Foster Guidelines

Everything you need to know about providing a safe, loving, and temporary home to animals awaiting their forever families

Donate Volunteer Foster Adopt Available

Foster Guidelines

Thank you for opening your home to an animal in need. Foster families play a critical role in preparing animals for successful adoption and helping save lives.

Effective Date: June 2026 | Last Updated: June 2026

Purpose of Fostering

Foster homes provide temporary care, stability, socialization, and observation for animals while they await adoption or permanent placement.

Fosters serve as ambassadors for the animals in their care and help us better understand each animal's personality, behavior, and needs.

General Expectations

  • Provide a safe, clean, and loving environment.
  • Ensure animals receive proper food, water, shelter, and exercise.
  • Monitor the animal's health and behavior daily.
  • Maintain communication with the organization.
  • Promptly report concerns, injuries, illnesses, or emergencies.
  • Treat all animals with patience, kindness, and respect.

Veterinary Care

  • Contact the organization before seeking non-emergency veterinary care.
  • Immediately report medical concerns or behavior changes.
  • Administer approved medications exactly as directed.
  • Maintain scheduled wellness appointments when requested.
  • Do not authorize medical procedures without approval except in emergencies.

Safety Requirements

  • Animals must not be allowed to roam freely off-leash unless in a secure area.
  • Appropriate identification tags must remain on animals when provided.
  • Fosters should take precautions to prevent escapes.
  • Children should always be supervised around foster animals.
  • Interactions with resident pets should be monitored carefully.

Transportation

  • Animals should be transported safely and securely.
  • Dogs should be secured with an approved restraint or crate when possible.
  • Cats should always be transported in approved carriers.
  • Never leave an animal unattended in a vehicle.

Adoption Process

  • All adoption inquiries should be directed to the organization.
  • Foster families may provide feedback about potential adopters.
  • Final adoption decisions remain with the organization.
  • Fosters should not transfer ownership of animals independently.

Social Media & Public Representation

  • Sharing photos and updates is encouraged.
  • Please represent the organization positively and professionally.
  • Do not disclose confidential information about applicants or internal matters.
  • Do not make official statements on behalf of the organization unless authorized.

Emergencies

In the event of a medical emergency involving a foster animal, immediately contact the organization using the emergency contact information provided during placement.

If immediate veterinary care is required to protect the life or well-being of the animal, inform the organization as soon as reasonably possible.

End of Foster Placement

  • Animals may be adopted, transferred, or returned to the organization.
  • Fosters should provide any observations that may assist future placement decisions.
  • Organization property and records should be returned when requested.

Hold Harmless and Release of Liability

I acknowledge that animals are unpredictable by nature and may exhibit behaviors that could result in injury or property damage. By fostering an animal from Pawsitive Place Rescue, I assume all risks associated with ownership and care of the animal and agree to release, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Pawsitive Place Rescue, its officers, directors, volunteers, agents, and representatives from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses arising out of or related to my fostering, ownership, possession, care, or control of the animal.

Acknowledgement

By submitting a foster application or accepting placement of a foster animal, individuals acknowledge that they have read and agree to follow these Foster Guidelines and any additional instructions provided by Pawsitive Place Rescue.

Ready to Foster?

Open your home, save a life, and help an animal prepare for its forever family.

Donate