Foster Program

What is fostering?

Fostering gives a shelter pet a temporary home and the chance to experience love, comfort, and care outside the shelter while they wait for their new home. Some foster stays are just a night, while others last until the pet is adopted. Fostering is a meaningful, heartwarming experience that changes a shelter pet's life—and often yours, too.

CAA is responsible for providing medical care for all foster animals. Additionally, CAA will supply necessary pet items based on current availability. These may include food, crates, leashes, collars, and other essential supplies.

Become a Foster

To join our amazing foster community, please complete the foster registration. Once completed, you will receive an email from us to watch a short orientation video about fostering for CAA and a link to schedule an appointment to meet with our foster team and select your foster pet!

Foster Opportunities: Ways to Get Involved

Traditional Dog & Cat Foster (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.

Short Term Foster and 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.

Neonate Foster: CAA cares for thousands of newborn kittens and puppies under 4 weeks of age each year that aren’t ready to be adopted and are too vulnerable to live in the shelter. Foster homes are critical to keeping these tiny babies healthy and helping them thrive until they’re ready for adoption.

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.

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 - 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.

Neonatal Kitten Fosters

Neonatal Kittens - aged zero to eight 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.

Become a Foster

Please complete the application below!

Emergency Foster Return Appointments