Provide a safe, calm environment
You will need to offer an appropriate, secure space where an animal can settle, feel safe, and receive the day-to-day care they need.
Help us offer safety, stability & care
Some animals are not ready for their next step straight away. By fostering, you help us offer the time, stability, and home-based care that can support recovery, rebuild confidence, and make a second chance possible.
Foster an animal today
Why foster?
Because some animals need a home for now
A foster home can offer what a rescue environment cannot always provide: quiet, routine, one-to-one attention, and the chance to settle in a more natural setting.
For some animals, that temporary space can make all the difference, supporting recovery, building trust, and helping us understand what they need next.
Fostering also gives PACT more flexibility to care for animals in need. It is a practical, meaningful way to be part of a second chance.
How fostering works
A careful process, guided by welfare
We want fostering to work well for both you and the animal in your care. That means taking time to understand your home, your routine, and the kind of support you can realistically offer.
Our approach is clear, supportive, and guided by welfare at every stage.
- 01.
Register your interest
Start by completing our fostering enquiry or application form. Tell us about your home, availability, and any experience you may have.
- 02.
Speak with the PACT team
We will review your application and talk through what fostering involves, the types of animals who may need support, and whether it feels like the right fit for you.
- 03.
Matching and preparation
If things move forward, we will look at the kind of placement that suits both your home and the animal’s needs. The right match matters, and we make those decisions carefully.
- 04.
Welcome an animal into your care
Once a placement is agreed, you will provide temporary day-to-day care while the animal continues their journey with PACT’s oversight and support.
- 05.
Support the next step
Some animals will move towards adoption. Others may need longer support or a different route. Your role helps make that next step possible.
As with adoption, our priority is always the best possible outcome for the animal. That means fostering decisions are made case by case, with compassion, expertise, and integrity.
A real PACT story
A foster home helped Sasha feel safe
Sasha arrived at PACT frightened of people. Her coat was in poor condition, and even the sight of a lead made her run away. Our team began slowly, sitting quietly with her, offering treats and helping her rebuild trust at her own pace.
Sasha made progress, but it became clear that she needed a calmer home environment. After careful introductions and a home check, she moved in with a foster family and their three Schnauzers.
Within a few weeks, Sasha had settled into a routine and grown in confidence. The placement worked so well that her foster family went on to adopt her permanently. A temporary home gave Sasha the space, patience and consistency she needed to move forward.
Read Sasha’s storyRequirements & responsibilities
What fostering asks of you
Fostering is a meaningful way to help, but it is also a genuine responsibility. Animals in foster care may need patience, consistency, observation, and time to settle.
The exact requirements will vary depending on the animal, but we will always be clear about what a placement involves before anything moves forward. In general, foster carers must be aged 21 or over, be able to travel to and from the sanctuary when needed, and willing to stay in regular contact with PACT.
Follow agreed care guidance
You will likely need to follow specific routines around feeding, medication, exercise, handling, grooming, or introductions, depending on the animal’s needs.
Stay in touch with PACT
Fostering works best when there is clear communication. We may need updates on progress, behaviour, routine, health, or any concerns that arise, plus occasional visits or appointments may be required.
Support a temporary arrangement
Fostering is not the same as adoption. The role is to provide temporary care while the animal moves towards the right long-term outcome.
Make space for individual needs
Some animals may need quiet, structure, limited interaction, or a slower pace. Flexibility, realistic expectations, and a willingness to work closely with PACT all matter.
Frequently asked questions
Fostering, answered clearly
Foster carers must be aged 21 or over and able to offer a safe, suitable home environment. We assess every enquiry individually to make sure the placement is right for both you and the animal.
Apply to foster
Be part of a second chance
If you can offer time, patience, and a safe home environment, fostering could make a real difference to an animal in need. Your support can create stability now while making the right future possible.
Donate now
Help us be there when others can’t
Every rescue, every treatment, every recovery starts with support.
Your donation helps us provide expert care, respond when animals need us most, and continue offering second chances - day after day.