You can make a difference!
Foster volunteers provide a temporary home for animals that are looking for their forever homes. It is an incredibly rewarding experience. We need foster homes in the Twin Cities metro area.
Safe Hands Rescue primarily rescues and rehomes animals from overcrowded shelters. By opening your home to a dog or cat in need, you are giving them a second chance.
We provide all necessary medical care for foster animals along with a crate, collar and leash, food and a few toys. Foster homes provide love, care, socialization, basic training and help to find the right forever home.
What to expect
All you need to foster is love and patience, and a sense of humor helps too! The animals we rescue often come from less-than-perfect conditions. Some have never lived in a house before, and there is often an adjustment period. Most will need some basic housetraining. You’ll have experienced fosters and a supportive team of Safe Hands Rescue staff and volunteers to help you along the way.
Some dogs may feel anxious for the first few days. Plan to keep things low-key at home while your new foster adjusts. Trying to see the situation from their perspective can help you to be extra patient and kind as they adjust. Be encouraging, consistent, and provide guidance, and you will see them bloom!
Most dogs need some basic house training. Adult dogs usually pick it up quickly, but sometimes it takes a while for a dog to be consistently successful. Your foster dog may also need to learn basic house manners, as they may not have lived inside before.
What fostering requires
Most importantly, you will need to care for your foster animal as if they were your own. This includes feeding, socializing, and working on appropriate behavior.
Administer any medications as directed.
Provide photos and information about your foster animal via email to facilitate posting for adoption.
Take your foster animal to a spay or neuter appointment, or other veterinary appointments as needed.
Attend or work with another volunteer to get your foster animal to Meet & Greet events twice a month.
Schedule and conduct visits with prospective adopters.
Potentially bring your foster dog to our vet for diagnostics. While routine vetting happens when the dog arrives in our care, some animals will have more extensive medical needs and may require a vet appointment.
Foster home requirements
Resident pets must be up-to-date on rabies and distemper combination vaccinations, as well as a monthly flea and tick preventative. We keep foster animals up-to-date, too!
We strongly recommend resident dogs have the Bordetella vaccination, as well.
Resident pets must be spayed or neutered.
The ability to check your email messages daily. You will need to respond to communications regarding the animal you are fostering within 24 hours.
Safe Hands Rescue endorses only positive reinforcement training. Choke, prong, or shock collars are not permitted.
Flexi-leads or extendable leashes are not permitted, as they can more easily be dropped when the dog is startled and jumps or pulls.
Written consent of your landlord and a contact phone number is required, if renting.
Ready to foster?
Fostering is a commitment to an animal in need. Please make a pledge to your foster animal to keep him or her until a forever home is found. This can take a few weeks to a few months. Special needs animals may take longer. They are counting on you at a time when they have lost everything. We count on you too!
If you are a positive, persistent, passionate animal loving human who wants to make a difference for animals we’d love to have you join our team!
Once you’ve filled out the foster application you’ll receive more information on our foster program via email. You’ll also receive a phone call from one of our fabulous volunteers to answer all your questions and help decide if this is a good fit for you!
Questions about becoming a foster? Feel free to email us at: safehands@safehandsrescue.org