Foster
What’s so great about fostering a pet?
Fostering offers a second chance at life for animals in need. It’s a fun, rewarding, and life-affirming experience for the entire family. Fostering costs next to nothing, as we provide all necessary supplies. It helps pets take a break from the stress of shelter life and can be done in a variety of living situations, including houses or apartments in both urban and suburban areas. You can begin fostering whenever you are ready, and it’s also a great way to enjoy the companionship of pets without a long-term commitment.
What Kinds of Animals Need Foster Care?
Most shelter animals benefit from a temporary stay in a foster home, but those most in need include:
- Unweaned kittens or puppies (we can teach you how to bottle feed)
- Weaned puppies or kittens that are eating on their own
- Mothers with litters (dogs or cats)
- Animals recovering from surgery, needing to gain weight, or requiring close monitoring
- Dogs needing more active support, such as crate training or additional one-on-one socialization
- Dogs or cats who need a short break from the shelter to decompress and become more adoptable
What Do I Get Out of Fostering?
- All supplies provided, including food, litter, crates, and toys
- Veterinary care covered (vaccinations, deworming, spay/neuter, parasite prevention, and more)
- Ongoing support from Tulsa SPCA staff
- Foster family training
- The joy of caring for a pet without a lifelong commitment
- The satisfaction of saving a life and supporting animals in need
- Companionship, cuddles, and hours of entertainment
- Health benefits of pet companionship, including reduced anxiety, lower blood pressure, and increased happiness
How to become a foster
Create an account using the link below to sign up for Foster Orientation. Within 3 business days, you will receive an email from the foster coordinator with information about orientation, the background check, and required paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average amount of time is 2-4 weeks and is based upon the animal’s need.
Many foster parents already have pets of their own. We will help you evaluate your ability to care for foster animals in conjunction with your own pets.
There are pros and cons to this question, so we recommend you provide an area in your home that can be completely separate and easily cleaned. Personal pets and foster animals are not required to be kept separate; however, foster parents should have the ability to do so if necessary.
Absolutely! Our goal is to match you with an animal (or animals) you feel comfortable with and enjoy. You can always let the Foster Team know if you want to try something different!
Life happens to all of us, please let our Foster Team know and we will assist you.
Most animals, once adopted, will reside with people who have working schedules, and becoming accustomed to these routines in a foster home can make that animal much more adoptable.
We provide all necessary food and supplies, and all veterinary care is provided through the Tulsa SPCA Clinic. Please keep in mind, we are not responsible for damage caused by a foster pet. Foster parents, like all volunteers at the Tulsa SPCA, must provide proof of health insurance.