Pet Foster Care Program

Are you looking for a fun opportunity to spend time with animals without making a long-term commitment to a pet? If so, you may be interested in our foster program.

Foster families take in shelter animals that need time away from the shelter. Fostering is a highly rewarding experience that improves the animals’ chances for adoption and helps to save lives.

Fostering FAQ’s

What costs are involved in fostering?

The largest cost to foster families is time, although CAHS does ask that foster homes provide food for their foster animals. We feed and recommend Science Diet food. CAHS provides foster homes with blankets, dishes, toys and veterinary care as needed.

How long is the average time in a foster home?

The average stay in a foster home is 3-4 weeks, but it depends of the needs of the animal that you are fostering.

What kinds of animals need fostering?

Kittens! We are always in need of foster homes for kittens that are too young to be placed up for adoption. Last spring and summer, we placed more than 100 kittens in foster homes each month. We regularly have young kittens surrendered to us that need a few weeks in a foster home to grow and be socialized. Kittens must be two pounds or eight weeks of age to go up for adoption.

Cats with upper respiratory infections and dogs with kennel cough also need fostering. Although these conditions are potentially contagious to animals in our shelter due to the stress of being in a shelter, healthy vaccinated animals in a home rarely contract them.

Dogs and cats sometimes just need a break from the shelter, especially those who have been here for a long time. Spending a few days with a family in a home rejuvenates these animals and makes them more adoptable.

Rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small mammals occasionally need to be fostered as well.

If you are interested in the foster program, please contact Danielle Chrivia at (517) 626-6821, ext. 21 or email foster@cahs-lansing.org.

Download Foster Application
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