Foster a Pet

Through the Forsyth County Pet Resource Center’s foster program, animals are given a second chance at an amazing life thanks to the dedicated time and care of our foster homes. Opening your home to an animal is a special way to show your passion for the homeless animals in our community. 

Foster Programs

Weekend Warrior: Our Weekend Warrior program allows you to take a dog out of the shelter for the weekend. This is a great opportunity for a dog to get some quality time away from the shelter. Weekend Warrior is a great option for someone looking to help foster an animal with a shorter time commitment. The information that you learn about the animal, even after a few days, helps us better match the animal with potential adopters.  

Time commitment: 4 days 

Dog Fostering: Many dogs in our care are happy, healthy and ready to find their forever home. But some do not acclimate well to shelter life, therefore a foster home is their best option to set them up for success. All our dogs need from you is a comfy place to stay and lots of love while they wait for an adopter. Foster parents must be willing to bring dogs to adoption appointments. 

Time commitment: Until adoption 

Adult Cat Fostering: Like our dogs, many cats in our care are happy, healthy and just waiting for their forever home. But some do not acclimate well to shelter life and need a little extra socialization help. All our cats need from you is a comfy place to stay and lots of love while they wait for their forever home. Foster parents must be willing to bring cats to adoption appointments. 

Time commitment: Until adoption 

Kitten Fostering: This is our greatest need for fosters. During the spring and summer months, we see an influx in kittens entering our shelter, many of which are very young and not ready for adoption. Our kitten foster parents provide a space in their home for the kittens to grow, learn social skills and develop strong healthy immune systems. 

Time commitment: Birth to 2 months

 Fospice (Foster and Hospice): Sometimes we have animals that have a medical condition that will significantly shorten their lifespan. In situations like these, we would prefer that the animal spend their time in a loving home instead of a shelter. Being a fospice parent can be emotionally challenging but equally rewarding. All medical care is provided by the Pet Resource Center. 

Time commitment: Situationally dependent 

How Foster Care Works

What do you need to be a foster family? It’s simple:

• A safe and loving home
• Time to love and care for your foster animal

As a Foster Family Volunteer, you may host animals with special medical or behavioral needs, puppies or kittens under 8 weeks of age, or a nursing mother and her litter. By fostering pets in need of extra TLC, you are providing rehabilitation in a nurturing home environment while directly helping prepare these animals for a new lifelong home.

How do I get started? If you are interested in becoming part of our foster family team, please follow these steps:

• Fill out a foster application.
• Be in the area. Foster volunteers must be able to travel to our facility in Cumming on a regular basis. Please consider the potential commute before applying to foster. 
• Be ready to start making a difference in the life of an animal. The shelter will match you with the foster animal(s) that best suit your lifestyle and time commitment.

How do I get matched with an animal? When the Pet Resource Center receives animals that are not ready to be put up for adoption, we reach out to our foster volunteers. If a foster family is not available to foster at that time, we simply try another foster. There will be plenty of opportunities to foster, so there is no pressure to take an animal.

Once matched, foster family volunteers will come to the Pet Resource Center to pick up their foster animal(s). At that time the foster family will receive information about their animals’ condition and needs, and then we will provide appropriate supplies to the foster family.

What support does the Pet Resource Center offer? We will provide all basic supplies that foster families will need to care for their foster animals, including food, medications, kennels and toys. We also provide care instructions for each foster animal so you will know exactly what your foster’s needs are. Staff will be available should you have questions about your foster.

Foster families will need to bring their foster to the Pet Resource Center periodically to be examined by our medical staff and receive vaccinations or other treatment. 

Fostering is a wonderful experience for you and your family. We hope that you will consider this unique opportunity to further help the animals of Forsyth County by becoming a Foster Family Volunteer. 

For additional information or questions about the program, please contact our Program Coordinator at (678) 965-7197 or foster@forsythco.com.