Foster a Pet
Fostering is all the fun and companionship of having a new pet at home without the long-term commitment or cost of pet ownership! Foster care is a temporary arrangement in which a shelter pet is cared for in a volunteer’s home prior to adoption.
All types of pets benefit from foster care, including pets that are orphaned, pregnant or nursing, under-socialized, require medical care, or would simply rather hang out at your house than in one of our kennels while waiting to be adopted!
Roice-Hurst provides supplies, vet care, and training to foster families and will match you with an appropriate pet within our shelters or on our waiting lists. A typical foster stay lasts from a couple of days to a couple of months, depending on the pet and its circumstances, until the animal finds an adoptive family. From a litter of purring kittens to a goofy adult dog, setting up a pet for a life of love with its new family is a uniquely rewarding experience.
Foster care not only provides a much more comfortable environment for the pet you take home – it also opens a kennel for another pet in need in our community.
All foster volunteers must abide by the volunteer code of conduct, comply with the foster care agreement and contract, adhere to zoning and animal control ordinances, and be 18 years or older.
Ready to take home your first foster pet? Please fill out a Foster Application below. Our Foster Coordinator will review your application and send you a welcome email with the next steps! In the meantime, please watch our Foster Orientation and read through our Foster Manual to learn how our foster program works, and then pick out your first foster pet! Visit rhhumanesociety.org/adopt to see many of the pets who are eligible to move into foster care.
Questions? Contact our Foster Coordinator at foster@rhhumanesociety.org.
Please note: Due to requirements set by the state of Colorado, before a foster pet can enter a home, we must review a video or in-person inspection of the area the foster pet will be residing in. First, please review the foster home checklist and correct any potential hazards in your space. Then, take a brief walk-through video (under 2 minutes if possible) of any areas in your home that your foster pet will access and email the video to foster@rhhumanesociety.org. The video is valid for one year. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding of this state requirement. This requirement only applies to foster pets, not pets who have been officially adopted.
Becoming a Foster
Step 1
Complete the application at the bottom of this page. After your application is accepted, you will receive an email with our online Foster Orientation video and Foster Manual to review. Now is a great time to pet-proof your space with this checklist!
Step 2
Record a brief video tour of the spaces that your foster pet will have access to in your home (including your yard) and email it to our Foster Coordinator for review. This step is required by the State of Colorado to ensure the space is free of hazards.
Step 3
Join our Roice-Hurst Fosters Facebook Group and browse the list of eligible potential foster pets below! When you find one that sparks your interest, contact our Foster Coordinator to schedule a time to meet and pick up.
Step 4
Take your new foster pet home! We provide all necessary supplies and veterinary care. Check in with the Foster Coordinator frequently with photos, information, and any questions about your foster pet until they are adopted!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a typical foster stay last?
Depending on the type of pet and their circumstances, a typical foster stay ranges from a couple of days to a couple of months. For example, a small breed dog will likely find an adoptive family within a day or two, while a litter of newborn kittens won’t be adoptable for at least two months while they grow up.
How does the adoption process work?
You will receive an adoption packet for your foster pet, complete with detailed instructions on how to process an adoption. Potential adopters will see your pet on our website and submit an adoption application, which will be reviewed by shelter staff and forwarded to you via email. Please respond to adoption applications in the order they are received and set up a showing with the potential adopter, either at your home, Roice-Hurst, or at a public park (adult dogs only). After thoroughly telling the potential adopter about your foster pet and allowing them to meet, simply follow the instructions in the adoption packet and send your foster pet with their brand new family!
Do I need to get a home check in order to foster?
Due to requirements set by the state of Colorado, before a foster or foster-to-adopt pet can enter a home, we must review a video or in-person inspection of the area the foster pet will be residing in. First, please review the foster home checklist and correct any potential hazards in your space. Then, take a brief walk-through video (under 2 minutes if possible) of any areas in your home that your foster or foster-to-adopt pet will access and email the video to foster@rhhumanesociety.org. The video is valid for one year. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding of this state requirement. This requirement only applies to foster or foster-to-adopt pets, not pets who have been officially adopted.
Does fostering cost money?
No. We provide all necessary supplies and veterinary care, but any contributions toward your foster pet’s care are greatly appreciated!
What happens if I can’t keep my foster pet any longer or need to take a break?
If you can no longer foster your pet, please notify Roice-Hurst with as much notice as possible so that we can line up another foster home or save an open kennel for the pet to return to the shelter. If you have a friend or family member interested in taking over the care of your foster pet in their home, please have them sign up as a foster on this page.
How can I help get my foster pet adopted?
You are encouraged to promote your foster pet to your network of friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers! When you pick up your first foster pet, we will hook you up with a foster pet yard sign! We invite you to share photos and information about your foster pet across your own social media channels and tag Roice-Hurst Humane Society.
To update your foster pet’s photos on Roice-Hurst’s website or to have them featured on our social media pages, please send photos, videos, and information to info@rhhumanesociety.org and/or share to the Roice-Hurst Fosters Facebook group.
Can I adopt my own foster pet if I fall in love?
Absolutely! We just ask that you let us know as soon as you decide to adopt your foster pet to avoid breaking the hearts of other potential adopters.
Foster Application
Foster Application