Foster a dog and change a life
Fostering is a great way to welcome a dog into your life without a long-term commitment.
By opening your heart and home to a dog temporarily, you can help us support hundreds of dogs when and where they need us most. We’ll cover all the costs, leaving you to focus on giving them stability, love and care.
What are the benefits of fostering a dog?
- We cover all essential costs and provide everything you need to care for a foster dog.
- You’ll get all the joys of having a four-legged friend, without the long-term commitment.
- Fostering is flexible and you can take a break when you need to.
- You’ll give a dog valuable experience of home life, giving them all the love and care they need.
- We’ll share our training expertise, helping you to better understand dogs and their behaviour.
- You’ll be helping to make a real difference to the life of a dog in need, and helping us make space for the next dog who needs our help too.
What foster carers do?
Foster carers are amazing! They provide temporary care for a dog, taking them into their home and doing everything that their owner would - from feeding and snuggle time, to walkies and vet visits.
If you choose to become a foster carer we'll supply everything you need, including all necessary supplies. We cover any vet costs for treatment your foster dog needs while they’re in your care. And we support you every step of the way.
3,625 dogs
were fostered by our foster care network in 2024
Which scheme is right for me?
Both our foster schemes help dogs find a temporary home when they need it most. Whether you’re looking to help a dog on their journey to adoption or support someone escaping domestic abuse, there’s a foster scheme to suit your circumstances.
Foster a dog whose owner is escaping domestic abuse
For dog owners experiencing domestic abuse, our specialist Freedom service offers a lifeline — providing safe, temporary foster homes for their dogs, until they can be reunited with their owners. By becoming a Freedom foster carer, you’re not just helping a dog, you’re helping a person escape abuse.
Freedom foster placements are likely to be longer than a rehoming centre placement, with an average stay of 4-8 months. You don’t need to live near one of our rehoming centres, but you do need to live in England, Scotland or Wales, within or near a Freedom service coverage area..
Find out more about becoming a Freedom foster carer.
Foster a dog until they find their forever home
When a dog goes into a foster home, whether for a few days or several weeks, it means we have a kennel ready for the next dog who has nowhere else to go. And for some dogs who struggle in kennels, a foster home is a better place to be while they wait for a new home.
To foster a dog from one of our rehoming centres being a reasonable distance from a rehoming centre is helpful, but not essential.
Find out more about fostering a dog from one of our rehoming centres.
Foster a dog for someone experiencing domestic abuse
FAQs
Will all the dogs be neutered before they come to me?
Some dogs will already be neutered, but some may need to be neutered at your local vet once they’re settled. We’ll be …
What happens if it doesn’t work out?
We ask every carer to give the dog time and patience when they first take them into their home, and we’ll be there to …
Can I ask for help out of office hours?
We’re always on hand for our fostering volunteers. We have an emergency out-of-hours number that you can call at any …
How long will I need to wait until I'm matched with a foster dog?
Each foster dog is individually matched to a foster home, so we can find the best possible foster carer and home for …