Everything you need is covered. All you have to do is provide the love.
Fostering is Critical
Whether you foster for a few days or a few weeks, you're playing a crucial role in the care we provide to all animals. Temporarily opening your home to foster a pet not only means they get a break from the shelter, but it also creates space at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington for other animals in need.
Fostering at AWLA
Fostering at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington is a vital part of the care we provide to all animals. The impact of temporarily opening your home goes beyond just the pet you're fostering. When space is freed up at the shelter, we can take in more animals who may need us.
Becoming a Foster
With an open heart and open mind, you can foster with AWLA at no cost to you. We provide all of the supplies necessary to take care of your foster pet, as well as optional training and 24/7 support from experienced staff. We ask that all fosters:
- Signup online or send us an email to foster@awla.org
- Be at least 18 years of age or older
- Have pets that are up-to-date with age appropriate vaccines, including rabies
- Have permission from a property manager/landlord
- Keep in touch with us via email and/or phone
What You Can Expect
After signing up online, you'll be contacted by someone from our Foster Team to schedule an appointment to visit us at the shelter. During this appointment, you'll get acquainted with our team and we'll talk about the type of animal(s) you want to foster. You'll even get to meet a few! Commonly, fosters bring home:
- Adult dogs and cats
- Kittens and puppies that may or may not be nursing
- Small Animal Companions (SCAs) like rabbits, guinea pigs, or even birds
- Animals in our H.E.L.P Program
AWLA is proud to be the birthplace of innovation in foster care! Whether you're just starting your foster journey or you've done it 100 times before, we believe fostering should be accessible to those any skill level and are here to support you every step of the way.
Ready to foster?
Start your journey by signing up today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Still have questions? You can get more information about our Foster Program or speak with our Foster Team by sending an email to foster@awla.org
AWLA Kitten College Program
Animal Welfare League of Arlington is proud to be the birthplace of innovation in shelter kitten care through Kitten College. Kitten College was founded as both a lifesaving kitten foster program and education initiative. While the educational and outreach components of this work continue independently under National Kitten College, our commitment to kitten care and lifesaving remains steadfast.
Today, AWLA's Kitten College Program is a vast network of passionate fosters who care for kittens ranging from newborn bottle babies to playful, self-feeding youngsters. AWLA provides all supplies, training, and 24/7 support for fosters of all skill levels. Together, we continue to save kitten lives!
