Be a hero.

No. If you are willing to open your home and give the structure, love and support our misfits need, Josie’s Misfit Ranch will provide food, litter, crates, bedding, toys and other items as needed for the animal while it is in your care. Josie’s Misfit Ranch also provides necessary veterinary care for foster animals. Finally, we give fosters training, support and guidance to make the experience as rewarding as possible.

If you want to contribute both your time and money, you can also purchase items for your fosters as a donation, which can be tax deductible. It is not a requirement, however. Our misfits just need your love and time and a home they feel safe in.

Fostering is one of the most rewarding things you can do to help animals. Without fosters, we would be unable to save the animals we do, making our fosters the true heroes to these animals in need.

As a foster you will be the animal’s temporary home until they find their forever home. It requires your time, love and a dash of your patience. Our misfits are special because of their medical needs, age, behavior or just general quirks which we think make them even more adorable. They just need a bit more care and time, but what they give back is infinitely greater than what they require.

You will be expected to keep the foster animal safe and secure. Feeding and watering your foster animal is required along with providing regular exercise, which includes walks for dogs, playtime, and socialization. For dogs, you should also plan on helping with basic training (we will provide you access to tools to help you with this.)

We also request that you be able to transport the animal to vet appointments, possible training events, and/or adoption events. If you are not available to provide transportation, a member of our team will assist. Keep a structure for your foster animal so they feel safe and secure, and be willing to share regular and consistent feedback regarding your foster animal’s physical and mental health.

We also ask for your assistance to help showcase your animal to potential adopters. This means providing us with photos and information about your foster on a regular basis, attending adoption events, and using your own social media channels to get the word out.

Please complete the foster application and we will be in touch with you once we process it. We try to process applications in the first 2 business days, but ask you to be patient if it takes a little longer.

Foster Application

We always need supplies for our animals. We have an Amazon wish list that provides opportunities to donate much needed items to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for the foster animal. You can review the list and have those supplies sent directly to Josie’s Misfit Ranch.

You can also recommend any fosters that may be willing to take in an animal, and spread the word to others about the rewards of fostering.

Josie’s Misfit Ranch can also always use volunteers. We need help with adoption events, exercising animals, helping other fosters, and fundraising. Send us an e-mail at marla@josiesmisfitranch.org if you want to learn more.
Finally, please share our website and social media sites to help get the word out about Josie’s Misfit Ranch.

Josie’s Misfit Ranch provides access to training and support so we can help you successfully foster. We will interview you and find out your level of comfort and concerns, try to fill in any knowledge gaps and work on mitigating any concerns you may have. We also try to match foster animals to foster families we feel are the best fit.

If you can still dedicate the needed time to your foster outside of working hours, and arrange appropriate exercise for the foster while you are at work, you can foster. We will talk to you about this during our foster application process, and help you understand how you can balance your work with fostering.

We do not allow people with children under 5 to foster, except under special circumstances. We find that young children sometimes don’t mix well with animals. However, older children who understand how to appropriately behave around animals are fine to be in the foster home.

It’s best to be thoughtful and careful whenever you introduce your pet to other animals, regardless if it’s a foster. You should consider the personalities of your pets, and if they do well with other animals. Also consider their health and if the stress of having another animal may be too much for them.

If your animals like other animals, and are healthy, having a foster could give them a great playmate. It is also an opportunity for your foster to learn from your animals, and for you to train them together so you can build good behaviors in them both!

Absolutely, but proceed with caution! We recommend keeping foster animals in separate areas for two weeks prior to introducing them. It is important to have a designated, easy to disinfect between animals, foster room (or bathroom) to quarantine your fosters. We do our best to send only healthy animals into foster homes but some illnesses can take up to two weeks to develop. We are unable to test for all diseases and some are easily transferrable. Older animals or pets with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable. Josie’s Misfit Ranch will not be held responsible for the health of your resident pet.

