Fostering pets saves lives

When you foster, you become part of a lifesaving team working to create a bright future for homeless pets in Northwest Arkansas and around the country.

A shelter can be a noisy and stressful environment, especially for shy or frightened animals. By fostering a pet — providing love and care while an animal waits to be adopted — you’re helping to prepare that animal for life in a home and alleviating the burden on shelters in Northwest Arkansas.

Accepting a foster pet into your home not only positively impacts that pet, but it also frees up space in the shelter for another animal in need.

All the dogs Best Friends takes in from area shelters are placed in foster homes in our community, eliminating the need to house animals in kennels or cages for extended periods of time.

Every day, a selection of these available dogs will visit the center where they can meet potential adopters and find a family of their very own.

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Fostering: How it works

Fostering is an easy, short-term, hands-on way to make a lifetime of difference. The more community members who step up to foster, the more pets we can save together.

If this is your first time fostering, you may have questions about what to expect or be concerned that you don’t have the knowledge or experience. Don’t worry. All it takes to be a foster caregiver to a homeless pet is the willingness to open your home and your heart to an animal in need. Best Friends is with you every step of the way.

Our goal is to match you with a foster pet suited to your routine. We work with pets in all stages of life, from nursing moms and orphaned babies to seniors and pets with veterinary needs. We welcome whatever skills you may bring and are also happy to teach you new ones.

Whether you open your home (and heart) to a dog, cat, puppy or kitten, Best Friends will provide everything you need to get started, including food, supplies, support and veterinary care, to ensure that your foster pet’s stay is a happy and healthy one.

Pets available for adoption through Best Friends in Northwest Arkansas often live with foster families, but many spend their days at the pet resource center, where they can meet potential adopters.

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What to expect

Fostering is an incredibly fun, fulfilling and personal way to help save homeless pets in Northwest Arkansas.

Your fostering stint could be as short as a night or a weekend, or it could last several weeks or months. Either way, Best Friends provides everything you’ll need to care for your foster pet.

If you have pets of your own at home, please let us know so that we can ensure the right foster pet for your family.

If you’re under the age of 18, you’ll need permission to foster from someone in your household who is over 18 years old. That person should be the one to complete the volunteer profile and orientation. Please contact us directly with any questions at 479-319-0344 or fosternwa@bestfriends.org.

Have you fostered for Best Friends in the past and are interested in fostering again? Great! Please contact fosternwa@bestfriends.org.

What to know about fostering a pet

You don’t need a lot of space.

You don’t need a big house or a fenced yard. Many dogs can thrive in an apartment. A family of kittens can be fostered in a spare bathroom.

You choose the pet.

You can visit our easy-to-use online foster board anytime to find the right foster pet for you. We bring in new dogs and cats from area shelters every Tuesday and Thursday.

You choose the time frame.

Even a short stint in a foster home can change a pet’s life for the better. You decide whether you want to foster for a weekend, a couple of weeks, or until your foster pet is adopted. Got a vacation scheduled or think you might need one? No problem. Just let our staff know ahead of time, and we can get your foster pet swapped to another foster volunteer.

Best Friends is here to help.

We are committed to each and every pet in our program and can provide food, toys or other supplies you might need to keep your foster pet happy and healthy.

You can foster one time or many times.

If your foster pet is adopted, you are not automatically committed to take in another. The need to take a break from fostering is understandable and fully supported. If you decide that being a foster volunteer isn’t right for you, no hard feelings. We’re grateful you gave it a try.

And if you decide your pet is already home ...

If you fall in love with your foster pet, congratulations! Foster volunteers always have the first opportunity to adopt a pet in their care. So let us know if you decide your foster pet is already home, and we’ll make the adoption official!

Pets needing fostering

What kinds of animals typically need fostering? Dogs and cats of all ages, personality types and care levels.

Some of the animals most in need of fostering are those requiring a little extra TLC or training, as well as shy pets who are still learning to trust and feel comfortable in a new environment.

We want both pets and people to have a positive fostering experience. That’s why we consider your schedule and lifestyle and strive to match you with a pet who will thrive in your home.

We often need short-term fostering, from a one-night sleepover to a one-week stint. If you’ve never fostered before and you’re wondering if it’s right for you, give short-term fostering a try.

View Available Foster Pets