Ill, extremely fearful or injured pets will recuperate better in a calm and nurturing foster home as opposed to the already overburdened shelter environment. Oftentimes, especially during Kitten Season, there are simply too many homeless pets and not enough shelter space. Pets are given the opportunity to flourish in an environment other than the shelter which in turn allows the SPCA to provide even more homes for animals that need to be adopted.

The amount of time you commit to fostering is completely up to you—and the needs of the animal. Some pets just need a short break from the shelter through our Borrowed Buddies program, whether it’s a fun day out, a weekend sleepover, or a few days to decompress. Others, like kittens or dogs recovering from medical or behavioral challenges, may need several weeks of care. No matter how long you open your home, even a single night can make a life-changing difference for an animal in need.

The SPCA provides all the resources you need to care for your foster: food, litter, litter boxes, medical care, collar/leash, and even a crate or playpen. Of course, you’re always welcome to spoil your foster animal with any extra toys and treats! 

We understand that sometimes a foster is not the right fit or that life happens and fosters need to return early. If you need to return your foster animal before their recheck or return date, please call us at 321-567-3615 to make a foster drop off appointment.

For the health and safety of foster and personal pets, we recommend keeping them separated as much as possible. Many of our foster animals are underage or have weakened immune systems and may be more susceptible to catching or passing along illnesses than healthy, personal pets. While we do vaccinate and medically assess every animal in our care, we cannot guarantee the health of our foster animals and are not able to reimburse fosters for any medical or other expenses incurred. Some animals also have behavioral issues that make them a poor candidate for introduction to other pets.  If you decide to introduce your foster and personal animals, send us an email at spcafoster@spcanorthbrevard.com to learn more about how to safely introduce animals to each other! 

Absolutely! We do not require that fosters have fenced-in yards, but we do require that fosters provide safe, secure housing of some type. We are happy to loan out a collar or harness, leash, crate, or playpen to ensure that they can be safely housed and exercised. ​Foster dogs are not allowed to visit off-leash dog parks.

Being a foster parent is an incredibly rewarding and important job, but can be emotionally difficult. You will become attached to your foster animal(s) and it can be difficult to give them up. Although you might be sad, the new pet owners will be excited and happy about finding a new companion! Celebrate that your foster has found a loving home.

You are absolutely able to adopt a foster that has become a part of your family! Fosters get first dibs on the adoption of eligible foster animals. Always let our Foster Program Manager know as soon as you’re interested in adopting your foster animal.