As much as you possibly can! The more time you spend with your fosters, the more you help with their socialization. This is a very important part of the foster program, so it is vital that you do it. Depending on the kind of foster you have, plan to spend at least 1-4 hours, per day, with the animal.

If you don’t have a fenced back yard and want to foster a dog, you will have to assure the dog still gets adequate exercise. We can help you set up a routine and plan to make sure your foster gets the activity it needs. We also try to place animals with fosters that have similar activity levels. Older dogs, for example, do not need as much exercise as puppies.

If someone in your household is immune compromised, consult a doctor before fostering. If you are pregnant (or someone in your house is) or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor before fostering cats. You may need to take some special precautions during your pregnancy.

If you are limited in motion or activity level, please also let us know. We require fosters to both give their animals adequate exercise and bring them to events and possible vet visits. But in some cases, we can help with this if needed or match you with a foster animal that doesn’t require as much activity or care. We value your health and want to do what’s best for the foster animal and for you.

We will provide you access to training that will help you with basic training of your foster dog. If your dog has specific training needs, we will also help you understand how best to deal with these specific behaviors. Part of a foster’s responsibility is to help your foster dog become a good housemate, so please do prepared to spend some time helping train them. This is also a great opportunity for you to learn or hone your dog training skills.

We try to avoid this issue by matching foster animals as well as we can to foster families. It can also take up to 3 weeks for a new animal to settle into a new home, so we ask fosters to be patient and help them through the transition. However, if you feel like the match is not a good one, you can let us know and we will do our best to place the animal in a different foster home. Sometimes another foster home can’t be found, which means that your animal must go to a boarding facility. We prefer to avoid boarding animals because it’s both expensive and stressful for the animal. Still, if you find you cannot continue fostering your animal, contact us immediately. Our goal is to help you have a positive experience as a foster.

Yes! Josie’s Misfit Ranch has the same requirements to adopt as we do to foster, meaning foster parents are already pre-approved to adopt if they chose to keep their foster forever.

Purchases made for foster care are considered donations to Josie’s Misfit Ranch and are tax-deductible. We will provide you with everything you need to successfully foster, including food, crates, beds, and toys. We also pay for veterinary care. If you do make any purchases, you may want to keep your receipts for your tax records.

Josie’s Misfit Ranch has several vets that it works with. If the matter is not urgent, please contact us to find out where you can take your foster for regular care. We also provide you with any information about prior vet visits, as well as any follow up care that is needed, and give you a list of preferred vets in the area. All non-urgent vet visits need to be approved by a member of the Josie’s Misfit Ranch board before making an appointment. If this is not done, we may not be able to reimburse you for medical costs.

We always want to make sure all of our animals get the very best medical care – especially in the case of an emergency. If the matter is an obvious and clear emergency, such as being hit by a car, serious fight with an animal, or ingestion of a dangerous or poisonous object, please take the animal to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately and call us as soon as you can.

We will provide you a list of emergency vets nearby, as well as after hours care options. You do not need our approval if the situation is a true emergency, but we do ask that you contact us right away and follow protocols we give you in these cases. We will also arrange payment to the emergency vet.

We prefer that you commit to fostering your animal until an adoptive home can be found. Unfortunately, we cannot predict how long this will take. It depends on the animal’s breed, age, temperament, and the time of year, as well as how proactive you are about helping us show off your foster animal and how often you are attending adoption events. If you can only foster for a specific period of time, please be sure to tell us before you start fostering. Sometimes another foster home can’t be found, which means that your animal must go to a boarding facility. We prefer to avoid boarding animals because it’s both expensive and stressful for the animal. Still, if you find you cannot continue fostering your animal, contact us immediately.

