FAQ Find answers to commonly asked questions about adopting, fostering, volunteering, and more.

Shelters across the world are at capacity and needing room for more animals who are subject to neglect and homelessness. A shelter, dumping ground, or abusive home is NO place for an animal. These environments are stressful and cause medical and behavioral conditions in some animals. We are working to clear shelters in South Texas and beyond, where some of the most vulnerable animals are.

Fostering is a great way to get a deserving animal out of a shelter and one step closer to their forever home. Fostering is a very rewarding experience, it teaches responsibility, and you can save lives! Learn more about our process here.

JFP does not require fosters to have any skills other than patience and commitment to caring for an animal in need. Experience with animals is always helpful, but not required. Every foster will have a foster coordinator assigned to them that will help answer questions and provide guidance every step of the way. The most important traits we look for in a foster are a big heart, good judgment, willingness to learn, and patience.

At JFP, we understand that animals in need aren’t limited to those that we identify and pull into our rescue program. If you are aware of an animal in need of rescue and able to foster that animal, we encourage you to contact our team at foster@justiceforpaws.org and we can talk through options on a case-by-case basis.

We assign every foster a foster coordinator who will be your primary POC for any and all questions while you’re fostering. You’ll also receive a foster packet that has contact information for the JFP leadership team, information about our processes, training tips, medical guidance, and more! We coordinate all medical appointments and can provide food and basic supplies if needed.

1. You must be at least 18 years old. 
2. Live within a reasonable travel distance (~1 hour) of the DC metro area.
3. Have reliable transportation for veterinary visits or emergencies (your own car, a friend’s car, or ride shares)
4. Offer a safe, indoor, temperature-controlled space, and adequate food and water.
5. Be willing to host in-person meet and greets for your foster.
6. Stay in contact with your Foster Coordinator.

If you feel like you are a good fit, but do not meet all the above requirements, reach out to our Foster Team via email at foster@justiceforpaws.org.

No, but you can if you want to! Justice for Paws can provide you with the basics: food, collar, leash, toys, some form of bedding if needed, and we cover any medical expenses. If you feel that your foster pet is in dire need of something extra, we will work with you to find a solution. We will always welcome foster families providing their foster pets with extra toys, treats, or a fancy new collar and leash!

As much as we wish we could give a definitive range, every foster experience is different. Sometimes, even the cutest of all puppies and kittens stay in foster care longer than anticipated. What we can say is in our experience, our foster families have their foster animals for approximately 2 weeks before official adoption. This can always go quicker or longer.

If you are fostering an underaged animal, a pregnant or nursing momma, or a medical/behavioral case, you will likely be fostering longer than usual. Our foster team will walk you through the unique process of helping some of the most vulnerable pets in our care.