FOSTER A DOG
FOSTER A CAT

What is Fostering?

When you foster a dog or cat, you provide a temporary home for the pet to help the rescue get animals ready for adoption. This could include acclimating the animal to living in a home, bringing them to adoption events (we have virtual and in-person), do some basic training with the animal, and helping the animal get healthy if they have medical needs. 

Fostering Process

Step 1: Application
  • Interested fosters should fill out an application.
  • We screen all applications to find what we believe will be the best environment for our foster dogs and kitties. Our typical response time is within a week, but it can sometimes take longer.
  • We will assign a volunteer applications counselor to applicants who pass initial screening. This individual will review the application and meet with each applicant to determine their needs and preferences.
Step 2: Screening
  • Vet Checks: If applicable, CDCK will call the applicant’s veterinarian to ensure that the applicant provided routine care for previous pets (e.g. spayed/neutered, vaccinations)
  • Renters/Condo Owners: For renters, CDCK  will check with an applicant’s landlord to clarify any pet, size, or breed restrictions. We also review condo association rules regarding pets.
  • Home Visit: CDCK  will visit each applicant’s home to see the environment where the cat and/or dog will live and answer any questions the applicant might have.
Step 3: Foster Agreement
  • If approved for fostering, the prospective foster and CDCK  will enter into a foster agreement. 
  • After receipt of the agreement, an assigned Foster Assistant will provide support throughout your time as a foster. 

City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue (CDCK) Overview:

  • Founded in 2011 to rescue pets from overcrowded, high-kill shelters.
  • We intervene just in time to save pets close to being euthanized.
  • Instead of a shelter, we rely on foster homes until adoption.
  • Our goal is to find these pets loving homes in the DC area, benefiting both animals and people.
  • Foster parents help us understand the pets better, ensuring a good match with permanent homes.
  • Our work depends heavily on our dedicated foster families.

Fostering with CDCK:

  • Commitment: Minimum of two weeks, though fostering until adoption (typically two months) is preferred.
  • Responsibilities: Provide home, food, bed, and care. Attend at least one adoption event monthly, in person and virtual options are offered. Occasionally, there are cat adoption events.
  • Support from CDCK: We cover all pre-approved vet costs and provide essential supplies like collars, leashes, and crates for dogs.
  • Benefits: Experience love, joy, and companionship from your foster pet!

Interested? Remember, if you’ve adopted from us before, you can foster with us. Contact us if you want to foster a pet!

If you are looking for a resource to rehome your pet and you did not adopt them from City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue, visit rehome.adoptapet.com to learn more and create their profile.

*If you need to return your CDCK cat or dog, please contact info@citydogsrescuedc.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fostering Basics

A foster’s purpose is to provide a temporary home for a dog or cat, and help the rescue get animals ready for adoption. This could include acclimating the pet to a home, attending adoption events, and basic training or medical care. 

Finding the Right Fit

Yes. There may be some cases where your home situation won’t be the right match for an animal (for example a dog may need a quieter area, a home without children, etc.) but we will discuss this with you. 

Since we do not have a shelter, many of our animals transport to the DC area only once a foster agrees to pick them up that day. In those cases, you will not get to meet the animal before deciding whether to foster. However, we often have animals that are already in the DC area that need a new foster home, and in those cases it is possible to meet the animal first. 

You do not need to have a yard or a car to foster! City Kitties requires cats to be indoor-only, and most dogs do not need a yard as long as they get enough mental and physical exercise. We will work with you to get you and your animal to any necessary vet appointments or adoption events. 

We ask that our fosters commit to fostering for at least two weeks at a time, with a preference for foster families who can see the animal through adoption. This is to minimize moving animals around which can cause stress and anxiety for them. We occasionally need temporary fosters for shorter lengths of time, but all foster applicants must be willing to foster a dog for at least the two-week period. 

CDCK Support

CD&CK will pay for all *pre-approved* medical expenses, and we provide dog fosters with monthly flea/tick and heartworm preventatives. The rescue also provides dogs with a collar, harness, leash, “Adopt Me” vest, and a crate if requested. As a foster you will be responsible for providing food, toys, and treats. Additionally, the rescue often receives donations that we can pass on to fosters, such as food, toys, and dog beds. 

If your foster and household pet do not get along, we will work with you to find a new foster for the animal. Because we do not have a shelter, it may be a few days before we are able to find a new foster. In the meantime, we ask that you be patient and keep the animals separated. 

Pet adoptions may take anywhere from a week to several months, but this depends on the pet and their specific needs. We have found the average for dogs to be 4-6 weeks and cats to be 4-8 weeks. 

Adoptions

It can be hard not to grow attached to a foster dog or cat and want to keep it. Once that animal goes to its furever home, you’ll feel immense satisfaction and pride in being a part of its journey. Many of our fosters keep in touch with the families that adopt their foster animals and are able to receive updates as the pet settles into their new home. Keeping a spot open in your home for a foster animal allows you to make a difference over and over and help more animals in their most vulnerable time.

Once a pet is in its DC area foster home, dog fosters to have 24 hours to indicate whether they would like to adopt. If the dog is not yet in DC, we will process applications for that dog without first consulting with the planned foster. Cat fosters do not get first priority on their pet.

We offer weeklong trial adoptions for adopters who commit to picking up their pet the day that it arrives to DC, to adopters who have young children, to adopters who have resident animals, and to other adopters on a case by case basis. If you are not yet ready to commit to adopting, you are welcome to fill out a foster application instead. However, while your application is being processed, another already-approved foster may sign up to foster that dog, or an adopter may apply for it. We do not reserve dogs for foster applicants, and fostering does not give you priority to adopt.

Help Us Save More Lives

Whether you choose to adopt or foster, you are making a significant difference. Help us save more lives by spreading the word, donating, or volunteering. Together, we can give these dogs the love and care they deserve.

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