Volunteer foster homes provide an essential element of care and love to homeless pets who are desperately in need of a place to "be" until they are adopted into qualified and loving homes.  Fostering a homeless pet(s) is one of the most important and in-demand resources within rescue and often defines if an animal can be saved "in time" or not.  There are countless numbers of homeless pets who need you and fostering is both a rewarding experience and it saves lives! 

The act of fostering an animal is an activity of personal choice, not to be taken lightly - there are requirements, responsibilities and personal liabilities that come along with caring for any pet you bring into your home.  An individual or family must consider issues carefully before committing to this important choice.

• Is your home a safe environment that can be set up for pets who may or may not know rules, boundaries, and limitations? 
• Do you have time to devote to a pets constant needs and demands?  Do you have time to socialize and work through house training, chewing, or unknown behavioral issues that can surface later, etc?
• What type of pet would b best for you to start out with? What age might be best for your situation? 
• Do you have other animals to consider?  Are your pets socialized and sterilized...will they accept another pet in the home?  Do you have the patience to do a slow introduction over the necessary amount of time to safely integrate a foster pet into your home?
• Are you emotionally, physically, and mentally prepared and able to take on full responsibility if having control of a foster pet?
• Do you have health and liability insurance to cover injuries or damages you or others may receive in caring for a pet in your home?
• Are you able to financially cover any accidents, damages or other losses that can be associated with caring for a pet?  For example, if your dog gets into a fight with the foster dog and requires medical attention...resulting in veterinary medical bills or death; or your dog picks up fleas or a parasite from a foster pet...resulting in having to treat your pet(s); etc.  Are you able to cover other inherent liabilities? For example, if you lose control of the foster pet and it kills a neighbor's chickens; if it chews something of significant value that belongs to you or someone else; if it bites or kicks you or someone else; etc.
• Will your neighbors take issue with your fostering pets?​ 

If you decided to foster a pet through RARES (outside of participating in our Home to Home adoption program), you will be asked to sign the Volunteer Foster Agreement found on our Forms Page. Fill out the volunteer form here.

 For those considering fostering or working with horses, please read the Michigan Equine Liability Act of 1994.