foster faq's

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Our Woof On Campus Foster Application is currently closed at this time. However, a list of rescues in need of fosters is coming soon.

We're neither! Woof On Campus acts as the liaison between local rescues and college students. Rescues have so much work to do to help our furry friends, so we exist to help them out where they need it! 

As a reminder, Woof On Campus cannot accept owner surrenders. But we can put you in contact with a rescue near you or one of our partner rescues! Woof On Campus does not own or claim to own any animals; for all animal adoption inquiries, reach out to the rescue.

Rescue Foster Applications ensure that the rescue has all of the necessary information to contact you and locate the fostered animal at all times. All of these contracts are legally binding in order to keep all of our animals and volunteers safe and sound.

Most rescues ask that anyone intending on fostering to commit to fostering the rescue until they are adopted. This can be anywhere from two weeks, to two+ months. Moving foster homes can be very tough on rescue animals, so try to keep doing so to an absolute minimum. 

Most commonly you will be receiving an animal directly from where it has been rescued, whether that be the streets, or a home, or the vet. The status may of the animal's health and training may be unknown until it is in a your care and you make the first observations. 

Being a foster parent means you will be loving and provide the best care possible to your foster pet, including keeping your rescue contacts up to date on the animal's health and behaviors. Also, the rescue will require good quality photos as well as a description of personality of the animal to post the animal online for adoption. 

Unvaccinated animals are not allowed to go outside on public grounds, such as going for a walk, in order to protect their health, but your private, fenced yard or patio is fine for dogs (not cats) as long as the dog is supervised and cannot escape. Vaccinated dogs are typically allowed to go for walks, but we do not recommend taking them into close contact with other unknown animals for the safety of the foster and other animals. 

Most importantly, have fun with your foster animal! Playing fetch or tug of war or cuddling together are fun activities to do with your foster each day. Fostering means saving lives, and you are a hero to your foster animal.

The answer to this question can vary greatly. If the rescue animal is an owner surrender or is coming from a previous foster parent, the rescue will likely have significant information about their temperament and preferences. However if the animal was recently rescued, we frequently know very little about age, temperament, preferences, etc. We ask that all of our volunteers who foster to have ample understanding about the difficulties rescue animals undergo, and have lots of patience when training and working with a rescue dog. 

Adoption fees are required by rescues when their animals are adopted. These fees typically cover neuter/spay surgeries, vaccinations, and some pet essentials (food, bed, etc.). Fostering is completely free, and all supplies are provided to you. 

You can! If your dog at home is friendly, and the dog you are fostering is confirmed to be friendly around other animals, you are more than welcome to foster while having another dog at home. Your dog at home must also be spayed/neutered if you will be fostering a dog of the opposite sex who is not yet spayed/neutered. Your dog at home should also be up to date on all of its vaccinations for its safety as well as the safety of the foster. 

We also ask that you properly introduce any new animals to your rescue friend! Please be very intentional and careful when introducing new dogs, and strictly limit dog parks, doggie play dates, and any off leash walks for a new animal who you do not know well. 

Any animals who do not already have a name, you are more than welcome to name. 

Rescues may sometimes change the name of your foster online if there is another dog in rescue with the same name.