Foster Program

King County developed the Foster Care Program to increase the chances that animals coming in to our shelter will be adopted into permanent homes. Our goal is to adopt out as many healthy animals from the shelter as we can.

Many of the animals released to Animal Care and Control are not suitable for adoption when they first arrive at the shelter. If they are too young for adoption or are sick, they can not remain in the shelter environment. Young animals will get sick and sick animals spread disease to healthy ones. King County implemented a foster care program to increase the animal's chance of adoption. Animals are released, on a temporary basis, to foster care providers, who will care for the animal until such time as it can be spayed/neutered, eat solid food or heal from an injury or illness. Once the animal is suitable for adoption, the animal is returned to the shelter to await adoption into a new home.

Anyone can foster animals for King County Animal Care and Control. However, we require that you attend our volunteer orientation/training session. Attending this session will give you some basic instructions regarding how the foster program works and how to properly care for the animal(s) placed in your charge.

Care of Animals: King County Animal Care and Control expects all animals held in foster homes will be welcomed as a member of the family. Foster care givers must be able to provide a clean, safe environment in which to care for the animal to prevent injury and the spread of disease. Food, cat litter, flea control, milk replacer and any medications not dispensed by the shelter veterinary clinic are the financial responsibility of the foster family, as we do not have the funding to provide these supplies outside the shelters.

In the event that the animal in your foster care becomes ill, veterinary staff are available to assist during regular clinic hours. In all cases, you must make an appointment prior to bringing the animal to the clinic for treatment. If, however, after hours care and emergency care are required, it is the foster care provider's responsibility to coordinate and pay for those services. Hopefully, if proper guidelines are followed regarding the care of the animals, the need for such care will not be necessary.

Special Considerations for fostering dogs: We require that foster care providers of dogs have a fenced yard with some form of shelter. Additionally, a place should be provided in the home were the dog is welcome as they are social animals who crave interaction with people.

Special Considerations for fostering cats: All cats fostered from our shelter must be kept indoors at all times to prevent injury and the spread of disease. If you are introducing a new cat to a household with existing pets, keep the cat separate from the rest of the animals for a day or two so that it may adjust to its surroundings.

King County Animal Care and Control will hold quarterly meetings to review foster care program expectations, distribute pertinent materials and answer questions. Additionally, staff and a network of experienced foster care providers are available to provide guidance.

King County Animal Care and Control has veterinary staff. During regular clinic hours, the staff will try to be available for scheduling appointments. All routine worming, vaccines, fecal exams and FeLV testing is done by the shelter Veterinary Clinic for foster animals. Appointments must be scheduled ahead of time due to spay/neuter demands, which are the first priority of the veterinary staff.

Animal Care and Control officers may periodically perform home visits/inspections to address concerns/questions of foster care providers and make sure animals are being cared for properly. Appointments will be made in advance of visit.

At the end of the foster period, shelter staff will examine the animals health, spay/neuter the animal and if suitable for adoption, place the animal in the adoption area to await adoption.

When the animal(s) are healthy and old enough for adoption, they are returned to the shelter on the day of a spay or neuter appointment. After the animal has recovered from it's surgery, it will be placed in the adoption area for placement into a permanent home.

If the foster care family prefers, they may choose to keep the animal in their home and advertise the animal through the foster care boards. These boards are available in the shelter where you can place a picture(s) of the animal and a brief description. The animal will remain on the board until placement can be made. Interested parties will make an appointment with an adoption counselor. Foster care providers will then return the animal at the time of the adoption appointment. The new adoptive owners will then pick up their new pet from the Spay/Neuter Clinic.

You can take photographs of the pets and place a poster at our shelter. You may leave your phone number to talk to prospective owners if you wish. You can visit our shelter with the animals to have people view them when they are looking for a pet. This must be prearranged due to limited amount of space and the health of your animal.

We do our very best to place all foster animals. Unfortunately, not all foster care pets survive. Sometimes medical or health issues interfere. We will communicate with you as we together give these animals a second chance and will be open with you about the options.

Please bring your identification badge and your Foster folder that will be issued to you when you take the animal home. This folder has the animal's weight and medical history.