Your foster questions, answered

Our foster program runs on community support. Your donation helps us grow the program, care for animals in foster homes, and save more lives across the RGV.

Getting Started4 questions A foster home is a temporary living situation for pets in our program while they wait for a permanent home, rescue transport, or space at one of our adoption locations. Foster families provide shelter, food, care, and love. The number of animals we can save depends entirely on the number of people who open their homes to foster them. Complete our online foster application at pvastx.org/foster. One of our foster coordinators will contact you within 48 hours. Many animals in our care can't go directly to an adoption location or rescue partner right away — the only way we can save them is with foster homes. Young kittens and puppies need foster care until they're old enough to be spayed or neutered. Some animals need time to decompress from the stress of shelter life. Others — older, injured, or ill — may need a home environment until they're adopted.

Fostering is also personally rewarding: it offers companionship without a lifetime commitment, the satisfaction of helping an animal recover, and a meaningful, hands-on way to give back to your community.

We ask that you participate in a foster orientation with us and we're always available to answer questions. If your foster animal requires medication or special care, we'll walk you through everything before you leave so you feel comfortable and confident. No prior experience is required. The Animals4 questions Nearly any animal we have can benefit from foster care — cats, dogs, puppies, and kittens. Animals who benefit most include:

Orphaned kittens and puppies needing to be bottle-fed
Mother cats or dogs with nursing litters
Under-aged, self-feeding kittens and puppies (4–8 weeks old)
Animals recovering from injury or illness (may need medication)
Animals that are mildly sick — kennel cough, upper respiratory infection, etc.
Shy or fearful animals that need socialization
Healthy adults that need a break from shelter life or are waiting for space

Yes. You choose the type of animal you're comfortable with — dog, cat, adult, young, etc. Together with your foster coordinator, we'll find the specific animal that's the best fit for your home and situation. Our foster animals already have names and we ask that you keep them — each name is tied to that animal's medical and intake records in our system. Nicknames at home are totally fine, but please continue using their official name when communicating with our team. Every animal in our care is listed on our website. Any photos and stories you share with us get passed along to potential adopters. We also encourage you to share about your foster animal on social media — every post gets that animal one step closer to a permanent home. Your Home & Family5 questions Foster parents must be at least 18 years old. If you're under 18, you can still participate with permission from a parent or legal guardian. No. We do not conduct home visits for fostering or adoption. Yes. A fenced yard is not required. Even if you have one, we ask that you supervise all outdoor time with your foster dog and always keep them on a leash during walks. Fostering is a wonderful family experience and a great way to build compassion in kids. It's important to select an age-appropriate animal and to guide your children on how to interact with and care for the foster animal responsibly. Interaction is often fine, but we recommend consulting your veterinarian first to make sure all of your pets are healthy and current on vaccines before introducing a new animal into the household. Responsibilities3 questions

Feed, socialize, groom, introduce basic training, and care for the animal as if it were your own
Bring your foster animal to scheduled vet appointments and adoption events
Observe and report any problems or changes in behavior to the Foster Coordinator
Return the animal to the shelter upon request or according to arrangements made by PVAS staff

Commitment typically ranges from an hour or two per day for most adult animals, up to eight hours a day if you're bottle-feeding neonatal kittens or puppies. Mostly, we just ask that you give as much love and care as you can. No prior medical knowledge is required. If your foster animal needs medication, we'll walk you through exactly how to administer it before you leave so you feel confident. Finances & Supplies1 question PVAS provides dry food, medications, age-appropriate vaccinations, and a microchip at no cost to you. Spay/neuter surgery (when applicable) is also covered and sometimes required before a pet moves to a partner adoption location.

Additional supplies — toys, formula and bottles, canned food, beds, crates, carriers, leashes, and collars — are available from shelter donations when supply allows. Because donations fluctuate, we recommend budgeting for these items in case they're not available when you pick up your foster animal.

Logistics5 questions Typically at least two weeks, though some animals need more time due to age, illness, injury, or behavior needs. We'll give you an expected timeframe before you agree to take the animal. Whenever possible, we aim to have you foster until the animal is adopted or transferred to a rescue partner. Contact your Foster Coordinator right away to schedule a visit at our PAWS health care center. Never hesitate to reach out — we'd rather hear from you early than have a situation go unaddressed. Possibly — it depends on whether the animal is earmarked for a rescue partner organization. As long as the animal is available for local adoption and you meet our adoption requirements, foster parents have first choice. Standard adoption paperwork and fees apply. We understand that situations change. Please give us as much notice as possible so we can arrange an alternative placement — but in an emergency, you can always bring the animal back to the shelter right away. We never want a foster family or an animal in a difficult situation. With enough notice, we can usually find a volunteer to foster-sit for short periods. Please always keep your Foster Coordinator informed of any temporary care arrangements — whether a pet sitter, boarding, or if you'd like to bring the animal along on the trip. We just need to know.

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