Wanted: Temporary homes for animals in need

Thank you for considering temporarily sharing your home with an animal who needs your help! Many animals who come to SPCA Tampa Bay are not yet adoption-ready and require time in loving foster homes before they are ready to find new homes. 

We’re excited to welcome you to our community of foster families and provide you with guidance and resources to care for your foster pet. 

What is a foster family?

Fostering an animal from SPCA Tampa Bay means giving them a temporary home while they wait to become adoption-ready. A foster home provides comfort, stability, and individualized care while also helping relieve overcrowding at the shelter. 

You can be a hero

Anyone age 18 or older with reliable transportation can become a foster volunteer with SPCA Tampa Bay.

An ideal foster caregiver is:

  • Passionate about animals and open to caring for a variety of species  
  • Comfortable following guidance and communicating with staff by phone, email, text or in person  
  • Flexible and responsive when urgent needs arise  
  • Ready to actively participate in an animal’s care 

 

 

Make a difference for an animal in need

Fostering is rewarding for both volunteers and the animals in their care. By fostering, you can: 

  • Help an animal heal, grow, or decompress in a home environment  
  • Improve the animal’s chances of a successful adoption  
  • Free up shelter space so SPCA Tampa Bay can care for more animals 

Right now, our greatest foster need is for kittens and puppies under eight weeks old. These young animals often require bottle feeding, close monitoring, medical support, and frequent care that is best provided in a home environment. Litters often do best when they can stay together. 

Ready to become a foster?

Complete the application to get started. A volunteer coordinator will contact you to schedule an online orientation, followed by an in-person meeting with a foster coordinator.

Save animals like Echo!  

When Echo arrived at SPCA Tampa Bay with his siblings, it was clear that he viewed the world as a scary place and had limited experience with humans. Each moment, new face and sound at the shelter added to his fear. 

While our team worked with Echo to help him feel more comfortable, he wasn’t able to make enough progress for us to confidently move him to the adoption floor. He needed something more. 

That’s when one of our team members stepped in to become his foster caregiver. In a new home of new floors, furniture and routines, Echo began to show glimpses of who he could be. Still, we knew he needed an environment even better suited to his needs. 

Echo was eventually placed into a quieter home, and that’s when it clicked – Echo transformed. His foster described him as a “velcro dog”, always wanting to be close to his them. He even learned to sleep in bed and play with other dogs. For the first time, Echo connected.  

It was clear that Echo shut down in the kennel, so he stayed at his foster home until he was adopted. It wasn’t long before someone reached out to inquire about him. 

Now, Echo is home thanks to the people who believed in who he could become. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Fostering

We know fostering an animal for the first time comes with questions. We’ve included answers to a few of the most common questions below. 

What can I expect as a foster family? 
All we ask is that you are passionate about helping animals and can provide a comfortable environment in your home for the animal to live. SPCA Tampa Bay provides a volunteer orientation and ongoing support throughout the process. 

What if the animal I foster becomes ill? 
If your foster animal becomes ill or displays unusual behavior, call a foster coordinator as soon as possible. From there, we will provide care instructions and tend to all medical needs.  

What happens if I have an upcoming vacation or can no longer foster?  
Our team is dedicated to ensuring your foster animal is safe and cared for. Once you are aware of your dates of travel or a conflict, please notify the foster team as soon as possible. While we can arrange a transfer on a case-by-case basis, the foster volunteer may not always receive the same animal back. This is to reduce the animal’s stress and support overall welfare. 

Can I foster if I have my own animals at home? 
Yes. We require all foster animals to be quarantined from other animals for 14 days upon their arrival, and then we encourage a safe and controlled introduction. 

Both foster and home animals must remain up to date on core vaccines. SPCA Tampa Bay offers vaccine clinics at our campus. 

Where can I find current foster needs and available animals? 
Once you’re an approved foster, you’ll be sent the weekly Trello board where available foster animals are shared. Each animal will have an information card with details to help you determine if they’d be a good fit for your home.  

Will I have a mentor or someone to ask questions?
Yes, our foster team is ready to support you and answer questions throughout the care period. First-time foster volunteers may also request a mentor to support them throughout the process. 

 

Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out! 

Phone: (727) 586-3592 ext. 131 

Email: Foster@spcatampabay.org