Adopt or foster? How to pick a shelter
Shelters and rescues handle every adoption and every foster placement. This site has no application form. Use it to find the right organization, then apply on that organization's own website.
Adopting or fostering
Adopting means the pet joins your home for good. Each organization sets its own process and fees. The ASPCA says some finish an adoption the same day while others take longer.
Fostering means you look after an animal at home for a while, until the organization finds it a permanent home. The ASPCA says it gives the animal a break from the shelter and frees up space there. It suggests fostering if you aren't ready to adopt, or if you already have pets and want to help others.
How to pick a shelter or rescue
- Open Find local help and choose your province, territory or state.
- Check the area on each card. Many organizations serve one city or county.
- Look for Adoption or Fostering under "Its website mentions". Those words come from the organization's own site, so confirm them with it.
- Read its adoption or foster page before you apply, so you know the steps and the fees.
Where to go next
- Adopting a pet
What to ask before you apply, and the ASPCA's 3-3-3 guide to a new pet's first three months.
- Find local help
Shelters and rescues by province, territory and state.
- Volunteering with animals
Other ways to help a shelter if you can't take an animal home.
- Give to a listed organization
Help a shelter with money instead, on its own donation page.