What You Need to Know Before Fostering a Dog

Why Fostering is Important

Fostering helps dogs recover from stress, illness and trauma, while providing a safe, loving environment where they can start to thrive, and eventually find their forever home. While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact number of dogs in need of foster care in the U.S., according to the ASPCA, 5.8 million dogs and cats were brought to shelters and rescues in 2024, with approximately 2.9 million being dogs.

And while 4.2 million shelter animals were adopted into their “fur-ever” homes in 2024, it’s not enough to significantly reduce the number of animals in shelters and keep up with the influx of new animals, which means overcrowded facilities and a lack of resources.

The length of time that dogs are staying in shelters has also increased over the last five years, adding strain to an already overburdened system and limiting space for new animals.

Fostering plays an integral role in the system, and has a number of benefits for both the dog and the foster family. Not only does fostering help alleviate overcrowding in shelters, it also provides a safe, supportive environment for the dog to thrive in, giving them the opportunity for more one-on-one care than they would receive in a shelter, and time to learn basic house manners and socialization skills. Since the goal of fostering is finding a permanent home, this time in a foster home can significantly increase a dog’s chances of adoption.

The benefits for the foster family are rich, too. You can feel good that you’re saving lives, while you gain experience and knowledge about pet parenting—without a long-term commitment.

Foster Parent Responsibilities

Foster families take on the responsibility of caring for an animal’s needs, from the home environment to exercise and vet care. Here’s a closer look at what’s required when fostering a dog.

Providing a Safe, Healthy Environment

This includes a clean, comfortable space, appropriate food and water and basic care like grooming and hygiene.

Basic Training & Socialization

A foster home gives dogs an opportunity to learn basic commands, become comfortable around other people and animals and develop into well-adjusted companions, so these are skills you’ll need to be comfortable with teaching.

Exercise & Stimulation

Foster dogs need regular walks, playtime and mental enrichment. Consistency in this area really helps shape a dog’s behavior and habits, and can greatly increase a dog’s odds for finding a permanent home. 

Vet & Specialty Care

Depending on the dog’s needs, fostering may involve transporting them to vet visits, administering medications or specialty diets, and monitoring their health.

Helping with Adoption

Foster parents can help with the adoption process by attending adoption events, answering questions about the dog’s personality and needs, and keeping the shelter informed about their progress in foster care.

Potential Challenges

Fostering a dog is a rewarding experience, but it’s important to consider any potential challenges ahead of time so you’re prepared and comfortable with everything that’s involved. Here are some of the potential challenges that may come with fostering a dog.

Unpredictable Behavior

Shelters are often not provided with a lot of history or background on the dogs they take in. But it’s likely that whatever a dog has been through will manifest in some anxiety or anxious behaviors, and sometimes these behaviors aren’t fully understood until after a dog has been placed in a foster home. Navigating these situations requires patience and compassion, and is a crucial component of the foster parent role.

Emotional Attachment

It’s natural to develop a strong bond with a foster dog, which can make it difficult on the foster family when they’re adopted. With fostering, the goal is goodbye, so knowing this from the start can help you reframe this potentially tough aspect of fostering into something positive. 

Sometimes, foster families experience what’s known as a “foster failure.” While this term may sound negative, it’s actually a good thing—it’s used to refer to when a foster family decides to permanently adopt their foster dog.

If you think you may not be ready to handle the emotional attachment that comes along with fostering—you may want to consider adopting instead. This is a better alternative to becoming emotionally attached to your foster dog while they’re actively up for adoption.

Time Commitment

Fostering requires time and effort, especially for dogs with special needs or those recovering from illness or injury. So be sure to consider how much time you have available before taking on the commitment. If you travel frequently or regularly have long days away from the house, this might not be the best time to consider fostering an animal. 

Things to Consider 

If you think you might be ready to foster a dog, you’re going to want to read this section next. Here are some key factors to consider to figure out whether fostering is right for you.

Home Environment

Shelters and rescues want to make sure that foster homes are animal friendly. That means white couches and rugs, and homes with lots of valuable or breakable items may not be ideal, especially when you have a rambunctious puppy that might not be fully potty trained. 

