What do pet foster parents do?

Pet foster parents are very much like child foster parents. They care for a homeless pet as if he was their own until he is adopted. Shelter environments can be extremely stressful for dogs. It is much more comfortable for them to stay in a home environment. They are able to get more individualized care in someone's home. It also gives them better socialization skills, which makes them a more well-adjusted pet. Also, the foster parent is able to learn about the pet's personality, likes, and dislikes so that he can be better matched to the right forever home. Most importantly, pet foster parents save lives! 

If you join our foster program, we will match you with a suitable pet to foster. For example, if you have a female dog who does not get along with other females, we will only have you foster male dogs. If you work full time and cannot care for young puppies, we will only have you foster adults. We train you to screen potential adopters to determine if they are a suitable match for your foster pet. You will then get to experience the joy of helping a homeless animal find a loving family of his own. 

All Veterinary care is paid for by CKR. Any trip to the Vet must first be approved by the CKR. You provide shelter, food, transportation to and from Vet appointments, training, and plenty of love!

Interested in becoming a foster? 

Compassion Kind foster parents must have their own transportation and live in the Tampa Bay area so animals can be brought to local vets for check-ups and introduced to potential adopters through meet and greets. All basic medical and supply expenses are covered by Compassion Kind and our approved clinics. The foster period for the animal will depend greatly on the circumstances for the animal being in foster care including age, breed, medical and behavioral needs. However, we usually average between 2-4 weeks.

Did you know? You can save your receipts for all your foster dogs and/or cats to claim the expenses during tax time if you are interested in donating items or services to your foster. Fostering expenses are eligible for deductions such as food/treats, medicines, veterinary bills, crates & supplies.

Basic medical includes:

  • Spay/neuter

  • Age-appropriate vaccinations

  • SNAP/Heartworm test

  • FelV/FIV test

  • Microchip

  • Prescribed medication

Basic supplies can include:

  • Dog collar and tag

  • Leash

  • Food

  • Toys

  • Cat litter

  • Litter box

  • Sleeping or carrying crates and bowls provided by request