Foster parents need to be a minimum of 18 years or older. Please ensure you have discussed fostering with everyone in your household before applying. This includes other family members in the home and landlords.

Foster parents must be able to reliably communicate to the SPCA team about updates or changes to their foster animal’s health. Please see the foster care manual to know who to contact and when.

We do not require foster parents to pay for anything while fostering, but there may be travel to and from the shelter for routine or emergency appointments. We are unable to assist with travel arrangements.

Foster homes located within a reasonable distance from the shelter are welcome. However, fosters should be prepared to travel for animal pick-up, routine appointments, supply refills, and potential emergencies. It is the responsibility of the foster family to ensure they can accommodate these trips as needed and in a timely manner.

If the foster parent is unavailable for any amount of time during the foster period please advise the coordinator or SPCA staff. Foster parents can ask a trusted adult to watch the foster if there are plans to leave the city. The fosters may also return to the shelter or go to another foster home arranged by the SPCA. If another person is watching the foster, they MUST receive our emergency contact information.

It is strongly recommended that you keep the foster animal separate from your resident pets for two weeks. The first 48 hours should be used to help your foster animal decompress from the shelter and transition into the new home.

It is recommended to keep foster animals separate from resident pets for the first two weeks. This allows for a smooth transition and ensures both the foster and resident animals have time to adjust. After the two-week period, a proper introduction should be done using the guidelines provided in our handouts to give the animals the best chance at getting along.

It is highly recommended that all resident pets be up to date on vaccinations, spayed or neutered, and have the ability to get along with other animals. This ensures the safety and well-being of both the foster and resident animals, minimizing health risks and behavioral issues during the fostering period. However, if your pet does not meet this criteria, please let the foster coordinator know. This does not automatically disqualify you as a foster home, but helps us make informed decisions for the safety and well-being of all animals involved.

If possible, the foster animal should start in a smaller area or room. Shelter animals may not be accustomed to having such a large space and can be overwhelmed by the major change in environment. So, it is a good idea to start in one area, even if you don’t have other pets at home.

The length of the foster period depends on the reason for foster care. Most foster periods are a minimum of 2 weeks. Younger animals will require more time, typically animals need to be a minimum of 8 weeks old and be minimum 1 kg. The foster period typically and ideally ends once the spay or neuter surgery is scheduled. See below for examples and estimates.

• Bottle Babies & Nursing Litters (4-10+ weeks)

• Underweight Kittens (~2-6 weeks)

• Short-Term Illnesses (URI) (~2-4 weeks)

• Behaviour Modifications or Injuries (2+ weeks depending on situation)

No, unless you want to! We provide all basic supplies including food, toys, litter, kennels, etc., but you are more than welcome to spoil your animal with special toys or treats. If you need a refill on supplies at any point during the foster period, please reach out to the foster coordinator or call our office.

If you want a specific item, ask us if we have it! We get all kinds of supplies donated and we may have what you’re looking for. The SPCA cannot reimburse you for purchases, however, if you purchase an item that you need for your foster that we do not have, we may provide you with a tax receipt with proof of purchase.

Absolutely! All animals are spayed and neutered before adoption and once the animal is ready, this will be scheduled by the SPCA with one of our partner clinics. Please see the “How to Adopt” page for more information. Foster parents are also encouraged to find adopters for their animals if possible, but it is not required.

• Foster animals are not permitted to attend any training or boarding facilities, personal veterinary clinics, grooming services, or public dog parks. All necessary care, including medical attention, must be arranged through the SPCA's approved channels to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals.

• The Saskatoon SPCA is opposed to training methods or devices that employ coercion and force. The use of devices and techniques that cause anxiety, fear, distress, pain, or injury, such as choke chains, prong, and shock collars, and physical or verbal intimidation are not supported.

• If you are leaving town, please let the coordinator know. Foster animals should not be left alone. If you have someone who can temporarily watch the foster, you must inform the foster coordinator. We need to provide emergency contact information and rules to them.

• Foster caregivers must be able to communicate reliably with our team, including providing timely updates on their foster animal’s health and behaviour. Any medical concerns, changes, or symptoms must be reported to us, even if they do not appear urgent or concerning. This ensures we can provide appropriate medical care when needed.