Foster a Pet

ICARE is 100% volunteer-run, and no one here gets paid for their time. But providing for so many animals takes a huge amount of work—feeding, cleaning, medical care, exercise, and love. The solution? We need more foster homes to care for these wonderful dogs.

What it takes to be an ICARE foster:

  • A home inspection by an ICARE representative
  • A fenced-in yard
  • Commitment to meeting the dog’s daily needs (feeding, exercise, attention, etc.)
  • Transporting the dog to and from the shelter when needed for vet visits

We provide all the food and medical care, and you’ll have our ongoing support throughout the fostering process. If you ever have questions or need help, ICARE is just a phone call away. You’ll never be alone on your fostering journey.

Fosters also play a key role in the adoption process. We vet all of our potential adopters, and we encourage fosters to be part of the decision since they know the dog best. Once an adoption application is approved, meet-and-greets can be arranged either at the shelter or at the foster’s home—the foster decides where it will take place.

Fosters also play a big role in helping our dogs get adopted. You’ll need to provide photos and descriptions of the dog’s personality and behaviors. If you can’t, one of our volunteers can visit your home to help with that.

The time commitment for fostering can vary. Some dogs are with a foster for just a few weeks, while others—especially larger dogs, older dogs, and sadly, black dogs—can take longer to find a forever home. On rare occasions, some fosters may care for a dog for a year or more.

Fostering saves lives, and it can be a deeply rewarding experience. Watching a dog transform from scared and uncertain to happy and healthy, knowing you played a vital role in their journey to a forever home, is something truly special. By fostering, you help us free up space in our shelter to save even more lives. It’s hard to say goodbye, but knowing that your foster dog is going to be loved and cherished forever makes it all worthwhile.

If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a foster, call us at 870-368-5000 or stop by our shelter at 214 Circle Dr, Melbourne this Saturday from 9 AM to Noon to speak with an ICARE representative.

Here’s what one of our foster families had to say: “Helping rescues from Izard County Animal Rescue Effort (ICARE) is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I love animals, and the love I get in return from the dogs makes my heart happy. The best part is when they find their forever homes. Yes, I miss them, but I am just over the moon happy for them.” – Jana R.

Every foster family helps save lives—please share this post and spread the word!