The Heart of Fostering

Maddie, with foster kitty Mac

Bringing a pet home for the first time is pure magic – the cozy bed, the full food bowl, and the toys that are waiting for them to discover. You’re ready to take great care of them, to enjoy the cuddles and playtime, to feel that marvelous bond. Now imagine being part of that journey…even if it’s just for a little while.

That’s the heart of fostering.

Foster caregivers open their homes to animals who need a break from the shelter—time to heal, grow, or simply feel safe while they wait for their new family. And while goodbyes can be bittersweet, many fosters find the joy of helping an animal take that next step is even greater.

“Before I started, I worried I’d want to keep every animal,” said Maddie, a Dakin foster of nearly three years. “I found that I did not have as hard a time giving fosters back as I thought I would. I felt good knowing I’d played a part in their journey to find a new home. I knew I was not supposed to be the end goal, and having that mindset before meeting your fosters will help a lot.”

Right now, fostering matters more than ever. More animals are arriving in need of extra care before they’re ready for adoption, especially during the busy warmer months. Opening your home—even temporarily—creates space in the shelter and gives another animal a chance at a brighter future.

When you become a foster caregiver, Dakin is with you every step of the way by providing food, supplies, and veterinary care as needed. If you have questions or concerns, reach out. Whether you can foster for a few days or a few months, we’ll find the flexibility to fit your life.

Karina and foster pup Max

Changing circumstances can lead people to embrace fostering:

  • Empty nesters with an unoccupied bedroom in their home could use it to accommodate a foster cat or kittens

  • College students who may use their flexible schedules to accept foster assignments

  • Retired people who love to travel might accept fostering commitments between flights

  • People who work remotely can offer their at-home presence to keep an eye on a recovering animal

  • Homeschoolers could incorporate foster care as a vital lesson to share with youngsters

  • Medical/veterinary professionals may find fostering fulfilling.

For Kim, who embraced fostering to teach her children to help animals, it’s also about compassion and family. “These animals need caring individuals. They don’t understand why they have been uprooted, and we are here to help make their transition as smooth and comfortable as possible.”

For others, like longtime foster Laura, it’s about watching transformation unfold. “I love seeing kittens grow and thrive – when they’re ready for adoption, I feel incredibly proud of how far they’ve come.”

And yes, goodbyes can be emotional. But as veteran foster caregiver Karina puts it, "You can't have sadness without love first, and I love all my fosters, but a few moments of being sad in exchange for them being set up for an awesome life is a great trade off."

Kim and her family created their own special way to remember every life they helped. “I have pictures of every foster animal we helped. We placed them in an album that we pull out from time to time. We go through it telling silly and happy stories of the memories they have left us with.”

Fostering is a small act that makes a life-changing difference—for the animal, and often for you, too.

If you’ve ever thought about it, this might be your moment to start. Please click here to learn more about this rewarding experience.

Laura cuddles foster cat Coco