We recognize that you have probably developed a close bond with your foster animal and want to make sure he/she gets only the best home. We also know you understand the needs of your foster animal better than anyone. Josie’s Misfit Ranch will consult with you on what kind of home would be the best fit for your foster. We also have a comprehensive application process for adopters that includes a criminal background check, home check, and interview. We may ask you to help with this, but we ask you to not make any promises to potential adopters or share your opinion with them as all final decisions will be made by a Josie’s Misfit Ranch board member. Together, we will work as a team to determine adopter suitability for your foster animal.

If you plan to leave town, please notify us ahead of time so that we know what arrangements you have made for your foster animal, or so that we can help you make arrangements for your foster animal while you are away.

Some fosters (who have other pets) have dog sitters who will also watch their foster dog. Other foster volunteers like to travel with their foster dog. Others may have a boarding facility they work with. We need to know what option you choose so we know who to contact about your foster animal or can make arrangements for them to see potential adopters while you are gone. Unfortunately, we cannot afford to cover the costs of dog sitters or expensive boarding facilities. If you wish to pay for these options once they are approved by Josie’s Misfit Ranch, that is great (and can be considered a donation)! If you cannot, we can help you make arrangements either with one of our boarding partners or with another foster volunteer. However, we can’t guarantee this will be possible. Be sure to give us enough warning so that we can help you make these arrangements. Keep in mind that holidays can be difficult to find space and are expensive. The more advance time we have, the better!

Contact Josie’s Misfit Ranch right away. We will work with you to find a suitable option or have you bring the animal to one of our boarding partners or intake facilities.

Dog parks can be dangerous places for dogs, as there can be dogs that are not fully vaccinated there, and dogs with behavior issues or aggressive tendencies. dog fights can often break out unexpectedly. We ask that you avoid dog parks for these reasons.

You can definitely take your dog hiking or to other activities, but only after you get to know the dog and know that he/she will do well in that environment. Never take your foster dog off-leash unless you are in a fully fenced, secure area. Be aware, too, that some dogs like to climb or jump fences, so be sure to pay close attention the first time you take your foster dog off-leash. You will be surprised at which dogs like to and can jump fences! your foster dog should always have an id tag from Josie’s Misfit Ranch in case they do get loose, so that they are returned to us. this is vital. Putting your foster dog in a situation that could bring danger to him or others is something every foster needs to think carefully about.

We highly recommend it! We cannot guarantee that a dog is housebroken, won’t chew your items, and won’t hurt him/herself when unattended. The safest way to protect your home and the dog is to use the crate. Josie’s Misfit Ranch will not be responsible for damage done by a dog left unattended and uncrated. We also cannot guarantee that we will pay the vet bill if you choose to leave the dog uncrated and the dog or your own pet is injured.

Pets that are current on their vaccines usually will have no problems with foster pets, or the problems that do arise are small and very easily addressed. As a result, we strongly suggest that all your pets be current on their vaccinations, use flea/tick prevention, and have the Bordatella vaccine (for kennel cough). In order to prevent your pet from getting intestinal worms (which are passed through the animal’s stool) you should pick up each dog’s stool immediately or have your foster cat utilize a separate litter box until we are sure that any/all worms have been rid of.

If your animal is fully vaccinated and you follow the above protocol, but your own pet still contracts an ailment from your foster, contact Josie’s Misfit Ranch and we will determine whether or not we can pay for treatment. Do not go to your vet expecting reimbursement unless approved by a board member of Josie’s Misfit Ranch first. we will evaluate each case individually.

Some animals are sent to foster care with medication, when this happens it is the foster’s responsibility to ensure the animal is receiving the treatment. Most of the time, you will know beforehand if the animal will be sent with medication. However, illnesses can develop after the animal has left our facility and unexpected medication is required. Medicating is a very important task so volunteer fosters need to be comfortable with it prior to becoming a foster for an animal that requires medication. Josie’s Misfit Ranch will also help provide training in cases in which you need to administer medication.

You can always call us if you have questions. We also have a Facebook page just for fosters in which you can ask questions, share updates, and learn about future foster and training events. We also list these events on our website.