Foster

Stray to Play could not do what we do without the help of our amazing fosters.

Why foster?

We are a foster-based rescue, which means that we don't have an actual shelter, but instead rely on the kindness of people like you to help us rescue dogs from bad situations. Once a dog arrives, we immediately place them into a loving foster home where they can begin their journey to finding a forever home. It's an extremely rewarding experience, and the joy foster parents have when their foster dog finds a loving, lasting home is irreplaceable. That said, our dogs often have not been in a home before and will require basic training.

While fostering is a fulfilling experience, it is not for everyone. There may be challenges with housetraining, or your foster dog may chew your favourite shoes. If these are dealbreakers for you, fostering may not be suited to you.

Who can foster?

Anyone that wants to help save dogs' lives can apply to foster for us, regardless of your schedule or what type of home you live in. Fostering takes patience, love and empathy, so as long as you have these characteristics you can be a suitable foster. You will be the first ever home for most of these dogs, so safety and stability is important. You do not need to be experienced with rescue dogs, as we have a number of supports available to you, but a willingness to learn is important!

What's the commitment?

Remember that these dogs have often come from a hard or unknown past. Being put in a crate and transported to a new place can be scary, and dogs need time to decompress and get used to their new surroundings. All dogs will not be eligible for adoption until three weeks after they arrive into our care. Moves are incredibly difficult for our dogs and stability is important for them to thrive; the goal is for you to see you foster dog through to their forever home. In the current adoption climate, you can expect your dog to be in foster care for at least 2-3 months.

Those interested in shorter periods of time are still encouraged to apply to be a temporary foster; these commitments can range from a couple days to a couple weeks while the full-time foster is out of town.

It will cost you absolutely nothing to become a foster parent. All costs are covered by donations that are given to us by kindhearted people that share the same goal; to save dogs and find them loving, lasting homes. We will provide you with all of the supplies that you need, including food. We also cover all of the vet fees while the dog is in your care. You give them the emotional support that they need, and we take care of the rest.

Can I adopt my foster?

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it. Three weeks after arrival, we give our fosters the option to adopt before we even let the public know that the dog is available. We feel that this is not only a good length of time to allow the dog to start to come out of their shell, but also for you to know whether or not you are their forever family.

Please note that at this time we are looking for fosters willing to foster dogs who are 40lbs or larger.

As of April 2024, we do not currently have any intakes scheduled in the coming months. We are always welcoming new fosters in the event a dog in our care needs to be moved full-time or needs a short-term temp. However, if you are looking to foster full-time immediately, we may not be the best fit at this time.