Foster Program

The Sampson County Animal Shelter often needs animal foster families to temporarily care for animals until they are ready for adoption. Foster parents help prepare animals for adoption and assist in finding them their forever homes.  Foster families provide individualized care and socialization for the most needy shelter animals. Do you have the time and space to help a homeless pet? Then we need you! Fostering is a rewarding way to help homeless pets. As a foster parent, you will watch amazing transformations in your foster pet as he/she becomes healthy, confident and ready for a forever home. The Sampson County Animal Shelter will provide the same care for animals in foster as they do for animals in the Animal Shelter. You provide love and socialization.

Foster parents will be trained in the proper care of the foster animals.  The typical foster period is 2 to 12 weeks, depending on the needs of the animal(s).

Animal foster parents are needed to care for the following animals:

  • Infant puppies and kittens that require bottle-feeding every 2 to 4 hours
  • Kittens and puppies (until 8 weeks of age and 2 lbs.)
  • Animals recovering from treatable illnesses
  • Underweight animals
  • Animals in need of minor behavior modification and/or socialization

Volunteers interested in the Animal Foster Program are required to:

  • Be at least 18 years of age or have family participation
  • Have a valid NC driver's license
  • Have proof of medical, auto, and homeowner's or renter's insurance
  • If renting, provide proof of permission from your landlord that you can have pets in your home
  • Isolate the foster animal(s) from family pets for an initial 10-day period
  • Live and house foster pets within Sampson County (or be willing to drive the pets to and from the Animal Shelter if you live outside Sampson County).

Volunteers should be prepared to:

  • Maintain a peaceful, loving environment for the foster animal(s) and spend quality time socializing them
  • Visit your personal veternarian for basic medical care and treatment of the foster animal(s)
  • Bring adult animal(s) to the Animal Shelter monthly for health updates and status checks
  • Bring puppies and kittens to the Animal Shelter every two weeks for health updates and status checks
  • Commit to the entire foster period for the animal(s) and return the animal(s) promptly at the end of the foster period
  • Attend adoption events, write animal biographies for their foster and update photos
  • Accept the possible illness or death of the foster animal(s)
  • Expect the possible destructive behavior of the foster animal(s)
  • Provide basic obedience training for dogs in foster care.

If you are interested in opening your heart and home to these deserving animals, please complete the Animal Foster Program Questionnaire. If you have existing personal pets, let your current veterinarian know they will get a call from a representative from the shelter regarding your foster application. Please ask them to release your vet information to us so we can verify your animals are up to date on vaccines.

***PLEASE NOTE*** Only animals currently in the care of the Sampson County Animal Shelter are eligible for the foster program. We are sorry, but we cannot offer foster care for animals of private citizens.