Fostering a pet is a rewarding experience. You are helping both the animal you foster and the one who gets to fill the empty space at the shelter. Watch our slide show to learn what it takes to become a foster.

1. Fostering 101
Brought to you by the Baltimore Humane Society
in Reisterstown, Maryland.

2. What Is a Foster Parent?
A foster parent is someone who agrees to provide food,
water, shelter, basic care and love to a homeless animal
until he or she is placed into their forever home! All
medical is provided by the Baltimore Humane Society at
no cost to the foster family.

3. What makes an animal a foster candidate?
 Animals too young for adoption
(orphaned kittens/puppies).
 Animals that are sick or injured.
 Animals that are long term
residents.
 Animals that are stressed in the
shelter.
 Animals with behavioral issues.
 Senior animals.

4. How to become a foster parent:
Submit an
application
online.
Phone
interview with
the Foster
Coordinator.
Come in to
the shelter
and do a
foster
orientation.
Meet with the
trainer to find
the perfect
foster pet for
your home.
Schedule a
time and date
to pick up
your new
foster animal
and sign the
foster
contract!

5. What you get when
you pick up your
foster animal:
For Dogs: You will get the dog, a leash, collar, harness, name
tag with your name, the shelter’s name and an adopt-me
vest! You may also get prescription food and medication if
applicable.
For Cats: You will get the cat along with any prescription
food or medication.

6. It is a requirement that you are
able to bring your foster animal in
to see the Vet when he/she is sick
or needs updated vaccinations.
The medical staff will let you know
when your new pet is due to come
in to been by our medical staff!
All medical concerns while in the
foster home must be addressed
by the foster as soon as
symptoms appear. The sooner we
can start treatment (if need be)
the better!
Medical
Check-Ups

7. Networking Your
Foster Pet
It is important to help us
spread the word that
your foster pet is
available for adoption.
You can utilize social
media, post foster flyers
at your local retailers
(with their permission),
as well as just letting
people know you have
an animal in your care
for adoption! Your pet
will also remain on our
website for adoption!

8. A Day at the Shelter or an Off-site Event!
 Recently, we’ve come up with the
perfect plan to get your foster
animal seen for adoption! We offer
the opportunity for you to come in
to the shelter with your foster
animal for potential adopters to
meet! You have the option of
staying with your foster animal or
leaving them here for the day! We
will post the details of the date,
time, along with a photo of the pet
on our Facebook page, letting
everyone know that he/she will be
here!
 Off-site events are also a great way
for your foster pet to be promoted
for adoption! We have at least 2 or
3 events each weekend! If you are
available you could stop by an
event on weekend to show off your
foster pet for adoption! You would
need to stay with them if you
choose this option! Also, make
sure they’re wearing their Adopt Me
vest!

9. Someone’s Interested!
Someone wants to meet your foster
pet!
 Once the interested parties’
adoption application is approved,
the Foster Coordinator or trainer
will contact you to set up a
time/date for you to bring your
foster pet in to meet with their
potential new family! You have the
option of staying for the
introduction (recommended) or
leaving the foster pet there and
coming to pick them up following
the introduction!
Going forward with adoption!
 Once the meeting goes well and is
approved by the trainer, Foster
Coordinator and Adoption staff, we
will then set a time and date for the
new family to come complete their
adoption! Depending on the date
of the adoption, you can leave the
foster pet there (if it’s the next day)
OR return the foster pet on the day
of the adoption.

10. 1601 Nicodemus Road | Reisterstown, MD 21136 | 410.833.8848 |ext. 223
www.bmorehumane.org
Know the reward of saving two lives!
************************************
The Baltimore Humane Society has a great foster
program!
When you foster a homeless dog or cat, you are saving
the lives of 2 animals - the one you care for and one
who fills the newly opened space in our no-kill shelter!
Please contact Danielle, our Foster Coordinator at
DPayne@bmorehumane.org. You can also check out our
Foster page and submit an application by clicking on the
following link: http://bmorehumane.org/adopt/foster/