FAQ

Where do foster dogs/cats come from?

The pets in our foster care program come from a variety of situations, including:

1. Strays
Animal Care League has stray contracts with Oak Park and seven surrounding villages. After an animal has completed its stray hold (typically 3-7 days), they may be placed in foster homes while they await spay/neuter surgery or until they find their forever family.

2. Returned Adoptions
At Animal Care League, we make a lifetime commitment to each animal we rescue. If an adopter can no longer care for a pet they’ve adopted from us, we require that the pet be returned to us. If the animal ends up in a shelter, we will bring them back into our care.

3. Shelter Rescues
We rescue animals from high-intake shelters across the United States. While we are a smaller shelter, we strive to help when possible, saving as many lives as we can. The foster program is an important tool that helps us maximize our resources and impact.

For cats, the reasons they may enter foster care include:

Illness: A cat may need treatment for an illness before being adopted.
Known Medical Conditions: Some cats have ongoing health needs that are best managed in a foster home.
Extended Shelter Stay: Cats that have been at our shelter for a while may thrive in a foster home while they wait for adoption.
Behavioral Concerns: Cats that are shy, fearful, or struggle in the shelter environment may benefit from the calm and support of a foster home to help them feel more comfortable and confident.

Foster care plays a vital role in helping us care for these pets and prepare them for their forever homes.

What do foster families need to provide?

Foster families are responsible for providing:

A healthy, safe environment for their foster pets
Transportation to and from the adoption center and vet appointments
Socialization, cuddle time, and positive interactions to help the pets build good relationships
Exercise and mental stimulation to help them thrive
If possible, food and basic supplies

Any supplies you are unable to provide yourself, we can provide for you!

How much time do I need to spend with my foster?

As much time as you can. With that said, the amount of time will vary depending on the energy level and needs of the pet you are fostering. It is ideal to spend around two hours a day exercising and playing with your foster to ensure that they receive adequate socialization and stimulation.

Can I foster even if I have a full-time job?

Yes. The foster application is designed as a survey to help the foster coordinator match you with the best animal for your needs and your current schedule. If you have a full-time job, the foster coordinator will match you with a pet who may be OK alone during the workday. You would then just need to provide ample exercise before or after you go to work.

Can I foster even if I don’t have a fenced yard?

Yes. Even if you do have a fenced yard, we request that you supervise all outdoor activities with the foster dog. We ask that you always keep them on a leash when you’re on walks. For cats, we require them to be indoors at all times, so a fenced yard is not needed.

How long will my foster need to be in foster care?

The length of time a dog spends in foster care can vary depending on the type of foster arrangement:

General Foster: A minimum of 2 weeks. These dogs need time to decompress and adjust to a home environment as they await adoption. Some may already be spayed/neutered, while others are waiting for their surgery.
Spay/Neuter Foster: These dogs are waiting for spay/neuter surgery and may need to be isolated from other pets.
Foster with Intent to Adopt: If you're considering adopting your foster dog but want to try it out first, this requires at least a 1-week commitment.
Weekend Temp Foster (dogs only): These dogs are looking for a temporary weekend stay. You can choose to extend the foster period if you're interested (availability is limited).

All foster families receive supplies, medical and behavioral support, and we continue to market your foster dog for adoption. If it turns out the dog isn't a good fit for your home, please let us know as soon as possible.

For cats, foster care duration depends on the cat's condition. Cats with medical or behavioral issues often require a foster home for healing, with the time needed varying based on their individual needs. With some exceptions, once a cat is cleared for adoption we like them to go to our adoption floor, which is where they have the best chance of getting adopted!

How often does my foster need to go to Animal Care League?

A foster dog will need to come in for check ups, spay/neuter surgeries, and meets with potential adopters. Once a foster dog is cleared for adoption, we begin promoting them to potential adopters. If an adopter is interested, we’ll arrange a time that works for you to bring the dog in to bring the dog to ACL for the meeting.

Animal Care League has a wonderful success rate for finding homes for cats, so cats who are ready for adoption don’t usually need to go into foster homes. Most don’t need foster homes unless they have medical or behavioral issues. Foster cats typically only visit ACL for adoption, medical checkups, and spay/neuter surgery.

