KCAS Foster Program

Foster a Pet. Save a Life.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a foster parent with Kern County Animal Services! By opening your home temporarily to pets in need, you're giving animals a second chance at finding their forever families. With 15,000 animals entering our care each year, we can find a perfect foster fit for your home.

Pets that often need foster placement include orphaned puppies and kittens, senior pets, animals recovering from illness or injury, shy and fearful pets, and animals who simply need TLC and time away from the stress of the shelter. Foster placement ranges from a few hours to several weeks, depending on your availability and the type of animal you foster.

Types of Foster Placements

Provide a long-term foster home.
Foster bottle babies or underage animals.
Foster an animal with medical needs.
Foster an animal that needs time to decompress.
Streets of Bakersfield, Weekend Sleepovers, Holiday Foster Homes
Foster with the intent to adopt the animal.
Foster with the intent to find the animal a new home.

How It Works

Sign up by completing an Online Foster Application and a staff member will contact you about next steps.
We offer same-day fostering! You can also come to our shelter any weekday and ask to foster a pet.
We provide you with everything you need to foster.
You may be asked to return for one or more follow-up medical visits to complete vaccines or get the pet spayed or neutered.
We’ll work with you to find your foster pet a permanent home. If at any point, you or someone you know wants to adopt the pet, we can help with that too!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does KCAS provide medical care, food, and supplies?

We provide medical care for pets in foster homes, if we have the resources to do so. We provide supplies and food as needed, though some foster parents use their own pet supplies.

What pets are available for foster placement?

Very young animals, pets recovering from illness or injuries, senior and geriatric pets, nursing moms and babies, and other animals that will benefit from foster placement.

How long do I foster?

Adult dogs: From one (1) day to several months. Foster parents can take dogs for our Streets of Bakersfield program (1) day or weekend Streets of Bakersfield Sleepover. These experiences can be very beneficial for long term or stressed dogs. Fosters can also choose to foster dogs longer term; from a couple of weeks to even months. Some foster parents choose to foster dogs until they get adopted. The length of time you foster an animal is up to you. If you are having difficulty finding an adopter, please let us know, we can help you market them. Send us photos or videos for us to post on social media along with the best way you wish people to contact you. We also host Offsite Adoption Events every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that we encourage foster parents to attend.
Puppies: From 1 – 8 weeks. Puppies only need to stay in foster homes until they are 8 weeks old or until they are healthy enough for spay/neuter.

Kittens: From 1 – 8 weeks. Kittens only need to stay in foster homes until they are 1.5 pounds and/or 8 weeks old. These are the two (2) important requirements for spay or neuter surgery. Another requirement, the kittens MUST BE healthy.

What if it doesn’t work out?

You are more than welcome to return the animal, just let the foster team know beforehand.

Can I foster if I have pets?

Absolutely! Although we do encourage you to keep your personal pets separate from your foster pet, as medical and behavior history on these animals is unknown.

Do I need experience?

That is a great question! The answer is NO. We will help walk you through fostering your first animal and are here to answer any questions you may have!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does KCAS provide medical care, food, and supplies?

We provide medical care for pets in foster homes, if we have the resources to do so. We provide supplies and food as needed, though some foster parents use their own pet supplies.

What pets are available for foster placement?

Very young animals, pets recovering from illness or injuries, senior and geriatric pets, nursing moms and babies, and other animals that will benefit from foster placement.

How long do I foster?

Adult dogs: From one (1) day to several months. Foster parents can take dogs for our Streets of Bakersfield program (1) day or weekend Streets of Bakersfield Sleepover. These experiences can be very beneficial for long term or stressed dogs. Fosters can also choose to foster dogs longer term; from a couple of weeks to even months. Some foster parents choose to foster dogs until they get adopted. The length of time you foster an animal is up to you. If you are having difficulty finding an adopter, please let us know, we can help you market them. Send us photos or videos for us to post on social media along with the best way you wish people to contact you. We also host Offsite Adoption Events every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that we encourage foster parents to attend.
Puppies: From 1 – 8 weeks. Puppies only need to stay in foster homes until they are 8 weeks old or until they are healthy enough for spay/neuter.

Kittens: From 1 – 8 weeks. Kittens only need to stay in foster homes until they are 1.5 pounds and/or 8 weeks old. These are the two (2) important requirements for spay or neuter surgery. Another requirement, the kittens MUST BE healthy.

What if it doesn’t work out?

You are more than welcome to return the animal, just let the foster team know beforehand.

Can I foster if I have pets?

Absolutely! Although we do encourage you to keep your personal pets separate from your foster pet, as medical and behavior history on these animals is unknown.

Do I need experience?

That is a great question! The answer is NO. We will help walk you through fostering your first animal and are here to answer any questions you may have!

Dog Foster Questions?
Email dogfoster@kerncounty.com
Call (661) 868-7130

Cat Foster Questions?
Email catfoster@kerncounty.com
Call (661) 868-7131

Are you a Foster Parent who needs

to schedule an appointment?

Cat Foster Appointment

Dog Foster Appointment

Resources For Foster Parents

Foster Dog/Puppy Handbook

Foster Cat/Kitten Handbook

Found an Adopter for your Foster Dog?

Foster To Rehome Online Adoption Contract

Donate to the Foster Program