How Much Does it Cost to Foster a Dog?

First of all, if you’re considering fostering, you couldn’t have better timing. Especially right now, overwhelmed animal shelters and rescues need foster dog parents to help make more room in their spaces and take a pup out of a stressful place while they wait for their permanent home. Dogs who remain in a shelter for a long time become more afraid and too sensitive to their environment. So, if a potential pet parent sees a nervous and reactive pup, they might be less likely to adopt them.

Taking a dog into a loving home, even while they wait for their permanent adopters, will help make them comfortable in a home environment and bring out their true personalities, which will make them more adoptable. This will free up what is likely a much-needed space in a rescue, so they can save a dog from another overcrowded shelter or a kill shelter. 

In many cases, fostering one dog can save multiple lives and even improve yours in the process by providing love and enrichment to one grateful pup. Plus, if you’re considering adopting an animal, fostering is an easy way to dip your toes in and find out if you’re ready for that big commitment. 

How does fostering a dog work?

Fostering means that you are temporarily taking a dog into your home, being responsible for fulfilling all their needs and taking care of them, until they are adopted. Here are the basics of how dog fostering works: 

1. You can foster a dog by reaching out to local shelters and rescues to see if they’re looking for any foster dog parents (spoiler: they normally are). 

2. Next, fill out an application and tell the shelter how your home is set up, your schedule, and your capacity for fostering (maybe you’d prefer a smaller dog over a large one, for example), and they’ll find the right pup for you. 

3. Most rescues require foster parents to be at least 18 years old, or, in some cases, 21. And if you have other pets, they’ll need to be up-to-date on their immunizations. 

4. Once paired up with a dog, you’ll take care of them on a daily basis and you will also need to bring your pup back to the rescue or shelter to meet up with potential adopters.

5. You’ll keep the pup until they are adopted. There’s usually not a concrete timeline as to how long you’ll be fostering, but on average, it’s about two months. 

Is fostering a dog free?

No, fostering dogs is not completely free, though most rescues will pay for the dog’s medical expenses and provide some limited supplies, like a leash and collar. But some supplies may come out of the pocket of the foster parent.

Do you get paid to foster dogs?

No, you don’t get paid to foster dogs. Fostering a dog is a volunteer activity that greatly benefits the dog, the rescue, the rescue staff, and you. Rescues already face so many battles of being understaffed and underfunded that they don’t have any funds to give to foster parents.

Cost of fostering a dog

The cost of fostering a dog depends on which shelter or rescue you go through. Many will give you absolutely everything you need — down to the dog food — but others might just pay for medical care and you’ll cover everything else the dog might need. Make sure to ask the operation you’re planning on going through to find out what cost they estimate per month. 

Even if your foster pup is given food, a leash, and a collar, new foster pet parents might be tempted to splurge a little on pet care supplies — tasty treats, a cushy bed, and all manner of toys, for example. As a guide, expect to set aside $50 to $100 aside monthly for your new roommate. If that sounds steep, you can take comfort in the fact that foster costs are tax deductible, because the costs are associated with volunteering and are essentially donations. Below, we’ve broken down costs that you might need to foot if the rescue or shelter does not.

Dog supplies costs

You’ll need pet bowls (both food and water), a crate, leashes, collars, and maybe training pads if your pup is not yet housetrained. In most cases, the rescue will give foster parents the dog with a leash and collar, but they might not be the best sort of leash or collar to walk your foster dog in and maybe you’ll want to shell out for a harness instead. These are essentials that, if the rescue doesn’t provide, you’ll likely need. These costs will be upfront and potentially one-time costs if you continue to foster after your first foster dog is adopted, expect to pay zero to $200, depending on what the rescue provides.

Dog food costs

In some cases, the shelter might provide dog food or cover the cost, but not always — monthly pet food costs between $10 to $75 per month. Your foster dog will likely need a specific type of food, potentially some wet food, or if they have allergies, some home-cooked human food (like chicken). They will need training treats, too, so you can teach them basic commands and maybe even some tricks. The rescue will advise you as to how many scoops of food your foster pup should be getting per meal. 

Dog veterinary care costs

Your foster dog will likely have trips to the vet while they live under your roof. They might need rounds of vaccinations, treatment for kennel cough or another illness they caught at the shelter, surgery from pre-shelter injuries, or neutering or spaying. You might need to pick up heartworm medication, eye drops, ear drops, or other medicines, too. Rescues and shelters almost always cover these vet visits, but you should be sure to ask before committing to fostering. 

Dog toys and treats costs

It’s unlikely that the rescue or shelter will send your foster pup with more than a handful of treats and a toy. There’s a small chance that they might cover those expenses, but more likely than not, that’ll fall to the foster parent. As your foster pup starts to feel safe and open up, they’ll likely become more energetic and playful, and you’ll want to have toys on-hand to encourage that behavior. Treats are a necessity for properly training your foster pup. If your foster pup is well-trained, they’re more likely to be adopted. Expect to pay between $15 and $200 for these extras.

Dog-sitting costs

If you go away for a weekend or on a vacation, you will likely have to shell out for dog-sitting costs. But it’s important to mention that some rescues will not allow you to hire a dog sitter and would rather tap another foster parent from the same rescue to watch your foster. The rescue would rather have someone they know and trust and can hold accountable if something goes wrong.

Commonly asked questions:

How to introduce my foster dog to my dogs?

Introducing a foster dog into a household where there are already one or more pups in the house can be a little daunting. When first introducing the foster dog and your dog, you should have two different people walking each dog on separate leashes at least 40 feet apart. You should walk them at this distance until they become comfortable enough to ignore each other, which could take up to a half hour.

What to expect on the first day with my new dog?

The first day with your new foster dog will likely be chaotic for both them and you, so we recommend taking a day off of work if possible. Your foster dog is going to be nervous and excited, and they’ll oscillate between those different emotions. Give them plenty of time and the space needed to begin adjusting.

References:

The Emotional Aspects of Dog Fostering: Both Ends of the Leash