Will I need to give medicine to my foster dog?

Almost all of the dogs and cats in our foster program are rescued from shelters and may have been exposed to shelter illnesses. While we do our best to identify any conditions before the animal goes home, many illnesses have incubation periods, meaning symptoms can appear after the animal is in your care. Some fosters may not require medication, while others may. If your foster needs medications, we will show you how to administer them before you take the animal home.

Can I let my foster interact with my personal pets?

There are a few guidelines to follow regarding interactions between your personal pets and foster animals.

For both dogs and cats, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian before fostering to ensure your personal pets are healthy and up-to-date on vaccines. Animals from shelters can be more susceptible to illness, and some diseases may not show symptoms right away. If your personal pet becomes ill while fostering, we cannot provide medical care for your pet.

For cats, many need a 2-week isolation period before interacting with resident cats due to a 14-day incubation period for certain illnesses. A separate room like a bathroom or office works well for this.

For dogs, they are often fine to interact with other pets, but it’s important to ensure all your pets are healthy and vaccinated, as shelter dogs can carry illnesses.

Important note: If your personal cat is allowed outdoors, they should not interact with your foster cat to limit the risk of exposure to outdoor illnesses.

When is my foster ready to go to Animal Care League for adoption?

All animals up for adoption at Animal Care League are spayed or neutered and cleared by a veterinarian as healthy enough for a home. When you pick up your foster, the foster coordinator will inform you of any upcoming medical appointments. If you know you’ll need to return the foster by a certain date, please let the foster coordinator know as soon as possible.

For dogs, they can stay in foster care until adopted, so the duration is flexible.

For cats, once cleared for adoption, a time will be scheduled to return them to the adoption center. Some cats may remain in foster care longer if they need more time to adjust before being placed on the adoption floor.

How can I help my foster find a great home?

As you get to know your foster pet, we ask that you stay in contact with the foster coordinator so we can keep their online biography up to date with accurate information about their preferences and quirks. We encourage you to write your own biography, though it may be edited. We also welcome any quality photos you take of your foster in your home, which we can use for the kennel card and online profile. Please send the biography and photos to foster@animalcareleague.org.

What if I want to adopt my foster?

If you want to adopt your foster, you will need to complete an adoption application and follow the full adoption process. If you decide to adopt your foster dog or cat, please contact the foster coordinator right away. Once the pet is available for adoption, we cannot hold them for anyone, including the foster parent.

What if I know someone who’s interested in adopting my foster dog?

If someone you know is interested in adopting your foster, please contact the foster coordinator and give them the details. Also, tell the prospective adopter to start the adoption process by filling out an adoption application as soon as possible. Once the foster is up for adoption, we cannot hold him/her for anyone, but we do want to accommodate referrals from foster parents if we can.

Who will take care of my foster dog if I need to go out of town?

You may have a pet sitter care for your foster pet at your home, but we ask that you do not move the pet to another home. For dogs, often our fosters choose to have the dog stay at ACL while they are out of town. If you'd prefer to bring your foster pet back to Animal Care League while you're traveling, please contact the foster coordinator (and fill out our out-of-town form) at least one week in advance to arrange a spot at ACL or with another foster. For holiday trips, please give at least two weeks’ notice to ensure we have space available.

What if my foster bites me?

If any of your foster pets bite you and break skin, causing you to bleed, you need to report the bite to the foster coordinator within 24 hours of when the bite occurred. The law requires that we report all bites. The teeth of the animal, not the nails, must have broken the skin. If you are unsure, then please report the bite anyway.

What if my foster is not working out?

We understand that not every foster is the perfect fit! If things aren’t working out, please let the foster coordinator know by email at foster@animalcareleague or by calling the shelter at 708-848-8155. If you want to keep your foster dog, but need behavioral support please let us know and we can discuss training options.

Will it be hard to say goodbye to my foster?

Saying goodbye can be the most difficult part of fostering, but keep in mind that many more animals at Animal Care League need wonderful foster homes like yours!

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