Join Our Foster Family
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About Fostering
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Fostering is lifesaving work anyone can do. From being able to open a spare room or bathroom all the way to your entire home to a homeless pet, you can save their life with your love, care, and compassion. In turn, we can take more animals into our care and save more lives as well! We think that’s pretty awesome. 

Our program ramped up significantly when Covid hit. Over 300 people stepped up and joined our program to take animals into their homes. Since March of 2020 we have sent 1,900+ animals into foster.
Why Foster?
Testimonials 
We provide all supplies needed to care for our animals, so it’s FREE for YOU to foster! You just need a space for them to live for a little bit and to give them your love, care, and compassion. 

While you foster with us, you will have a great support network. You have access to a foster coordinator and foster veterinary technician to help educate you and help you care for your animal, sick or not. The FVT is also part of a vet team that has a veterinarian, a licensed veterinary technician, an LVT in progress, and another vet tech. In addition, you can connect with other fosters on our foster Facebook group and get their advice as well as ours!
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It’s temporary! Whether you want to adopt but can’t right now, or just want an animal companion without the commitment of adoption, fostering is a great option for you! You get to hang out with them for a period of time, eventually see them off to their forever home, and take another friend (or two!) home for another fostering adventure!

*Unicorn Fosters*
We are always in need of fosters that are willing to take on our pets that need a “Unicorn Foster"! These animals require a special environment such as, but not limited to, no kids or no other animals in the home. These animals may also include pets that need special medical care and attention. We understand these fosters are hard to find, which is why rescues have nicknamed them “Unicorn Fosters”. If you think you could be a Unicorn Foster, we’d love to hear from you!
Can't Foster?
If you can't foster, or want to help the foster program, please consider donating off of our amazon wishlist, or sharing! 

Click HERE to visit the foster wishlist! 
“We absolutely loved our foster experience at HSWM. From the minute we got the email about Norman and Lloyd we knew we had to come pick them up. The two weeks spent with these old guys were the best! There is an added challenge taking on senior dogs but it was so cool to see their personalities come out once they got comfortable. I definitely cried dropping them off once they got adopted, but I know that fostering them was an important step to them finding their forever home.” -Lindsey L., Fostering since January 2021

“Willow has been such a light in my life. I don’t share my story often, but earlier this year I nearly passed away and was hospitalized across the country for 2 months (I had been sick from an eating disorder for years now). When I came home from Arizona,  I started fostering willow, I cannot imagine my life without her, she is such a light in my life and brings me so much joy and happiness even on the hard days she’s able to give me a purpose. I’m so grateful for the humane society and everything they do.” -Olivia M., Fostering since August 2021

“[...]fostering with you all has been such a rewarding experience and in large part that is due to you always answering my questions or concerns as I learn more.” -Alessa P., Fostering since May 2021

“We lost our sweet HSWM alum, Skittles, on our 35th anniversary in August 2020. She was our 3rd "gently used" dog that we have loved. Seeing ourselves in a different season of life now, and not planning to adopt again, we started fostering right away because we love canine companionship and, as HSWM volunteers, we see how stressed the dogs are in the shelter. We enjoy giving them a vacation. Each dog has been different and loveable for different reasons. Emma is the most joyful and playful. Love to see that smiling face and bright eyes first thing in the morning. Fostering is rewarding because we see the dogs blossom in our home environment, and then watch the "magic" when the right adopter comes along. Win-win!” -Tom and Holly R., Fostering since August 2020

“Being a foster parent to one or more shelter pets at a time is fun, but also so rewarding! You are giving them the opportunity to show who they really are when in a home setting, while at the same time reducing their stress from being in a loud shelter environment. And the best part is that you are able to show potential adopters how these animals can fit into their families by posting videos of them throughout their stay with you.” -Julie C., Fostering since June 2020

“I so appreciate everything you guys do to keep our fosters happy and healthy. This has been an unexpected JOY for us over these crazy months at home. We are grateful for this program!” -Annie N., Fostering since March 2020

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