Foster for OPA
Apply to FosterAbout Fostering
Thank you for your interest in fostering for OPA. We realize that fostering is a gracious and time-consuming effort, on your behalf, for our homeless pets. Our goal at OPA is to provide the services you need to make fostering a positive experience for you and your family!
As a foster, you will sign a contract that states you agree to care for the animal, take it to scheduled vet appointments, take it to adoption events, provide photographs and a bio for each foster pet to help market it for adoption, assist the foster pet in developing ‘good manners’ to ready it for adoption, and last but not least, assist with fielding adoption inquiries to facilitate the best match for your foster pet. Generally, if you are interested in fostering pups short-term for transport, you will not need to bring your pup to adoption events, or field adoption inquiries. You will however, need to bring your pup to their health certificate appointment and our designated boarding location in Spring on Transport Day.
If you are interested in fostering puppies or kittens, adult cats or dogs, please fill out an Online Foster Application/Contract.
OPA Assisted Rehoming
As of June 9, 2023, we have had to close our animal intake. We have several animals in our care needing fosters or needing new fosters to take over and unfortunatley cannot take any new animals from the public at this time. Please check back, and we wish you the best of luck in finding help for the animal you’ve found and/or own.
If you need assistance with an owned or found kitten or puppy, adult cat or adult dog, please fill out our Community Request Form.
- Please submit one request per animal over 3 months or one request per litter under 3 months.
- You will receive a response from our intake team no later than the Friday following your submission. If not, please follow up with us: info@operationpetsalive.org
- All animals must be assessed by our intake team for approval into our adoption program.
- Assessments take place on Saturday morning of each week, by invite only.
- Dogs and cats who are aggressive towards humans will not be accepted under any circumstances.
NOTE: Submitting a request form does not guarantee we will be able to assist. We don’t have a facility of any kind so we cannot accept animals on an urgent basis
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm ready to foster. What do I need to do?
Once your application is received, it will be forwarded to our dog or cat foster coordinator and they will be in touch!
What do I need to provide as a foster?
Your time and love! Occasionally you may need to provide your foster with supplies, but we receive regular donations that keep most of our fosters stocked with what they need.
Supplies available to fosters include beds, blankets, crates, toys, food and more!
What if my foster pet needs medical care?
All vetting for OPA foster animals is provided. OPA has vetting sessions on Saturdays. Occasionally a foster pet may need to be taken to the vet or a special appointment. If you are unable to transport them to the appointment, our network of volunteers is usually able to come to the rescue!
What if I'm not good at taking photos of my foster or writing their bio?
OPA has several volunteers that are professional photographers. In OPA’s private Facebook group for fosters and volunteers, you can reach out to other volunteers and ask for help writing bios or scheduling a photo shoot.
How long of a commitment is fostering?
Fostering commitments vary. We have opportunities that can range from a few days to a few months.
When fosters have vacations or weekends away planned, our network of fosters are asked to help out. These options are usually the shortest fostering opportunities and are most frequently needed during the summer months.
Transport foster opportunities are generally two to three week commitments.
For regular foster opportunities for animals pulled from local shelters or taken in from the community, we ask that you help your foster until they are adopted.
We also have foster opportunities for those looking to take on nursing moms and bottle babies!
Can you help me rehome a cat/dog?
If you need assistance with an owned or found kitten or puppy, adult cat or adult dog, please fill out an Online Community Request Form here.
Please submit one request per animal over 3 months or one request per litter under 3 months.
NOTE: Submitting a request form does not guarantee we will be able to assist. We don’t have a facility of any kind so we cannot accept animals on an urgent basis.
What do I do if I found a pet?
One in three pets go missing in their lifetime. This staggering number is why Petco Love created Petco Love Lost, which simplifies and shortens the lost pet search with just one photo of your pet. Petco Love Lost is here for you should the unthinkable happen to a pet you love or find.
Operation Pets Alive has partnered with Petco Love Lost to have our foster animals listed in their lost pet searches. If you have found a pet, we highly recommend you look on Petco Love Lost to see if the pet has been listed as lost or to list it as found.
What if I have another question?
You can send us an email at foster@operationpetsalive.org or see more frequently asked questions here.
Adoption Events
Come meet some of our adoptable animals at our next adoption event!
Pet Care & Health
Click here for resources and other helpful links from partners!