Foster

Join Our Foster Family and Change Lives!

Thank you for your interest in becoming a foster parent with Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS)! By opening your home temporarily to pets in need, you're giving animals a second chance at finding their forever families. With 35,000 animals entering our care each year, we can find a perfect foster fit for your home.

Pets that often need foster placement include orphaned puppies and kittens, senior pets, animals recovering from illness or injury, shy and fearful pets, and animals who simply need TLC and time away from the stress of the shelter. Foster placement ranges from a few hours to several weeks, depending on your availability and the type of animal you foster.

Person wearing a black t shirt and wearing gloves holding a small kitten. The kitten is being fed formula with a bottle.

Get Started

Types of Foster Placements

Foster Hero program (foster a pet you found).
Kitten and puppy fostering
Save a life fostering - foster a pet who may be at risk of euthanasia simply because the shelter is full.
Dog Day Out foster field trips and overnights
Ticket to Ride program (temporarily foster a pet that has a transfer commitment)
Special needs fostering

How It Works

Sign up by completing this brief form and a staff member will contact you about next steps.
We offer same-day fostering! You can also come to one of our four shelters during open hours and ask to foster a pet.
We provide you with everything you need to foster.
You may be asked to return for one or more follow-up medical visits to complete vaccines or get the pet spayed or neutered.
We’ll work with you to find your foster pet a permanent home. If at any point, you or someone you know wants to adopt the pet, we can help with that too!
Interested in a temporary foster, or want to start right away? See below for some of our various foster opportunities.