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, or compensate for gas or mileage costs associated with foster appointments.

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. Foster “sitters” must complete a foster application. 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.

We provide all basic supplies including food, toys, litter, kennels, collars, etc., but you are more than welcome to spoil your animal with special toys or treats (please ensure items are animal-safe). 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.

The Saskatoon SPCA provides all medical care for foster animals.

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.

All borrowed items should be returned to the Saskatoon SPCA at the earliest convenience. Medications should be returned as soon as possible.

Foster animals who are looking for a foster home are posted on this page. Foster caregivers can review the available animals and decide which ones may be a good fit for their home, experience level, and availability.

Please keep in mind that not every animal at the shelter requires foster care. Animals available for adoption are generally not eligible for foster placement. Foster placements are based on the needs of the animals and ensuring the best match between the animal and the foster 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)

Yes, many foster caregivers have work, school, or other commitments outside of the home. The most important thing is ensuring that your schedule allows you to meet the needs of the foster animal in your care.

Some foster animals may do well with a typical work or school schedule, while others may require more frequent care, medication, socialization, or supervision. When placing animals in foster homes, we consider the needs of the animal and the availability and experience of the foster caregiver to help ensure a good match.

If you are away from home for longer periods, please let us know when applying so we can help determine what types of foster opportunities may be suitable for you.

We recommend keeping foster animals in a smaller, designated area when they first arrive, such as a spare room, bathroom, kennel, or x-pen. The space should be safe, secure, and appropriate for the type of animal being housed.

Many shelter animals are not used to being in a home environment and may feel overwhelmed by the change in sights, sounds, and space. Starting them in a smaller area allows them time to decompress, adjust to their new surroundings, and feel more comfortable.

This recommendation applies even if you do not have other pets in your home. Once your foster animal is settled and showing signs of comfort, you can gradually allow them access to more areas of your home as appropriate.

We cannot guarantee how a foster animal will interact with your resident pet(s). Every animal has a unique personality, history, and comfort level, and their behaviour may change as they adjust to a new environment. For the safety and well-being of all animals, we recommend following a slow, controlled introduction process and keeping foster animals separated from resident pets during the initial adjustment period. The Foster Coordinator can provide guidance and resources to help support successful introductions.

It is strongly recommended that you keep the foster animal separate from your resident pets for a minimum of 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 that foster animals be kept separate from resident pets for a minimum of two weeks. This quarantine period helps protect your pets, as some animals may be incubating an illness before showing any signs or symptoms. It also allows the foster animal time to decompress, adjust to their new environment, and build trust with their caregiver. A slower introduction process can help set the foundation for successful introductions with resident pets in the future.

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.

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. Foster babysitters will need to fill out a foster application. 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.