Foster
Looking Glass Animal Rescue (LGAR) is a “virtual” animal rescue, which means that we do not have a brick and mortar shelter location where our adoptable pets can be visited by prospective adopters. Instead, our adoptable pets are in loving foster homes with our amazing volunteers. A foster home provides a stable, loving environment for an animal that has run out of options in the shelter system.
When you foster, you agree to take a homeless dog or cat into your home and give him or her much needed love, care and attention, either for a predetermined period of time or until the animal is adopted. LGAR covers all medical costs needed for our fosters, so you only need to provide the love and shelter (food and litter can be considered donations to the rescue). To help your foster pet find their forever family as quickly as possible, we ask that you periodically send us updated pictures and personality information so that we can update the adoption sites with the best information possible. Our fosters may also be asked to bring their foster pet to local adoption events and/or be available for meet and greets with potential adopters. As a foster, you may also need to travel a short distance (under 2 hours) to transfer your foster pet to his/her new family on adoption day.
Fostering an animal is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have (other than adopting, of course). By taking an animal in need temporarily into your home you’re:
- freeing up a spot so the shelter or rescue can take in another dog or cat
- giving your foster dog or cat the time he/she needs to be ready for adoption
- helping the shelter or rescue learn more about the animal so he/she can end up in the best home possible
- socializing the dog or cat to a home environment and possibly getting him/her used to being around other pets and different types of people
- providing basic training to make the dog more appealing for adoption and increasing the odds of a successful transition into a permanent home
LGAR works with various vets across the Northeast to receive rescue pricing, which helps us to save even more animals by keeping costs down. When you foster with LGAR, you agree to take your foster pet to one of our approved veterinary practices or allow us to work with your local vet for rescue pricing. We also have an amazing foster support network, so you will never be alone. Our fosters help and support each other and there is always a line of communication to our Board members and senior volunteers.
LGAR operates out of Ridgefield, CT and our fosters can be across the Northeast, including NY and NJ.
We also work with various high kill shelters in the Southern United States, including Palm Valley Animal Society in Edinburg, TX and Ouachita Parish Animal Control in West Monroe, LA. We welcome fosters who are able to foster in these locations!
The animals we rescue are usually those who have run out of time because they have been deemed “rescue only” for a variety of reasons (e.g., a shelter had no space, the animal has medical needs, or was not adopted in a certain amount of time). Foster animals with LGAR may include:
- Puppies / kittens that require more socialization than available at a shelter
- Puppies / kittens that are too young to be adopted
- Abandoned mothers that are pregnant
- Neglected or abused animals that need tender loving care
- Injured animals and/or those recovering from surgery
- Animals suffering from shelter stress in need of a calming home environment
- Animals with colds or other special needs
- Older or senior animals that will be more comfortable in a home environment
Yes! As long as the foster parents meet the requirements that are necessary for adopting, they can absolutely adopt their foster pet. It’s often called a “foster fail”, but we don’t believe that falling in love with a rescue animal in need is ever a failure.
That’s a great question that can best be answered by our current fosters. Check out what they have to say in our Foster Spotlights!
Please don’t wait until an animal goes on the Euthanasia List!
Any animal on the euthanasia or To Be Destroyed list due to overcrowding in the shelter needs your help. Fosters, like pets, come in all shapes and sizes. Some are single and live in a studio in New York City; others have large families and big fenced-in property. Some have owned dogs and cats their whole lives, others are novices. What we look for in fosters, though, is one thing: commitment. We see pet guardianship as one built on commitment and trust. There is a life dependent on you, and it’s a responsibility unlike any other. Foster Application >
