Every day, Companion Animal Alliance cares for animals who need a little extra help before they're ready for adoption. By opening your home temporarily, you can provide a safe, comfortable environment where pets can heal, grow, and thrive while freeing up valuable shelter space for animals with nowhere else to go.
Whether you can foster for a weekend, a few weeks, or longer, your time makes a lifesaving difference.
Why Foster?
Fostering saves lives in more ways than one. Every animal placed in a foster home:
Opens space in the shelter for another animal in need
Experiences less stress in a home environment
Has the opportunity to receive individualized attention and care
Often becomes more adoptable through socialization and observation
Foster families also help us learn more about an animal's personality, behavior, and preferences, allowing us to make better adoption matches.
What We Provide
CAA provides the support you need to foster successfully, including:
Veterinary care and medical support
Food and supplies (as available)
Medications, if needed
Guidance from our foster team throughout your foster experience
You provide a safe home, love, patience, and daily care.
Who can foster?
Who Needs Foster Care?
Many animals benefit from spending time in a foster home, including:
Puppies and kittens too young for adoption
Nursing mothers with their litters
Animals recovering from illness, injury, or surgery
Pets who need a break from the shelter environment
Animals waiting for transport or adoption
Dogs and cats who need extra socialization or confidence-building
Become a Foster
Whether you're fostering for the first time or have years of experience, we'd love to have you on our team. Our foster program is flexible, and we'll work with you to find a pet that fits your home, lifestyle, and experience level.
Together, we can give more animals the second chance they deserve.
Ready to get started? Complete a foster application today, and a member of our team will contact you with the next steps.
Can I adopt my foster pet?
What if my foster pet gets sick?
Other questions?
Please email foster@caabr.org.
Types of Fosters
Long-Term Foster
Help a dog or cat decompress from shelter life by opening your home for a longer stay. These pets need extra time for socialization, recovery from surgery or illness, or a comfy place to relax while we learn more about their personality and behaviors to help prepare them for adoption or transport to another rescue.
Transport Foster
Want to foster without a long-term commitment or the need to advertise for adoption? Transport fosters care for our shelter pets temporarily before they travel to out-of-state rescue partners. Once a pet is confirmed for transport, your home provides a safe space so we can open up space at the shelter for others in need.
Anyone 18 years or older can apply to become a foster volunteer. Previous animal experience is helpful but not required. We'll help match you with a foster pet that fits your experience, home, and availability.
Can I choose which animal I foster?
Yes! We'll notify foster volunteers when animals need placement, and you can choose opportunities that best fit your home, schedule, and comfort level. Anyone 18 years or older can apply to become a foster volunteer. Previous animal experience is helpful but not required. We'll help match you with a foster pet that fits your experience, home, and availability.
What if I need to travel or can no longer foster?
We understand that plans change. If you're no longer able to care for your foster pet, please let our Foster Team know as soon as possible so we can arrange an alternative placement.
Can I foster if I rent my home?
Yes. Renters are welcome to foster, though we recommend checking with your landlord or property manager to ensure pets are permitted and to review any breed, size, or pet limit restrictions.
Short-Term Foster & Sleepovers
Pressed for time? You can still foster! By fostering a dog for less than one week you will help us learn more about the dog’s personality to better match them with adopters. Even more pressed for time or not sure if fostering is for you? Take a dog on a sleepover for a one to two night stay. Both options have been proven to reduce a dog’s stress level, and the dogs are guaranteed to enjoy their break from the shelter
Neonatal Kittens (0-8 weeks) require specialized skills, supplies, veterinary expertise, and overnight care, making them uniquely difficult to care for on-site. Companion Animal Alliance is an official Mightycat Partner with the Orphan Kitten Club. With this partnership, CAA will be able to provide more supplies and resources to their neonatal kitten fosters.
Neonatal Kitten Foster
Foster Program FAQs
Do I have to find an adopter for my foster pet?
However, sharing your foster pet on social media and telling friends and family about them is a great way to help them get noticed. As their foster, you'll also provide valuable information about their personality and behavior that helps us find the best match.
How long will I foster?
Every foster placement is different. Some animals only need a few days, while others may stay in foster care for several weeks or longer. We'll provide an estimated timeline whenever possible, but the length of stay depends on the animal's needs and when a permanent placement becomes available.
Can I choose which animal I foster?
Absolutely. Many of our foster volunteers have pets of their own. Depending on the foster animal's needs, we may recommend a separate space or a gradual introduction. Our team will help you determine the best fit for your household.
Yes! Foster volunteers often have the first opportunity to adopt the animal they're fostering. While we lovingly refer to these adoptions as "foster fails," we consider them one of the best possible outcomes.
If your foster pet becomes ill or injured, contact our Foster Team as soon as possible. Our veterinary staff will provide guidance and schedule any necessary medical care. Please do not seek outside veterinary treatment unless directed by CAA.
foster resources
(for currently registered fosters)
If your foster needs medical attention:
For non-emergency medical concerns, please fill out this form that goes to our foster team.
If an emergency occurs outside of staffed hours (before 8:00 am or after 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, or anytime Saturday and Sunday) please go directly to LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital or call 225-578-9600. A CAA director will authorize the visit based on the information provided by the LSU staff.