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PET HOTLINE: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm (480) 287-3542

Foster

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Become a Foster

Can you love and nurture a pet until we find it a forever home? Anthem Pets does not have a facility, and we need to secure a foster before we can intake a cat or dog and provide it with care. Foster families provide temporary homes for cats, kittens, dogs and puppies while Anthem Pets works to find them a loving home. You may be asked to take them to the vet, but their veterinary care is paid by our generous donors. By offering your time and love to an animal in need, you will save their life and prepare them for adoption into a permanent home. Fosters receive instruction, continuing support and are provided with all supplies. 

Special Note: We are still in the busy KITTEN SEASON when fosters are urgently needed for litters of kittens, moms with kittens, pregnant moms, and neonatal babies. Neonatal kittens are newborn to 4 weeks of age, and caring for them can be rewarding, but also a 24-hour job. There is a reason that they are known as “Bottle Babies”, since they must be fed every 2 – 6 hours depending on their age. They must also be kept warm and dry, and this level of care takes enormous dedication.

For both canine and feline fosters, we have two ways to get in touch. If you are on Facebook, please join our private group, Anthem Pets Volunteers & Fosters, where you can keep up with our rescue efforts and see when fosters are needed. If you are not on Facebook and would like to foster, please contact us by texting or calling 480-287-3542 or by sending an email to Rescue@AnthemPets.org. Once you are confirmed to foster a pet you will be asked to fill out one of the Application/Release forms below.

Cat & Kitten Foster Application & Release
Dog & Puppy Foster Application & Release
Volunteer & Foster FB Group
Anthem Pets Contact Email

Please check out the helpful Foster FAQs below and also check the search bar to see if your employer has a Volunteer Incentive Program and will match your volunteer hours with a donation to Anthem Pets. Thank you for making our rescue work possible!

Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by
Powered by Double the Donation

FOSTER FAQ’s

 
❤️ Will I be driving around a lot?
That really depends. You are responsible for driving your foster to their vet appointments, and to adoption events. If you are fostering a new puppy or kitten, there may be three or four vet visits for shots and then surgery. If you have an older pet, there may be only one vet visit. We highly recommend that you do have access to transportation. If there is an emergency and you must get your foster medical care, you have to be able to transport them.
 
❤️ What expenses do I pay?
Anthem Pets does its best to provide you with food when you first start fostering with us. Sometimes we don’t have what you need, or we don’t have a volunteer available to get it to you. We can either order it to be delivered to you or you can purchase it and we will reimburse you (usually through PayPal). The costs we pay are for the food, any vet visits and medication, any special needs like medicated shampoos. We have items that have been donated that we can also get to you, like toys, scratching posts, litter boxes, kennels, bowls and misc. other “non-essential” items. The best idea is to communicate with your Anthem Pets contact before purchasing anything other than food or medicine. We have to be very cost conscious at all times and appreciate any items you can provide.
 
❤️ What if I fall in love and want to keep my foster?
That is the best question ever! The answer is easy. As soon as you have decided to keep the fostered pet, tell your contact at Anthem Pets. You will complete the adoption forms and pay the adoption fee and the pet is now yours. If your foster still needs to be spayed/neutered, that is okay too. We will still complete the vetting process and pay for everything. We pay for the shots, microchip, and surgery even if you adopt before it is completed.
 
❤️ How long will I have my foster pet?
The short answer is – until they are adopted. We would love our fosters to stay in one home and then go to their forever families. Puppies and kittens usually spend the shortest time in foster care because they are more in demand. Senior pets tend to stay the longest. If you are in a situation where you can only foster for a short time, please be sure to tell us ahead of time.
 
❤️ Can I foster if I already have pets?
Only you know the answer to that question. If your dog or cat gets along with other animals, then you can try it. If you already know they don’t, then it’s probably a good idea to pass. We can also use emergency fosters. In that case, you can keep a pet for a day or two in a separate room or area while we find a long-term foster. So, if you want to help out, that could be an option for you.
 

LOVE your Foster

Your job as a foster with Anthem Pets is to show the pet love and to care for them like they were your own pet. You are welcome to work on basic commands, and gently discourage unwanted behaviors (e.g. biting, jumping up), but they don’t need to be “perfect”, they need to be showered with love.

We don’t know their PAST

Often pets come to us who are lost, abandoned, or surrendered and we don’t know their past traumas. It is always best to NOT take dogs to a dog park or on walks, since we don’t know how they will react to other pets or people. If we have behavioral info, we’ll tell you up front. Note: Puppies should never be taken to public places until their vaccinations are complete.

Take it SLOWLY

If you have your own cat or dog, take time, and make a slow introduction to the new foster pet. You may want to isolate the foster for the first day to let them decompress a little bit. It is incredibly stressful and scary for a cat or dog to be lost, found, and transported.

Assume the pet is NOT house-trained

Typically, puppies and kittens are not house/litter box trained when rescued, so when we post for a puppy or kitten foster, assume that is the case.

When rehoming a mature dog, we usually get info that we can share, but things may change when they get to you. Even adult cats can have litter box issues under stressful conditions, so start with the assumption that the foster pet will need a little work. Please don’t place your new foster dog or cat in a room with your new, expensive carpet or furniture until you get to know them.

Be sure YOUR pets are VACCINATED

If you have pets in your home and are thinking of fostering, please make sure your animals are up to date on their vaccines. This is especially important if you are going to be fostering puppies that may have an illness we don’t know about. Older dogs that are current on their shots are usually in no danger. 

Be honest about ISSUES

If you are fostering a pet that has behavioral issues that haven’t improved with time and attention, please tell your Anthem Pets contact. We can arrange for training and evaluation or even a medical exam. Please communicate with us so we can work together.

PICTURES, pictures, and more pictures

As a foster you are responsible for providing great pictures of your foster pet, and short videos are welcome. These are essential to getting your foster adopted. Please send pics and videos to your Anthem Pets contact.

A GREAT Bio

In addition to pictures, a great description of your foster will help get them adopted. Tell people all about your cool foster cat and how he sits with you while you work, or the funny antics of your foster dog. People read the pet descriptions because they are looking for a good fit. Please include details such as their energy level, favorite toys, or games, if they get along with kids, cats, or dogs, are shy around men, or if they just love everyone!