Our dedicated volunteer foster families save lives every time they open their homes and hearts to a homeless animal. Fostering is a wonderful opportunity to volunteer together as a family or care for a pet without a long-term adoption commitment. 

Join us as a foster parent and start saving lives! We provide: 

  • Support from a full-time foster team.
  • Full-service veterinary clinic to handle medical needs such as surgery, medications (including preventatives), and vaccinations.
  • Marketing and adoption services to find your foster animal a great home.
  • All necessary supplies (food, litter, toys, treats, bowls, litter box, etc.).

We encourage children to be involved in the fostering process, but the foster volunteer ultimately responsible for the animal’s care must be 18 years or older.

“How long is the foster commitment?” “Can I adopt my foster animal?” “Exactly what supplies does Joybound provide?” If you have questions about being a foster volunteer, feel free to read our foster FAQ page, where we answer some of our most commonly-asked questions about fostering.

Foster Orientations

Discover the joys of caring for dogs or cats in your home. Signing up for a foster volunteer orientation is the first step to becoming a foster family. During this online orientation, you’ll learn about the realities and rewards of this unique volunteer role from our team and experienced foster parents. Bring your questions to these free, no-obligation information sessions.

service dog salute

Foster a Future Service Dog

In addition to opportunities to foster puppies, kittens, cats, or dogs preparing for adoption, we also need foster families to assist in the foundational training and assessment process for potential service dog candidates in our Shelter to Service program. You can foster an adult dog being considered for placement in a facility or with someone with an invisible disability, such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, severe depression, etc. Welcoming one of these specially-selected shelter dogs into your home for just 12 weeks could change someone’s life forever.

Foster-or-Furrever

We offer adopters a unique chance to get to know some of our longer-tenured shelter dogs. The Foster-or-Furrever program lets you take a dog home for a week or two to see how good of a fit they are for your family. Fun fact: many animals showcase their true personality a lot better in a home, rather than in the shelter environment!

Not every dog qualifies for Foster-or-Furrever — please ask an adoption counselor for more information.

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