Do good in the new year: Foster a dog

The new year is upon us! Whether or not you make resolutions for the new year, there is always an effort to make the upcoming year better than the last. If “do something good for your community” is on your resolutions list, consider fostering a dog.

Becoming a foster parent is one way you can do good in the new year that brings you – and a dog or puppy; cat or kitten in need – joy!

In 2025, our Home with Hearts foster program helped 2,624 animals receive love, care, and support in over 500 homes across Colorado.

Why foster a dog

Hill’s State of Sheltering report indicates that dogs, especially large dogs, are staying in shelters longer than other animals. This is, in part, due to the increased barriers to pet ownership, as well as apartment living being more suitable for smaller breeds and cats.

Humane Colorado makes fostering accessible to the community. You receive solid training, and the team is always there for you. – Clare

Love to travel or know your current lifestyle is not suitable for a long-term pet commitment? Fostering is the perfect opportunity! It gives you a dose of dog life around your busy schedule, helping you avoid the guilt for not having enough time for a pet.

There is no one way to foster

There are many ways to foster dogs with Humane Colorado because pets are placed in foster homes for a few different reasons to help them heal or improve their overall quality of life.

Sleepover fosters help alleviate stress for our longest stay pets by giving them a break from the shelter environment. Sleepovers usually last for a few days in a comfortable home environment. Short-stay fosters help our team and potential adopters understand how in-shelter behavior may differ from behaviors displayed in the home. Sleepover fostering is perfect for jetsetters or people who want the “dog life” without the commitment.

Worried about becoming a “foster fail”? As a Pet Assist program foster, you can ensure you don’t! The Pet Assist program provides temporary shelter for pets when their people are experiencing hardship, including homelessness, domestic violence, illness, or injury. These pets are usually in our care for up to 30 days.

Knowing that the animal has a home to go back to makes it easier to get over the hurdle of wanting to adopt. Pet Assist is a great way to get into fostering and start managing those feelings. – Jess

By fostering with the Pet Assist program, you are helping people in your community seek help, while offering them a small bit of comfort that their beloved pet is cared for in their absence and will return home to them. Learn more about Pet Assist fostering.

Foster failing is not the worst thing you can do, though! In fact, many of our fosters have “failed” by adopting their foster pet and continue to foster after a brief adjustment period. “My foster failure pup is now a champion for new fosters, acting as a sibling and mentor for shy, fearful dogs,” one of our foster moms explains. “Since adopting, my fosters have flourished with another dog who can help them through their fear.”

Fostering a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences. Dogs have so much to teach us about ourselves and keep us connected to our community. Ready to open your home to a pet in need? Foster a dog!

While we highlight fostering dogs in this article, our Home with Hearts foster program offers a variety of ways to help puppies, kittens, animals with medical needs, pets with behavioral needs, small mammals, and so much more – giving you opportunities to help our more vulnerable populations thrive.

Learn more about our Home with Hearts foster program.