Your Ideal Foster Companion is Just a Step Away

HSBC’s Foster Program prepares shelter dogs and cats for home life by placing them in temporary homes.

Tiny’s Hope Foster Program

tiny dog

The story of Tiny, a Catahoula Leopard Dog who unfortunately developed aggressive behaviors after prolonged shelter life, has inspired this effort. After more than a year at the shelter, Tiny became more and more aggressive and eventually developed a biting history. Had a foster home been available for Tiny soon after his arrival at the shelter, his outcome might have been different. We dedicate this program to his memory, hoping to offer other animals the brighter future that Tiny and so many others deserve.

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Being a Foster in 3 Easy Steps

Applying to be a Foster

The first step in the process is to apply to become a foster. Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll work with our team to find the right match. If you’d like, you can review our available pets online or stop by the shelter to meet the wonderful dogs and cats currently in need of a foster home. We’re always here to help you through every step.

Meet with a Foster Coordinator

After you submit your application, our foster coordinator will contact you to discuss your preferences and match you with dogs or cats currently in need of a foster home. Together, we’ll work to find the best fit for you and the animal. Please note: We don’t guarantee same-day placements, but if you are traveling from a distance, please contact us to see if we can coordinate the foster process in a single trip.

Take Your Foster Pet Home

Once you and our Foster Coordinator have chosen your foster pet, it’s time to go home! HSBC will provide you with any needed supplies and pet food. Based on discussion with the Foster Coordinator, a plan for care and feeding, training and possible adoption meet and greets for your foster pet will be developed and a contract signed. In addition to the Foster Manual found on this website, our Foster Coordinator is available to answer your questions and to support your foster parent journey!

Submit Your Application

Start the process of finding your ideal foster companion.
Cat Foster Application Dog Foster Application

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Why Are Animals Fostered?

HSBC’s foster program prepares homeless animals for home life by placing them in temporary homes. The foster home will provide them a safe and nurturing environment until their forever home is found.

  • Wisconsin state law mandates that baby animals (puppies, kittens) must be a minimum of 8 weeks old to be released for adoption. Young animals are more likely to thrive in a home environment rather than in a shelter environment.
  • Animals that are sick or injured and require a quiet environment and special care may be fostered while they recuperate. 
  • Animals that are older or have a temperament that makes it difficult for them to adapt to the shelter environment may be fostered for their best welfare until forever homes can be found.
  • Animals may arrive at the shelter with behavior issues that need to be addressed before they can be placed up for adoption. Specialized foster care may be needed to assist in modifying these behaviors.
Foster Manual

Featured Fosters

Meet Spider

Spider (formerly known as Luna Lou!) is a sassy 4-year-old feline who is back at the shelter for the 3rd time. She has been surrendered twice because of her owners’ allergies and was recently picked up as a stray in Oakdale MN - how she got there from Grantsburg is a mystery that only Spider can answer! Spider is friendly but would prefer to be the only feline in the house as she does not like other cats in her business. She knows her own mind and will let you know when she wants your undivided attention and will also tell you when she's had enough. She is okay with dogs but will speak up if they get on her nerves. At 20+ lbs, Spider and would benefit greatly from a temporary foster who could manage her diet and help get her to a healthy weight

Foster Tails

The Beginning of Happily Ever After

Read about the amazing experiences of HSBC fosters and their fostered pets. These heartwarming stories show the importance of fostering shelter dogs and cats on their journey towards a forever home. Each story is a testament to the difference we can make in the lives of shelter companions.

My Fostering Journey with Cap

When I first met Capone at the Humane Society of Burnett County, my heart broke for him. At 15 years old, deaf and struggling with arthritis, this sweet senior had […]
Copper

Copper seems to be doing well. No decline, just regular growing old, but nothing drastic. He misses out on some chipmunk chasing if he’s sleeping soundly. He can’t hear the […]
Candace’s Three Kittens

Candace is a very social cat but her three kittens were not social at all! So off to a foster home they went to get lots of TLC!  Their foster […]
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Contact The Foster Program

Phone

715-557-1896