🐾 foster

Open your home to save lives: Foster with us!

As a foster-based rescue, our foster volunteers are vital to helping animals in need. The number of lives we can save depends entirely on how many cozy foster spots we have available. This is especially true for our dogs, since we don't house them on-site. Becoming a foster and giving a rescue pet a temporary soft place to land makes a massive impact!

  • Medical care covered: Vaccines, microchips, spay/neuter, and veterinary care are covered and scheduled by us.

  • Supplies provided: We provide the food, litter, crates, bowls, collars, toys, and everything else you need!

  • First dibs on adoption: Fall head over heels? Foster parents get first priority to adopt their foster pet if it’s a match made in heaven!

Perks of Fostering

How do you get started fostering a pup or kitty? Find the answers to these questions and so many more in our application guides below!

Become a dog foster
Become a cat foster

Foster FAQs

Getting started

  • Once you are an approved foster, our intake staff will email you with animals available for foster.

  • Before you bring your foster(s) home, make sure that you have a suitable place for them to stay. A bathroom often works well for young puppies/kittens. Here are some things to consider when choosing a space for your foster animal:

    • A temperature controlled space

    • Easily cleanable

    • Separate from other household pets

    • Can withstand messes such as spilled water or food, vomit, urine, feces, etc.

    • No breakable items

    • No small items (that could potentially be eaten)

  • Everything you will need to care for your foster animal will be provided by Sota Saves free of charge. This includes bowls, leashes, collars, food, litter, toys, crates, and travel carriers. You're welcome to buy your foster animal food, treats, or toys, but unless you receive prior approval from the foster support team, Sota Saves will not reimburse you for those purchases.

  • It depends on the animal. Some animals are available for a meet/greet before committing to fostering but only with the supervision of a Sota Saves staff member. We provide all information we have on the animal when posting for foster placement. We cannot guarantee that the behavior posted or noted will be the behavior the animal has in your home. You are welcome to post any questions you might have about the animal. We cannot guarantee that we will have any additional information.

  • It depends. Some animals come into our care already spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped, while other animals have not yet seen a veterinarian. On intake, your foster animal will be given flea/tick preventative, age-based vaccinations (does not include the rabies vaccine which must be administered by a veterinary office), and a microchip. You will then receive information from the foster support team via email with next steps in the vetting process.

During fostering

  • Foster animals are available for adoption once they have received all of the appropriate vet care and are medically cleared for adoption. The animal will then be posted to the Sota Saves website, and numerous animal adoption platforms.

    The adoptions team will walk fosters through the full adoption process. Foster animals must remain in the care of their foster homes until the adoptions team states the animal is approved to leave the foster’s care. Under no circumstances may a Sota Saves animal move without permission.

  • Every animal's journey is unique, and so is the time they’ll spend in your care. Before going home to their forever families, all pets are spayed/neutered and up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations. Puppies and kittens must be at least 8 weeks old and weigh 2 pounds before their spay/neuter surgery.

    While every pet recovers and finds their match at their own pace, here is a general guide to help you plan:

    Sick / Injured Cats

    • Average length of stay: 1 week - 2 months

    • Daily Commitment: 2 - 3 hours

    Weaned Puppies

    • Average length of stay: 1 - 3 weeks

    • Daily Commitment: 3 - 6 hours

    Sick / Injured Dogs

    • Average length of stay: 1 week - 2 months

    • Daily Commitment: 2 - 3 hours

    Neonate Puppies/Kitties

    • Average length of stay: 6 - 8 weeks

    • Daily Commitment: 8 hours

    Mom with Puppies/Kittens

    • Average length of stay: 6 - 8 weeks

    • Daily Commitment: 3 hours

  • Sota Saves follows the Humane Society of the United States’ approach to adoptions called Adopters Welcome. We take applications on a first-come, first-considered basis. We do not move on to other applications unless the first applicant decides not to proceed or is not the appropriate fit for that animal. The adoption team will reach out to the applicant and have a conversation-based interview with them about what they are looking for in an animal and answer any preliminary questions. Once this occurs, applications and notes from the interview will be sent to the foster family. Foster families are expected to reach out to applicants via email within 24 hours. The foster home should speak with the adopter on the phone to answer any questions the adopter may have. If the foster agrees it's a good match, the foster should set up a day and time for a meet and greet between the potential adopter and the foster animal. Once the meeting is scheduled the foster should email the Adoption Advocate with the date, time and location of the meet and greet. Since all of our adoptions are completed via smartphone, the Adoption Advocate will send a link to the adopter’s smartphone to fill out the Sota Saves adoption contract and pay the adoption fee.

    We do not accept cash or checks. Once the contract/payment have been received, your foster animal is welcome to go to their new home!

  • No, we do not require that animals are brought over to the applicant's home. Additionally, we do not require home visits, all members of the family to meet the animal, or animal-to-animal introductions before adoption.

  • If you do not feel the potential adopter is the right fit, let the potential adopter know that you need time to discuss with Sota Saves staff before the adoption can be complete. Do not tell the potential adopter you do not think they are a good fit. Contact the adoption team or your foster support team with your concerns.

After adoption

  • Absolutely! If the adoptive family is comfortable staying in contact, you are more than welcome and encouraged to remain connected with them. Please consider sharing any updates you receive with us. We love to see how our former animals are doing!

  • Part of the Adopters Welcome philosophy is connecting adopters to resources that they may need down the road. If the adopters have questions, please connect them with the Adoptions team. They will respond to the adopter's questions.

  • Please use a mild bleach solution on all crates, bedding, bowls, and plastic/rubber toys. If you intend to foster in the near future, you may hold on to all items that were supplied by Sota Saves.

    If you do not intend to foster in the short term, we ask that the items be returned to our center in Hopkins. Please see our website for open hours.

  • As long or as short as you’d like! We don't have a required wait time between placements, and some folks even foster multiple pets at once. It all comes down to your schedule and flexibility, and we’re always thrilled to partner with you again whenever you’re set for your next foster!

Current fosters can find the Foster resource page here. The password can be found on your foster resources handout, or reach out to your foster supervisor.