What Does a Foster-Based Animal Rescue Mean?
You may have heard an animal rescue described as foster-based and wondered how that’s different from a traditional animal shelter.
A foster-based animal rescue does not house its adoptable pets in rows of shelter kennels. Instead, dogs and cats live temporarily with foster families while they wait for adoption.
That’s how Midwest Animal Rescue & Services (MARS) operates. MARS is a foster-based animal rescue serving dogs and cats in Minnesota. Our adoptable pets live in homes, while our Adoption Center in Brooklyn Park is used for scheduled meet-and-greets, adoptions, supplies, and other rescue activities.
Where do pets in a foster-based rescue live?
They live in regular homes.
A foster pet might spend their days snoozing on a couch, learning a household routine, playing with toys, going for walks, or finding their favorite sunny spot by a window.
Some foster families have other pets. Some do not. Some foster for a weekend, while others care for a pet until adoption.
The setup varies, but the purpose is the same: give that dog or cat a safe temporary home while they wait for a permanent one.
At MARS, foster homes are the foundation of the rescue program. We do not operate a traditional public shelter where adopters can walk through kennels to choose a pet.
What can MARS learn from a foster home?
Quite a lot.
A pet’s foster family sees the everyday stuff that can be difficult to learn in a kennel environment.
They may discover:
How the pet settles into a household routine
Favorite toys, activities, and sleeping spots
Energy level
House or litter box habits
How the pet responds to household sounds and visitors
What helps the pet feel comfortable
How the pet interacts with other animals, when known
The type of home where that pet may do well
Foster families share those observations with MARS so potential adopters can learn more about what living with that individual pet may actually be like.
That information also helps our Placement Team make thoughtful matches between pets and people.
Can I visit MARS and meet all the adoptable pets?
Not quite.
Because MARS pets live in foster homes, there isn’t a building full of adoptable dogs and cats available for walk-through visits.
Instead, you can browse Available Dogs and Available Cats online.
If you find a pet you’re interested in, the adoption process begins with an application. Once an application has been reviewed and a potential match identified, MARS can coordinate a meet-and-greet. Those meetings may take place at the MARS Adoption Center in Brooklyn Park or at another arranged location or adoption event.
It’s a little different from walking into a shelter, but there’s an advantage: you can learn about the pet from people who have actually shared a home with them.
Does MARS still have an Adoption Center?
Yes.
Being foster-based does not mean MARS operates entirely without a physical location.
Our Adoption Center in Brooklyn Park supports the foster-based rescue model. It is used for scheduled meet-and-greets and adoption appointments, along with foster supply pickups and donation drop-offs.
The difference is that our adoptable pets do not live there full time. Their foster homes are home until adoption day.
Why are foster homes so important?
For a foster-based rescue, the number of homes available directly affects how many pets the organization can care for.
A dog may be ready to come to MARS, but they still need somewhere to sleep that night.
A cat may need a quiet room to settle into.
A current foster parent may be traveling and need someone to step in for a few days.
Without an available foster home, MARS may not have a safe place for that pet to go.
That’s why fostering can take many forms at MARS, including short-term, vacation, full-time, specialty, and foster-to-adopt placements.
A rescue powered by homes
Being foster-based shapes almost everything about how MARS rescues dogs and cats.
Pets get temporary homes. Foster families help us learn who those pets are. Adopters get real-life information about the animal they’re considering. And every foster who opens their door helps create space for another pet who needs us.
Want to be part of it?
Where All Roads Lead Home.
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