Foster an Animal

Once you submit your application, our Volunteer Team will review your information and contact you to begin the process of becoming an NSPCA foster volunteer. The form states that applicants can expect a call from the team in the following days.

Yes. We provide food, bedding and any medication required, although we really appreciate volunteers who are able to help with essential items. You’ll also receive veterinary support and advice and guidance from our foster team.

Yes, but you will need written permission from your landlord confirming that you are allowed to have a foster animal in the property.

We’re looking for volunteers who can join us as regular foster carers rather than people who are only available for one short or fixed period. You won’t necessarily have a dog with you all the time, but we ask volunteers to remain available for future placements that suit their circumstances.

Fostering provides temporary care for animals who are not yet ready for adoption. We regularly recruit foster carers for puppies, kittens, adult animals and those recovering from illness or injury. Please click HERE for information and how to register.

Not for every fostering role. Previous experience is preferred for some placements, particularly where a dog has more specialised needs, but it isn’t required for every role. We’ll use the information in your application to help determine which type of fostering may be suitable for you.

Foster dogs must live inside your family home. Foster animals cannot be housed in sheds, garages or other outbuildings.

Requirements vary depending on the type of dog you foster. Some placements require a secure private garden, while others may be suitable for homes with access to another secure outdoor area. The application asks about your home and outdoor space so our team can assess which fostering roles may be suitable for you.

This will depend on the type of foster placement. Some dogs can be fostered in family homes, while others require a home without young children because of their medical, behavioural or individual needs.

For some foster placements, yes. However, all pets in your home must be fully vaccinated. Some dogs, particularly those receiving veterinary care for potentially infectious conditions, need to be fostered in homes without other animals. We’ll consider your home circumstances when matching you with a suitable dog.

There are lots of different reasons a dog may need fostering. This can include young puppies, pregnant mums and their pups, dogs recovering from illness or injury, dogs rescued through cruelty or neglect cases, hospice dogs and long-term shelter dogs who would benefit from some time away from the shelter.

Not necessarily. We never know exactly when a dog that suits your home, family and experience will come into our care, so it could be a few weeks or even months before we contact you about a suitable foster placement.

It depends on the needs of the individual dog. Foster placements can range from a few days or weeks to several months. Some dogs involved in ongoing legal cases may require longer-term foster homes.

We currently recruit foster volunteers to support our shelters in Dublin, Wicklow, Longford and Cork.

Foster volunteers must be aged 18 or over, have their own car or access to private transport, live within a reasonable distance of one of our shelters and be available during weekdays for veterinary appointments when needed. As many foster dogs need extra care and company, you should also be at home during the day rather than working full-time outside the home.

For development and socialisation reasons, we foster kittens in pairs. This gives young kittens companionship while they grow and develop.

Not for every role. Some specialist fostering, such as bottle-feeding neonatal kittens, benefits from previous experience, but it isn’t always required. Different roles have different requirements, and our team will use your application to determine which type of fostering may be suitable for you.

No. Foster cats and kittens must be kept indoors at all times, with doors, windows and cat flaps secured appropriately.

Yes. You’ll need to provide a safe, quiet and clean indoor space for your foster animal. The room should have natural daylight and be kept separate from your own cats, with windows and doors secured to prevent the foster animal from getting outside.

It depends on the type of foster placement. Foster cats and kittens must have a separate indoor space away from other pets, and some placements have additional requirements. For example, certain cats or kittens with medical needs may require stricter isolation. Our team will consider your existing pets when deciding which fostering roles may suit your home.

There are lots of different fostering needs. These include bottle-fed kittens, healthy kittens, mums with kittens, cats or kittens recovering from illnesses such as ringworm or cat flu, cats needing respite from shelter life and cats requiring longer-term foster care.

Not necessarily. We never know exactly when an animal that suits your home and circumstances will come into our care, so it may be a few weeks or even months before we contact you about a suitable placement.

It depends on the type of fostering and the needs of the individual animal. Placements can range from a few days or weeks to several months or longer.

We currently recruit cat foster volunteers to support our shelters in Dublin, Wicklow and Longford.

Foster volunteers must be aged 18 or over, have their own car or access to private transport, live within a reasonable distance of one of our shelters and be available during the week for veterinary appointments when needed.