Foster families and volunteers: recruiting, supervising and retaining

Without foster families or volunteers, no animal welfare association can survive. They are the ones who expand capacity and humanize the animals' journeys. However, it is essential to know how to recruit, supervise, and especially retain them.

The Key Role of Foster Families

A foster family (FA) temporarily hosts an animal in their home while waiting for its adoption. They offer what a kennel can never provide: a family environment, socialization, and close observation of behavior. Essential point: the animal remains under the responsibility of the association, which covers veterinary costs and food.

Recruiting the Right People

Careful recruitment avoids many disappointments. Plan for:

• A clear announcement about what fostering entails (time, constraints, variable duration);
• A preliminary exchange to understand lifestyle, other animals, and experience;
• A home visit to check safety and suitability;
• Thoughtful matching: a dynamic puppy or a fearful animal should not be entrusted to just anyone.

Supervising and Supporting

A volunteer or FA left alone with a difficulty quickly becomes exhausted. The association must remain present: an accessible contact person, behavioral advice, quick handling of care, and transparency about the animal's journey. Quality support transforms temporary goodwill into lasting commitment.

Fostering Long-Term Loyalty

Volunteering thrives on recognition. Thank them, highlight successes (successful adoptions), provide updates, and create connections between volunteers. A cohesive and recognized network recruits itself through word-of-mouth. Conversely, a volunteer who feels exploited leaves — and talks about it.

The Framework: Agreement and Insurance

• A written foster family agreement, which reminds that the animal belongs to the association and specifies the distribution of costs and roles;
• A volunteer charter that sets the framework for the commitment;
• Civil liability insurance covering volunteers and FAs within the scope of their missions;
• Traceability: every fostered animal must be tracked (identification, health, history).

This article is for informational purposes. Adapt agreements and insurance to your situation with the support of your federation or legal counsel.