Foster care aims to provide a secure environment for shelter pets until they find their forever homes. A foster parent performs all the duties of a pet owner, but for a shorter duration—daily care, feeding, grooming, training reinforcement, providing a safe play area, and plenty of affection. Foster parents play a crucial role, especially in helping pets get ready for successful adoptions, whether it involves recovery from an injury, additional training, or sharing insights into the pet's character with potential adopters.

The duration varies for each pet, as some may be ready for adoption sooner than others. Foster placements can range from extremely temporary (overnight stays for bottle babies to give mom a break), to much longer term (older cats or dogs who take a while to find a forever home). If we discuss your schedule and time constraints up front, we can try to help you find a foster that will fit your lifestyle. In general, we ask that you can commit at least two weeks.

No! Aurora Animal Shelter covers all medical expenses for foster pets, and small costs or needs can be discussed with your foster coordinator. Additionally, expenses related to your foster pet are tax deductible. Whooo!

It's natural to form attachments with your foster pet, but seeing them go to a loving permanent home is rewarding. Plus, you can save and foster another animal in need. Goodbye is the goal! Loving each foster is part of what makes the experience special. For many foster parents, knowing that they are making a difference in the lives of animals and their eventual families makes saying goodbye easier. Keeping track of your former fosters’ antics over social media helps too. Your first foster will be the hardest one to let go of, we promise!

You aren’t alone, foster “fails” do happen. We call them foster wins! We ask that you let us know that you would like to adopt your foster ASAP by emailing the Foster Team. Please note that you will be responsible for the adoption fee!

Yes, please tell us! E-mail the Foster Team at fosteranimal@auroragov.org and let them know the e-mail, phone number, and name of the interested adopter. They will be required to adopt the animal within 24 hours of the animal being cleared for adoption as we can’t do holds for longer than that period. Please also note that even your mother/BFF/yoga teacher will have to pay the adoption fee!

Of course. We are happy to keep you in our system, but we understand if you’d like to take periodic breaks! Please take as much time as you need if you are ever feeling overwhelmed or burnt out.

There is really no way to know how your personal pet will react to a new roommate! In general, young playful cats will be more likely to accept a new cat friend than sedate seniors, but there are no hard and fast rules. There is no way to know but to try.

Before EVER introducing a cat or dog to your resident animal, you must follow the following protocols.

1) They must first have a two week quarantine.

2) You must then reach out to us about proper introductions. The Foster Team will then talk you through how to introduce your foster to your resident animals, and chart that we are doing so in their profile. For example: We often don’t have history on dogs, and they can easily kill a resident cat if safety measures are not in place. Alternatively, your dog might be an undercover kitten nanny!

If fostering doesn’t work for your household, there are so many ways for you to help. We are always looking for volunteers of all types. If you don’t think you can foster at this time, but still want to help, don’t hesitate to still reach out to ask about other volunteer opportunities!

Animals chosen for foster care are either potential adoption candidates or expected to become candidates after a period or upon completion of medical treatment. Yet, there are cases where an animal's behavior or medical state deteriorates to a level where humane care for the animal's well-being and public safety must be considered.