Foster Care
Welcome!
The Rhode Island SPCA Foster Care Program has been established to help with animals that require short-term (2-8 weeks) care for recovery to an adoptable age and status. Reasons for placement include pregnancy, animals less than 8 weeks of age or less than 2 lbs in weight, mildly ill animals requiring general medical care, and animals recovering from an injury or trauma.
Foster Opportunities!
Temporary Homes for Adult Animals: In some cases, dogs, cats, and even small animals have a difficult time in the shelter environment and just would do better in a home environment. We look for families and individuals to provide a short or long term place for these animals to stay while we search for a forever home for them.
Pregnant Moms or Pregnancy Hold: At any given time we may receive a mom who is waiting to give birth. We place all of our pregnant mothers in a foster home to have a stress free upbringing for their young. Fosters are required to help with the birthing process (24 hour assistance is available if needed). Fosters are also required to keep mom with babies till babies are fully weaned. We will then take mom back for spay and request you keep the young till they are of age for adoption. This may require bottle feeding if a baby is having trouble latching onto mom.
Bottle feed kittens/puppies: less than 5 weeks old. Must be fed every 2-3 hours. The individual would have to be able to bring kittens/puppies to work or be home most of the time.
Socialize Kittens/Puppies: 5-8 weeks old. Kittens/puppies need to be socialized to prepare them for adoption.
Feral Kitten Foster: For the spicy kittens. These kittens require a patient foster who is able to slowly spend ample time with their fosters preparing them for adoption. These kittens are not human friendly and need an experienced foster family.
Foster Parent Candidates
Our teams of foster parents are dedicated to giving young animals a second chance at life. Without the help of invaluable volunteers like you, who open their hearts and homes to animals in need, many would not find their way into a loving permanent home. The Rhode Island SPCA is continually seeking new Foster Parents, so if you know someone who may be interested in joining our program, please have them call 401-438-8150 for more information or fill out an application listed at the top of the page.
The Rhode Island SPCA asks you as Foster Parents to provide water, shelter, socialization and lots of love. The RISPCA asks foster families to help support us by providing all necessary food, supplies, toys, and love. The RISPCA will provide all veterinary care and medicine. If you are not able to provide supplies we will assist you. (Items bought outside the program or veterinarian care not provided by RISPCA vet staff will not be reimbursed.)
If you live in an apartment, please confirm that your landlord will allow pets. This is required, as we contact landlords to be assured the foster animal will be welcome.
If you have any questions please contact our Foster Care Coordinator, Olivia Warburton at owarburton@rispca.com or (401) 438-8150.
Can’t Foster? Help us stock our supplies!
It takes a village to provide the round-the-clock care for the animals who need it most – the puppies and kittens. We can’t do this without the compassion and generosity of our community friends. Please consider donating an item or two from our Foster Care Wish List at Amazon.
Foster Care Wish List Items
Top Loading Carriers
KMR kitten formula
KMR puppy formula
Miracle Nipples
Mother cat and kitten wet food (Royal Canin)
Mother dog and puppy wet food (Royal Canin)
Non clumping litter
(Unscented) Baby wipes
Cotton Balls
Kitchen scales
Baby scales
Kitten toys
Help Support our Foster Care Program
To make a donation to support our community programs including foster care, visit Support RISPCA. Every gift, big or small, will make a difference and we thank you for helping us to save even more animals this year! If you have any questions please contact our Foster Care Coordinator, Olivia Warburton at owarburton@rispca.com or (401) 438-8150.