in San Diego, Oceanside , Escondido and El Cajon, so you can select animals at the locations that are most convenient for you.

All essential supplies and medical care will be provided by San Diego Humane Society. Specific supply needs will be discussed for each foster assignment.

To ensure healthy behavioral development of kittens and puppies under 8 weeks of age, we always send them to foster in pairs or litters. If we do have a singleton we strive to match them with an age-appropriate buddy while they develop.

Due to the high volume of animals coming and going from foster homes each day, we aren’t able to accommodate meet-and-greets before pickup. Foster volunteers meet their assigned animal at the time of pickup. If the pet isn't the right match after you’ve tried to transition them into your home, please reach out to the Foster team — we’ll work with you to find a better fit.

SDHS recommends complete separation of foster animals and resident pets for the health and safety of all involved. If a foster volunteer chooses to allow their resident pets and foster animals to interact, this must be done in a safe and supervised way. Your resident pets should be up to date on all necessary vaccinations and never be left alone with a foster animal. Information and resources on safely introducing animals can be found here. Please note: SDHS is not liable for any illness or injury between foster and resident pets.

Your foster team will coordinate an alternative foster placement or schedule your animal to be housed in the shelter while you are out of town. We ask that you do not take them with you or use private pet-sitters, since these private parties have not gone through the SDHS foster trainings. We are here to support our fosters so you can enjoy your time away!

At least one member of the foster household must be able to read and speak English to use our training materials and manuals and communicate with staff during emergencies

Yes, it can be — but rest assured our Foster team will help you through it. Please remember that fostering is a temporary situation and letting go of one foster pet enables you to help another in need. Although each adoption saves a life, a great foster parent can save many lives by socializing and rehabilitating pets who need a little extra time and care.

"Being a first time foster mom to two kittens so small (9 days old) was daunting at first, but within a day their need for me outweighed my reservations over what I was capable of. I can't believe I've had them for a week already! I'm so looking forward to getting them all set for their future homes."

"I began fostering feral mom cats with babies during the 8 years I trapped, neutered and returned (TNR) community cats because there wasn’t any foster resources for these expectant cats. Having my own animals and fostering shelter cats give deep meaning to my life as well as shape who I am. Simply put, fostering is a life changing experience. There is no comparable joy in knowing that by opening up your heart and home to fostering, you truly help save lives and you have a hand in bringing many years of joy and companionship of a pet to someone out there. I foster because I want to make a difference and I know that if only we each do our part! Fostering one more mama cat with her kittens won’t change the world. What matters is that I help that one cat and that one litter."

"When I first started fostering the thought of a mom and babies seemed a little scary and overwhelming to me. How would I care for both? What if she didn’t like my other animals? What if she didn’t like me? After trying it once, I was hooked!! Mom does ALL THE WORK!!!! She feeds them, cleans them, watches over them. It actually makes the assignment much easier. As far as her getting along with my animals, I’ve learned to keep them separate at first and slowly introduce them with time. So far, it’s all worked out really well. I ALWAYS end up falling in love with the moms after seeing the work the put in. It’s a beautiful process to watch and be a part of. It’s definitely worthwhile!!!"

"Fostering is always fun, but fostering behavior dogs...that's where the real magic happens! Oftentimes, when I pick up a new behavior foster, I'm met with a pair of shy, fearful eyes. Yet, with a little bit of love, trust and the help of a confident resident dog, their true personalities shine. Sometimes, these pups just need a break from the shelter and a soft place to rest their head-then that’s when their sweet, sassy, silly and mischievous sides come out! It's absolutely incredible the transformation that can happen in a few weeks if you open up your heart and home to a behavior foster. The best part? When you hear that your little foster baby headed off to their new home with a big smile on their face and knowing you were a big part of that."

"I got in to fostering in a bit of a roundabout way but I have been fostering puppies and kittens with SDHS for quite a few years now. Many of the fosters I take need special medical attention or have contracted or have been exposed to panleuk. There are not many people who want to take kittens who have been exposed to panleuk, which is really shame because anyone can foster them and caring for those kittens have been some of the most rewarding fostering experiences I have ever had. Although it takes some special skills they can be easily taught, and getting a sick kitten healthy and then dropping them off to eventually find their forever home is incredibly rewarding. Fostering orphan animals in itself is very rewarding but with cases of panleuk exposure you know that when you foster that kitten you have in fact truly and very directly helped to save that animal’s life, and that is a feeling that you really cannot compare and one I have yet to find anywhere else."