Help us save more lives by opening your heart and home to animals in need.
How our foster program works:
Fill out the foster questionnaire. NOTE: fosters must live within 20 miles of the shelter.
Once we’ve received your questionnaire, we will contact you. (Email is our primary form of contact)
We will place you on our Foster Wait List. When we receive kittens/puppies that need fostering who match your criteria we will contact you!
You may not hear from us for a while as we never know when or how many kittens/puppies will come into the shelter. By having fosters “on-deck” and ready to take animals right away we are able to get them out of the shelter and into loving foster homes quicker.
NOTE: We receive far more kittens than puppies, therefore most of the info on our page relates to kittens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide supplies?
Yes! MAPS will provide all the supplies you will need to take care of the pet you are fostering. All that is required of you is to transport the pet to and from the shelter for exams, vaccinations and treatments.
Do I need to keep my foster separate from my own pets?
For the health, happiness, and safety of all, it's best if your foster kittens are kept in a separate location from your personal pets. Orphans have small, vulnerable bodies that are susceptible not only to injury, but also to illness due to their compromised immune systems -- so you'll want to keep them separate from your own animals even if they appear healthy. Moreover, kittens often have unknown health history and could put your cats at risk if they are exposed to saliva or feces. Keep your personal pets up-to-date on vaccines and consider a quarantine of at least 12-14 days if you do plan to introduce a foster kitten. However, because introductions can be stressful for all, you are often better off keeping the animals separate.
Does fostering require a lot of space and/or time?
It really doesn’t, depending on the type of animal you decide to foster. The most common type of pet MAPS needs help fostering are kittens 4-8 weeks old or mother cats with babies. The great thing about these cats & kittens is that they really just need a small bathroom, fresh food & water, and lots of love.
Can I foster if I have children at home?
Absolutely! It’s great for young kittens to be socialized to young children. As long as the interactions with the pets are supervised, it can be a great learning experience for everyone involved.
How long do animals need to stay in foster?
It depends on the animal but in general kittens need to stay in foster until they are about 8 weeks old. Some of the kittens we get only need a couple of weeks where others may need the full 2 months. Even if you are unable to commit to the full foster period you can still help by fostering for a shorter period of time.
Does fostering really make a difference?
We cannot express how important fostering is for the work we do. MAPS is limited by the amount of space we have available in the shelter and the number of animals that need our help. By volunteering your home and time you allow us to bring even more animals into our care and get them to new families. Fostering makes all the difference for every little kitten who has come to us needing help.