Fostering
Be the reason an animal feels love, hope, and safety when become an animal foster parent.
Are you interested in fostering a Scottish SPCA pet?
Could you provide a happy, stable and safe home to an animal in need of rehabilitation and love?
We’re looking for foster carers across Scotland to join our programme to help provide temporary care for a Scottish SPCA animal and a rewarding experience for fosterers.
Apply to become a foster volunteer
Why do animals need fostered?
Many of our animals don’t cope well within a kennel environment, some have come from situations where they may not have been well socialised with people or other animals, and others may never have experienced the care and affection they deserve.
In these situations, we know that quickly moving animals into a home environment is the best thing for them. Not only does it give them much needed love and affection, being on foster builds their confidence and can improve their health and wellbeing.
Fostering also allows us to learn more about the animal, meaning we can find them the most suitable permanent home, and also helps to free up space in our centres so we can rescue more animals that are in desperate need of our help.
Become a Scottish SPCA foster family
You only need to submit one application to tell us that you are interested in fostering. In the application you can tell us a little about yourself, home and lifestyle, and the type of animal you think you would be able to foster.
Once you have submitted an application, our foster team will get in touch within ten days to progress your application. We will do a home check and then ask you to complete mandatory training requirements. We have specific training depending on the type of animal you would like to foster.
Once you have passed your home check and completed the necessary training, our foster team will identify which animals in our care would be a good match for your circumstances. We have animals in our care of all shapes and sizes, and not all of them are shown on our website. It may be that we can find a suitable foster animal immediately for you, or we have to wait a little while for the right animal for you. Once our foster team have found a good foster match, they will contact you to discuss the animal and answer any initial questions you may have.
If you wish to proceed, you will be invited to meet the animal. For some animals, you may need to meet them several times before you can start fostering them, but for most animals you will be able to start fostering them immediately. This will be discussed with you prior to meeting the animal so you can be prepared!
An animal could be on foster for a short period of time, or longer, depending on the animal’s situation. You will get a starter pack containing everything you need for the safety and comfort of your foster animal during their stay with you. We will provide food, cover the costs of any veterinary treatment and our team will be on hand to ensure you have all the support you need.
By fostering, you will be helping to find out important things about the animal, such as its likes and dislikes. You will be able to share this information with the adoption team to help find its forever home.
When the time comes for the animal to move on to its forever home, this can be an emotional time for a fosterer. We will be there to support you and if need be you can “paws” from fostering until you are ready to foster again. Fostering is a very rewarding experience and we are so grateful to everyone who opens up their home to a foster animal. By fostering for us, you will be a key part in the animal’s journey with the Scottish SPCA, and you will have made a massive difference to the animal’s life.
Watch our video below to find out more about being an animal fosterer with us
Frequently asked questions
You can apply to foster a pet on our website by creating an account and completing a fostering application form. In the account area, you can keep an eye on the application status, and if need be, can withdraw or pause your application at any time.
If you are unable to apply online for any reason, our centre receptions are open daily from 11am until 4pm where our team will be happy to help you complete the application form.
If you need help with your application, cannot apply online or are unable to visit one of our centres, please contact our Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999 where our team will be happy to assist.
You can foster an animal if you are over the age of 18 and if you are able to provide daily care to one of our animals on a temporary basis.
By fostering, you will provide temporary care for a Scottish SPCA animal, whereas if you adopt, you become the legal owner of the animal.
Foster volunteers provide temporary homes for animals that are not yet ready for adoption. Their role is crucial in helping animals recover from neglect, abuse, illness, or injury. Foster volunteers will provide daily care for animal, including feeding them, exercising and socialising them, providing them with a suitable and safe living environment, and meeting any veterinary needs. Many animals who need fostered also need extra support to give them more confidence and to help them relax and feel more comfortable around people.
Before you foster any animal, you will complete our mandatory foster training e-learning course which will help provide you with all the necessary knowledge.