Beyond aesthetics, you’ll want to make sure you have enough space inside the home, as well as access to adequate space for potty breaks and exercise outdoors—like a fenced-in yard or a dog-friendly park within walking distance. Shelters and rescues will often recommend having a crate or other designated area in the home that can act as a comforting space during the adjustment period, and a way to keep them relaxed and safe while you’re away from the house.

Additionally, you’ll want to check in with other household members, including roommates, partners and children, to ensure they’re on board with having a foster dog in the house and abiding by the various rules and protocol of fostering.

Existing Pets

If you already have pets at home, you’ll want to consider their needs before committing to bringing a foster pet into the house. Do you think they would do well with another animal around? How would they react if the foster pet is unsure, or even hostile, toward your existing pet?

It’s also important to note that there is often a recommended quarantine period, usually around 14 days, where you’ll need to keep the foster pup separate from your existing animals, in order to prevent spreading undetected illness.

Cost

As a foster parent, you will be supplying the basics for your foster pup, including food and water, puppy pads, treats and toys. Some shelters have certain supplies that you can loan out, such as crates, collars and leashes, to help offset some of your expenses, and routine medical care and medications are typically covered by the shelter or rescue. But keep in mind that there will be a number of regular ongoing expenses that you’re responsible for while the pup is in your care. 

Special Needs

Some dogs require extra attention due to their history, background or medical needs. If you think you would be able to care for a dog that has special needs, here are some of the situations that may require it.

Recovery From Illness

Foster homes are an ideal situation for dogs with a contagious illness, especially homes with no other animals. Contagious pups are not able to be kept in shelter scenarios due to spread of illness, so having them at a foster home allows time for medications to take effect and for the pup to heal properly. In these situations you would need to be comfortable with administering medication on a regular schedule.

Recovery From Surgery

Many shelter dogs have injuries from accidents or abuse. These dogs will be treated and cared for by a veterinarian team, but recovering from surgery is definitely a special need that can be made much more comfortable in a foster home situation, when paired with the right foster parent. Dogs recovering from surgery will have limited mobility, and may need bandage changes, regular administration of medications and regular vet re-checks.

Underweight & Special Diets

Pups who arrive at the shelter underweight usually require a special diet and a keen eye to watch out for any signs of illness.

A fresh food delivery company like The Farmer’s Dog can be a great choice for foster dogs, especially those who may need additional support such as seniors and those recovering from tough circumstances or adjusting to a new routine. 

The Farmer’s Dog is a big supporter of adoption and fostering, regularly partnering with local dog rescues to provide generous discounts on their food for dogs adopted through these programs. They’re even offering a 70 percent discount on a first box of food for anyone fostering dogs this month, in celebration of National Foster A Pet Month.

Meals made exclusively with human-grade ingredients, like The Farmer’s Dog, can be especially appealing for providing thoughtful, high-quality nourishment to foster dogs. Many pup parents note that The Farmer’s Dog was essential in improving their dogs’ digestion and overall health, including healthier coats, increased energy levels and better poops, all of which would greatly benefit a foster dog, especially those coming out of an uncertain situation where they might not have been getting the nutrition they need to thrive.

The Farmer’s Dog’s customized meal plans ensure that your foster pup gets the right amount of nutrition each day (and it comes in pre-portioned packs so all you have to do it defrost before meal time), so whether that means extra calories for healthy weight gain in underweight dogs, or steady calories for senior dogs that need weight maintenance, The Farmer’s Dog is a trusted partner in caring for your foster pup.

How to Get Started Fostering

If you’d like to learn more about the specifics of the fostering process, the first step is to find a foster program through your local animal shelter, rescue or humane society. 

Each organization will have its own individual requirements and application process, so getting in touch with a local shelter is the best way to get answers to any specific questions you may have and learn more about what it takes to get started.

So join us in celebrating National Foster A Pet Month this June. Whether or not you decide to foster, rescues and shelters around the country are always in need of support, whether it’s volunteering or donating common items. There are many ways to show up and help animals in need and you will forever feel good knowing that you made a difference.