Make a difference in a pet’s life!

Fostering is a rewarding way to help pets from the Big Bear and Devore Animal Shelters. By opening your heart and home, you provide a safe, temporary space where pets can heal, build trust, and prepare for adoption in a comfortable environment. Whether you’re not ready to adopt or just want some furry companionship for a little while, fostering offers flexibility and purpose—without a long-term commitment. All pet supplies, veterinary care, and ongoing support are provided.

Become a foster hero!

Fill out a quick application to get started — we’ll guide you every step of the way.

  1. Be 18 years or older, have a valid form of identification, reside in San Bernardino County, and have reliable transportation and housing.
  2. Attend orientation online or in person, then finish with a light review.
  3. Let the fostering begin! You will begin receiving emails with information about pets who need your help. To accept a specific pet, you can contact your foster liaison and arrange pickup.
  4. Welcome your first foster pet home! All pet supplies, veterinary care, and ongoing support are provided.

Pet Foster Parent Manuals

Below you will find manuals to empower you on your journey to becoming a pet foster hero!

Welcome to the world of pet fostering! This manual is designed to support you as you care for pets in need. This manual is your go-to reference, offering practical tips and advice to ensure the best possible experience for you and the pets you are caring for.

Welcome to the world of kitten fostering! This manual serves as your go-to resource providing practical advice, expert tips, and compassionate guidance to ensure a positive fostering experience.

Welcome to the world of puppy fostering! This manual serves as your go-to resource providing practical advice, expert tips, and compassionate guidance to ensure a positive fostering experience.

Coming soon.

Foster Kitten Care Tutorials

Thank you for taking the time to learn this essential part of kitten care and for being such a dedicated member of the San Bernardino County Animal Care Foster Program. Your compassion and commitment make a meaningful difference in the lives of these foster pets.

Caring for neonate kittens begins with properly preparing their bottles. This short training video will guide you through the essential steps to safely mix and store kitten formula. You’ll learn how to use approved tools, follow correct mixing ratios, and ensure the bottle is warmed to a safe temperature without using a microwave or boiling water.

Before each feeding, it’s important to use clean, sanitized supplies and follow safe handling practices to protect the health of your foster kittens. This video walks you through everything you need to know to feel confident and prepared at each feeding.

Once your bottle is ready, it’s time to feed! This video demonstrates how to safely and effectively bottle-feed your foster kittens using proper positioning and techniques. You’ll learn how to help kittens latch, signs to look out for, and how to prevent aspiration.

You’ll also learn what to do if a kitten doesn’t immediately take the bottle, and why maintaining their body temperature during feeding is so important. Feeding is one of the most essential—and rewarding—parts of fostering. This module will help set you up for success.

Stimulating kittens is a vital part of maintaining their health and supporting successful feeding. In the early stages of life, a mother cat would naturally clean her kittens throughout the day, triggering them to urinate and defecate. In her absence, foster caregivers take on this responsibility. It’s important to stimulate each kitten before and after every feeding to ensure proper digestion and eliminate waste buildup.

This video will walk you through how to gently stimulate kittens using a soft, damp cotton ball, what to watch for in their bathroom habits, and when to contact the foster care team for support. You’ll also learn how to track key health information—like daily weight and bowel movements—to monitor your foster kitten’s growth and progress.

FAQs

The needs of individual foster pets will vary. Therefore, the amount of time they may need to stay in your home will also vary. Underage puppies/kittens can be adopted once they reach 8 weeks of age. Foster pets with medical conditions will need to be cleared for adoption by our veterinary staff.

Foster parents are essential in marketing and promoting their foster pet(s) for adoption. It is strongly encouraged for foster parents to find a potential adopter prior to the return date so that the pet has a smooth transition. It is important to note that foster pets are only eligible for adoption once they reach the age of 8 weeks, and the adoption process must be handled by San Bernardino County Animal Care.

Yes, you can! There are, however, some rules and guidelines that you will need to follow regarding your foster pet(s) but having other pets in your home does not disqualify you from becoming a foster.

We encourage your children to have supervised interaction with foster pets. Children should not be permitted to handle newborn pets. Caution and direct supervision are a must!

If you have an interested party that would like to adopt one or more of your foster pet(s), please have them come to the shelter with you on the return date to process the adoption.

The foster team will be your first point of contact for any questions or concerns you may have about your pet(s).

For everyone’s protection and safety, your resident pets are required to be up to date on vaccines.

If you can’t foster a pet, that’s okay; there are other ways to help:

  • Become a Shelter Volunteer by applying on our volunteer portal.
  • Donate to our foster pet Amazon Wishlist.
  • Donate to our Animals aRe First Fund (ARFF), a non-profit organization that contributes 100% of your contribution to help pets at our shelters.
  • Spread awareness about this program by sharing our foster program page with your network.

All medical expenses for foster pets, including approved veterinary visits and vaccinations, are covered by the pet foster program. As a foster parent, you will not be required to pay any medical costs.

Depending on the pet’s medical needs and vaccination schedule, follow-up appointments may be required. These will be arranged by the San Bernardino County Animal Care staff and communicated to you in advance. You will need to travel for these appointments.

Foster pets must be picked up on the same day. For bottle babies, this timeframe may be even shorter. Please contact your foster liaison to confirm pick-up arrangements before visiting the shelter.

The mission of our foster program is to create a network of dedicated foster homes that provide temporary care and shelter for pets in need. We are committed to offering a safe and loving environment where animals can heal, grow, and thrive while they await adoption into their forever homes. Through education, support, and collaboration, we strive to make a positive impact on the lives of animals and the community by reducing shelter overcrowding and promoting responsible pet ownership

Additional Resources