Join Our Team of Fosters

Fostering a shelter animal saves lives by giving them a safe, loving home while they wait for adoption. It’s a rewarding way to make a difference—without the long-term commitment.

We are looking for dedicated animal lovers to join our foster team and provide temporary care for our animals. Fostering with PARL can be a short commitment (a few days to 3 weeks) or a long commitment (3 weeks to a few months) depending on what you are interested in. You can choose to foster just one time or many, many times! Either way, you are making a difference, and with your help, we will be able to take in and place more animals!

Don't just take our word for it! Hear what foster, Meg, has to say about her foster experience:

How to Become a PARL Foster

Why do animals need a foster home? Most common reasons:

Kittens under 8 weeks of age
Pregnant or nursing mom
Waiting for/recovering from medical treatment
Fearful and/or stressed in shelter
Needs socialization and confidence-building
Would benefit from time outside of the shelter

Anyone can be a great foster, but we do have some requirements:

Foster must be at least 18 years of age
Due to Massachusetts State Regulations, we are not allowed to place foster animals into Massachusetts homes
If foster lives in an apartment or rents, they must have landlord approval
Foster must be able to bring the animal to all medical/check up/surgery appointments (usually pre-scheduled)
Most importantly, fosters must love animals and be willing to spend time with their foster animal

Fostering can be a rewarding and enriching experience for all!

Our foster program includes an orientation, training, and access to our exclusive PARL Foster Facebook Group where you can share foster pictures, stories, and connect with other foster volunteers. Our community of fosters is vital to the success of our mission. Join us today!