What foster volunteers do:

Foster volunteers provide care and attention to shelter pets, by taking them into their homes or by providing walks for dogs around the community! Each year, foster volunteers provide hundreds of shelter pets the extra time outside of the shelter that they need to recover from illness or injury, reach two months of age to be ready for adoption, or just to have a break from the shelter.

 

General requirements to become a foster volunteer:

• Foster volunteer responsible for animal(s) must be 18 years old.
• Be able to receive and respond to communications, including emails, texts, and phone calls.
• Be able to foster the species of pets for which you sign up for on a regular basis.
• Be able to transport your foster pets to/from the shelter locations for scheduled vaccinations and other medical items.
• If taking a shelter pet into your home, have a safe and separate area in your home for foster pets.
• Commit to treat all animals and people with respect and kindness! 

 

Foster volunteer onboarding process:

• Register for and attend a New Foster Information Session. These are generally offered twice per month, and the specific fosters we're recruiting for may vary month-to-month based on the shelter's greatest needs.
• Complete a foster volunteer application. (Attendance at New Foster Information Session required to receive application; not available online.)
• For those who are new to fostering dogs, you may also attend or be required to attend an additional training session focused on dogs.
• Begin receiving communications and shelter pets who need foster placement, and start fostering a pet once you're matched!
• Please note: this onboarding process usually takes 1-3 weeks from attendance at a New Foster Volunteer Information Session.

 

We are currently recruiting for foster volunteers who can provide foster placement for these categories of dogs:

• Large adult dogs who need a short- or long-term stay in a foster home, to get a break from the shelter
• Weaned puppies under six months old who are undergoing medical treatment for illness
• Weaned healthy puppies under six months old
• Pregnant or nursing mom dogs with their puppies
• Bottle baby puppies
• We especially need dog fosters who have no other pets!

 

Interested in becoming a foster volunteer for dogs?

• Check the sections below to see New Foster Information Session dates!
• We'll have sessions hosted at both the Lorton Campus and the Michael R. Frey Campus - be sure to check the location before registering!
• The information covered will be the same regardless of host campus, and once onboarded foster families will be able to utilize either campus.
• If there are no dates visible, it means all the upcoming sessions are full. There is no waitlist. Please check back to this webpage to view future scheduled dates!