A foster home is a temporary living situation for pets in our program while they are awaiting placement in a permanent home or transfer to a rescue. If you choose to foster, we will provide you with everything else, such as a crate, toys, food, and medical care.
Most fosters will stay in foster care for an average of 1-2 months though many get adopted far sooner than that. Depending on the need there are a few that may be in care longer due to age, illness, injury, or behavior.
If you're interested in foster a pet, fill out our Foster application.
Foster a Pet
Some pets run out of time at our shelter due to space availability. They need someone to advocate for them help find a new home.
These are kittens or puppies that need 1-8 weeks of care till old enough for surgery and adoption. These babies have no trouble getting adopted, they just need a loving home to raise them.
Depending on the medical treatment or behavior, some of these pets may take longer to be adoptable. Our vets and trainers are here to help walk you through getting them healthy and ready for adoption.
View the Urgent Pet Placement Reports to see animals that are in need of an urgent home. You are also welcome to come down to our facility to walk through our kennels.
If you live farther than 45 minutes from our location, it is recommended that you try to foster for a local rescue/shelter. Check out one of our rescue partners that pull from us if you would like to help out our at risk pets.
We highly recommend that if you are interested in fostering a puppy that has several siblings, that you take two. This is better for the puppies’ socialization skills and helps puppies learn about bite inhibition and how to play.
Since many of our stray pets have been living on the street or haven't received vet care, the pets do sometimes come with pests.
We treat all of our animals with a flea and tick preventative before going into foster care. It may take up to 24 hours for all of them to die and fall off. You should always do your own observation when you’re taking them home and keep them separate from any owned pets.
If your foster just had surgery, you will need to wait 10 days before bathing to make sure the surgery site is completely healed. If your pet really stinks you can use some scented baby wipes to help clean up your foster pet.
The cone should stay on for at least 10 days while the pet’s surgery site is healing. If there was some other injury or issue our vet will provide you with the expected timeline that the cone needs to remain on.
Many of our shelter pets have been on the streets for a while or were not given proper vaccinations. Many of these pets may be carrying an illness that might not show signs until after they have settled in your home.
To keep your own pets safe, we advise that you keep your new foster pet separate from the others until at least 2 weeks have passed. This way if your foster does contract an illness your pets at home are less likely to also get sick.
Some pets adjust quickly, and some may need up to a month to feel safe and open up. Remember to be patient, and please reach out to our trainers for help. We want each foster pet to succeed and find a wonderful home that will love them for who they are.
Unfortunately, you cannot simply leave your foster pet here with us over a weekend. We have limited space and it changes each day. To avoid this, try reaching out to neighbor or friend to care for them while you are away.
When planning your vacation, please keep the foster team in the loop if you are currently caring for a foster. Or time it when you are between foster pets to avoid issues.
If not, try reaching out to a neighbor or friend that would be willing to care for you foster while you are away. Make sure to give that information to the foster team in case a problem comes up.
Please let us know right away if you are having problems in the home. We have trainers on staff to assist with behavior problems and work with you.
Not every foster is going to be the perfect fit, but try to find their good qualities. It is your job as the foster to help give them that chance. If it doesn’t work out with you there may not be any other options. With that said, we will always take our foster pets back.
Many fosters choose to meet their pet potential adopter on ACS campus so if it works out, they can finalize the paperwork right then and there. Others like to meet in public areas like parks or pet stores that are close by.
Here at ACS we don’t have any foster events, but we do have many Adoption Events throughout the year. Our foster team will let you know when an event is coming up so you can plan to attend and help advocate for your foster pet.
You can inform the rescue foster team of what occurred and why you (as the foster) feel this family or person is not well suited to the pet. It is ultimately ACS’s decision on who gets to adopt the animal, but your opinion is taken into consideration.
If you would like to adopt your foster, please let the rescue foster team know so we can connect you with our adoptions department. You will need to fill out our adoption application and pay the adoption fee before the pet is legally yours.
Contact Form
4710 State Hwy 151 San Antonio, TX 78227 Directions
Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday - Sunday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Walk-ins are accepted, no appointments needed.