When you start fostering an animal, you will also receive a foster pack which includes key information about how to care for the animal.
Throughout your time fostering with us, our foster team will always be on hand to help with any day-to-day advice and support you need, and we will regularly check-in with you to make sure everything is ok.
At the moment, the animals we allow to go out on foster include:
- Adult dogs, puppies, and pregnant or nursing dogs
- Indoor adult cats, kittens, and pregnant or nursing cats
Many of our animals don’t cope well within a kennel environment, some have come from situations where they may not have been well socialised with people or other animals, and others may never have experienced the care and affection they deserve.
In these situations, we know that quickly moving animals into a home environment is the best thing for them. Not only does it give them much needed love and affection, being on foster builds their confidence and can improve their health and wellbeing.
Fostering also allows us to learn more about the animal, meaning we can find them the most suitable permanent home, and also helps to free up space in our centres so we can rescue more animals that are in desperate need of our help.
When you apply to foster a pet, you won’t be applying for a specific pet. In the application you can tell us what your ideal foster animal would be and a little about yourself, home and lifestyle. Our experts will then match you to one of our animals in need of being fostered who suits your circumstances.
It may be that we can find a match immediately for you, or we have to wait a little while for the right animal. If we are struggling to find an animal to match your application, we can discuss your application with you to see if there are any other animals you would consider fostering, or you could complete further training.
No, fostering does not cost you any money. Any veterinary treatment is covered by us and our foster team will supply you with all the supplies you will need whilst you are fostering.
It may be that you are asked to foster an animal that is shown on our website. These animals are ready to find their forever home, however where an animal is struggling to find their match, we may want to place them in to foster while they are waiting.
Yes, you can. Animals arrive in our care for many reasons and sometimes we don’t know their full history. When we assess our animals, we take into consideration any information we may receive on arrival and their behaviour with us to determine the age of children we feel they would be suitable to live with.
Please mention in your application
Yes, as long as you have permission from your landlord, housing association or local council and where you live is suitable for the animal you wish to adopt.
Yes, you can. During the application process we will ask what type of property you live in as it is essential we ensure that the foster animal will live in a suitable environment for their needs. Many of our animals have been fostered to flats and it just depends on the needs of each individual animal.
Yes, you can. Many of our animals have happily been fostered to a home that already has pets.
When we assess our animals, we take into consideration any information we may receive on their arrival as well as their behaviour with us to determine if they would be suitable to live with other pets. In your application, please let us know that you already have pets and our team will then match you with suitable animals.
For dogs, we will arrange for the dogs to meet at one of centres where our teams will assess in person if they are a good match.
Yes, you can. Many of our animals have happily been fostered to homes without a garden and it just depends on the needs of each individual animal.
During the application process we will ask you if you have a garden as it is essential we ensure the pet you foster will live in a suitable environment for their needs.
Our new fostering process launched on the 26th November. If you applied for an animal before this, please be rest assured that your application will still be processed.
Although not necessary, you can submit a new application.
Our centre receptions are open daily from 11am until 4pm, where our team will be happy to help you complete an application form, however you won’t be able to meet animals until your application has been approved, a home check has been completed, and we have matched you to a suitable animal in our care.
We do this to keep our kennel environment as calm and quiet as possible, which is especially important for animals who are recovering in our care.
Once you are matched to an animal, our teams will arrange an appointment with you to meet them.
It is difficult to give a definite time scale, as a foster placement could be anything from one week to six months or possibly longer. We will always discuss with you the anticipated length of fostering time required before you foster any of our animals.
Some animals may need to come back to our centres for veterinary treatment or to meet potential new owners. If you don’t have a car, our team can arrange for the animal to be transported, so please don’t stop this from you applying to become a foster volunteer.
Our fostering programme is to provide temporary care and support for an animal, and is not as a trial run for adoption. When an animal is ready to find their forever home, we will work with the foster volunteer to make sure we find the most suitable home for the animal.