Foster

Thank you so much for considering us! We are in need of all kinds of fosters right now – dog and cat.

One of our previous foster pups, Lanai

Foster with Zoe's

Running a shelter-less rescue just wouldn’t be possible without our volunteer foster homes. Please read through the information below to understand the ins and outs of becoming a foster home. If the answer is YES! (And we hope it is!) Please fill out the Apply Now! form.

Why Foster?

One of the most common questions fosters get is, “How can you give them up? Isn’t it sad?” Many people say that they couldn’t foster because they’d get too attached – they’re just too emotional. Well, let me tell you a secret: the women and men in animal rescue are some of the biggest softies you’ll ever meet. So why do we do it?

Don’t imagine how you’d feel if you had to give up your existing dog or cat. That’s usually not what it’s like, because when you bring a foster animal into your home, you know you from the start that you’re just helping it through a rough spot. Of course, it’s sad when your foster leaves, but surprisingly, it’s also a happy event. Recall the first time you laid eyes on your pet. How excited you were when you decided that it was ‘the one.’ That is the AMAZING experience that you get to be a part of when you foster. When you see adopters cooing over your foster, taking terrible photos with their phones, and planning their future lives with the animal, how can you be only sad? You can’t. We can tell you from experience that the excitement and joy is infectious.

Animals have an incredible capacity to change and heal, and being the point of contact – the one who turns a malnourished pup into a normal bouncy and healthy one, or who helps a fearful cat learn to love human affection – is a rewarding experience. Fostering allows you to make a visible, measurable difference in the life of an animal.

Zoe’s pays for all of your expenses. Free love and affection? Yes please! Fostering is a great opportunity for people who want to have a puppy or kitten, but not pay for it or make a long term commitment.

Zoe’s is a community. We help each other out, whether it’s transporting supplies, trading training tips, caring for animals, or just being there for emotional support.

1. Apply online
Zoe’s has an online application form, which we use to assess the kind of environment you can provide for an animal. This is for everyone’s benefit; no one wants to place a vocal dog in an apartment, or a fearful cat in a loud, active home
2. Home check
Once your application has been processed, a Zoe’s team member will contact you to arrange a home check. This is to make sure that your home will work for one of our animals, and to help dog- or cat-proof your home.
3. Foster
Once you’ve been officially approved as a Zoe’s foster, we will place an animal with you. You are free to decline any foster animal that you think will not fit with your home. Once you have your foster at home, you can get support through our Facebook community (which includes trainers and other fosters), as well as our program coordinators. We try to place animals in the right type of foster placement but it’s not always a guarantee. Medical and behavioural issues can happen and we do our best to help rectify them.
4. Updates and advertising
Fosters are responsible for giving updates on their animals’ progress, arranging to have photos taken (either at a studio or in your home), and arranging for them to attend events. All of these things will help your foster to find their forever home. Because we don’t have a physical shelter, we rely on our website and social media to advertise our animals, and the more information we can give, the better!
5. Meet ‘n’ greet
Once a potential adopter has been screened, they will be given the opportunity to meet with the animal.
6. Adoption
Ah, that sad yet rewarding time! Once all of the paperwork has gone through, your foster goes on to its new life.

How Fostering Works

So you’ve thought about fostering, and now want the details.

Here are the steps Zoe’s takes to make sure that the fostering experience is good for you, the animal, and the rescue.

Foster With Zoe's

Step 1 of 12

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Are you applying to foster to adopt?
Please add the number(s) we could reach you at.
Address(Required)