Foster with us!

Our fosters are a vital part of our life-saving work. From weekend stays for adult dogs in need of a change of scenery, to watching neonatal kittens grow in front of your eyes, there are opportunities for everyone. Fosters provide a relaxing and comfortable home for homeless animals to rest and recuperate outside of the shelter. Foster families vary as much as our foster pets do, and anyone interested in fostering can make a difference!

Check out our Foster FAQs for more detailed information about our foster program below.

Foster Program FAQs

Foster Benefits/Perks

In addition to the rewarding experience of caring for an animal in need, fostering with the ARLGP comes with additional perks: 

• Continuing education opportunities – Want to learn more about dog behavior, or how to bottle feed a kitten? Our team hosts continuing education sessions for fosters looking to dive into different topics. Gain valuable experience and skills that transfer to academic pursuits, careers, and other volunteer roles. 
• Supplies provided – Have a spare room, but no crate or litter box? Not to worry, we will get you set up with the supplies you need. 
• Behavior resources – Being a dog or cat training expert is not a prerequisite. Our staff can connect you with resources, handouts, and access to our behavior team to assist you in caring for your foster pet. 
• Community and Appreciation – Becoming a foster means becoming a part of our team. Connect with other fosters at our annual appreciation event, and other mixer opportunities throughout the year – we love an opportunity to appreciate our fosters!

READY TO GET STARTED? HERE’S HOW:

We ask for a one-time $15 application fee to help cover the administrative costs of running our robust foster program. Once the fee is paid, you will receive an automated email containing a link to complete your application. Be sure to check your junk/spam folder! 

Select your preferred orientation below:

Online orientation

• Submit your application and application fee below.
• Review the foster manual and orientation video provided to you in your application confirmation email. 
• Complete post-orientation quiz. 
• A member of our team will reach out once your application has been processed, then you will be ready to take home your first foster!

Apply for Online Orientation

In-person orientation

• Submit your application and application fee below.
• Sign up for a New Foster Orientation Session. Available dates will be listed at the end of your application.
• Join our roster! After your foster orientation, if you feel you are a good fit for our program, you will be placed on our foster notification list to be notified when foster pets are available to welcome.

Apply for In-Person Orientation

Foster Requirements

If you are interested in joining our foster squad, below is a list of questions that you should ask yourself to make sure that fostering is a good fit for you and your family: 

• Are you over the age of 18? 18 is the minimum age to foster. If you are under 18, you may help foster but your parent must be the primary caregiver. 
• Do you live within 1 hour of our campus? In case of emergency, you must be able to return your foster animal to the shelter in a timely manner. Unfortunately, we cannot accept fosters living on the islands of Casco Bay. 
• Do you have consistent, reliable transportation? 
• Do you own your own home or have permission from your landlord to foster? 
• Do you have health insurance? All ARLGP fosters are required to be covered under their own health insurance policy. There are no exceptions to this. 
• Are you able to foster at least one pet every 4 months? 
• Do you have reliable access to email to obtain foster needs? Email is our primary method of correspondence with our foster homes. 

If you answered “no” to one or more of these questions, the ARLGP Foster Program may not be the best fit for you. Please feel free to connect with our foster coordinators at foster@arlgp.org to discuss any questions or concerns.