Protected Paws Fostering Process

At Protected Paws, our foster carers are the heart of what we do. By opening your home to an animal in need, you give them safety, comfort, and love while they wait for their forever family. Fostering truly saves lives — and we couldn’t do it without you.

Step 1: Check You Meet the Criteria

Before applying to foster, please make sure that:

You can provide a safe, loving, and stable environment

You are able to commit time, patience, and understanding to help an animal adjust

You can care for an animal as part of your family until they are adopted

You are open to communication and regular updates with our rescue team

(Don’t worry — Protected Paws covers veterinary and basic costs and provides full support throughout the fostering journey.)

Step 2: Learn About Fostering Needs

Every animal is unique. Some may need quiet, calm spaces to recover from trauma, while others may thrive with active families or experienced handlers. We’ll work closely with you to find the best match for your home and lifestyle.

Step 3: Submit the Fostering Application

If you’re ready to help an animal on their journey to a forever home, please complete the fostering application form at the bottom of this page. This helps us understand your experience, home environment, and preferences so we can match you with the right animal.

 Please Note:

Only successful applicants will be contacted.

We receive many applications and carefully match each foster placement.

Home Checks

All fostering placements include a video call home check.
This friendly, informal chat is an opportunity to ask questions, while we ensure your home is suitable for the type of animal you’d like to foster.

Foster Expectations – Please Read Carefully

As a foster, you’ll play a vital role in an animal’s recovery and preparation for adoption. This comes with important responsibilities:

Vet appointments: You must be able to transport animals to veterinary appointments when needed. We try to book practices close to you, but sometimes specialist care, neutering, or hospitalisation may require a different location.

Punctuality: Vet visits are time-specific — being late or missing appointments delays an animal’s care and rehoming.

Transport volunteers: While we have a small volunteer group, this is only for emergencies and should not be relied upon.

Communication: Regular updates and photos are required, as they help us monitor progress and promote animals for adoption. Timely responses to our messages are essential.

Adoption interest: Friends, family, or even foster carers interested in adopting must go through the same adoption process as everyone else. Long-term fosters may be considered first, but this is not guaranteed.

Supplies: We provide necessary supplies, but specific requests may not always be possible. Special diets are only covered if medically required.

Safety: Foster animals must remain indoors unless explicit permission is given by a head volunteer or trustee. If an animal goes missing, you must contact us immediately.

Health: Vet care cannot be delayed. If an animal becomes ill, you must contact us straight away — as their temporary caregiver, their welfare is your responsibility.

Our Promise

We are looking for compassionate, reliable, and patient foster carers who understand the importance of giving animals stability during this transitional stage. Fostering isn’t always easy, but it is incredibly rewarding — you’ll play a vital role in preparing an animal for their forever family.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to welcome you to our fostering family.