Hey there, Kimberly!
I'll admit that my presentation mainly dealt with short term fostering and neonatal kitten fostering, but through that lens I think I can provide some insights that have worked for us!
What strategies have helped you successfully recruit fosters for higher-needs animals?
You may want to look into Doobert (doobert.com). We plan to start using it in the next few months, but what they provide aligns pretty well with setting foster parents up for success. We've also had great luck creating an At-Risk list for animals who are rapidly declining in the shelter, whether it be medically or behaviorally. We've found that patrons often ask where their help is most needed, and this is a great way to convey that messaging. You can view our At-Risk page here if you'd like some verbiage and explanations.
What supports or incentives have made fosters more willing to take on complex cases?
We have had gift card incentives in the past, and they have certainly turned into longer-term fostering. However, I'm hesitant to say anything definitive because we've only done it on a couple dozen dogs. However, when it comes to neonatal kitten fostering, I go pretty far in-depth with that in my presentation. I start to talk about kittens halfway through the presentation.
Are there messaging approaches that have helped reframe fostering these animals as rewarding rather than intimidating?
Testimonials seem to go a long way, so if the animal had a previous foster, reach out to see if you can get a quote from them. It helps to convey that the animal is an individual rather than a situation and makes more people willing to "give them a chance" that can easily turn into a long-term foster. I also believe that being transparent is huge. Patrons can usually tell when a shelter/rescue is being disingenuous, so taking the honest approach of "Hey, so this dog needs X care, but he's shown himself to be a professional cuddler and absolutely loves the interaction."
What systems or program elements made the biggest difference in growing your foster base?
Unfortunately, I'd have to say staffing. And I say that it's unfortunate because I know that funding is always a challenge. But failing that, becoming a reliable resource for the community of fosters is a great way to let them know the work you do and how you're willing to help. The Animal Foundation has a wonderful link tree for it's neonatal kitten fosters, and it serves as a lifeline for when we're either closed or a patron has no way to actually reach us. Because, let's be honest, emergencies tend to happen at 2AM. By proving yourself to not only be subject matter experts but also showing yourself to be ready and willing to be available to help, you can slowly but surely earn a reputation that will attract dedicated fosters.
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Ryan Miller
Grants Manager
The Animal Foundation
NV
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2026 02:37 PM
From: Kimberly Nnowalue
Subject: Growing your Foster Program: Increasing Live Release Rate for At-Risk Animals- March 2026 in Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection
This is amazing! I feel really silly because I just saw this forum discussion after posting a question related to this exact topic.
I'm reaching out on behalf of Sierra Overlook Animal Rescue (SOAR), a rural sanctuary-based nonprofit in Northern California. Our organization specializes in caring for animals who are often overlooked in traditional adoption pathways - seniors, special needs animals, those with behavioral challenges, and individuals considered "unadoptable" for other reasons.
We've successfully coordinated a handful of short-term foster placements in the past, typically for emergency or brief transitional situations. However, we've found it significantly more challenging to recruit and retain longer-term foster caregivers who can provide the stability these higher-needs animals truly benefit from. We know these placements can be more demanding, and we want to ensure we're building a foster program that is both supportive for caregivers and sustainable for the animals.
For those of you who have developed strong foster networks - especially for medically or behaviorally complex animals - we would love to learn from your experience:
What strategies have helped you successfully recruit fosters for higher-needs animals?
What supports or incentives have made fosters more willing to take on complex cases?
How do you structure training, mentorship, or backup support to prevent burnout?
Are there messaging approaches that have helped reframe fostering these animals as rewarding rather than intimidating?
What systems or program elements made the biggest difference in growing your foster base?
We are deeply committed to creating a foster program that sets both animals and caregivers up for success, and we would truly value any insights, lessons learned, or resources you'd be willing to share.
Thank you in advance for your guidance and for the work you each do to support animals in need.
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Kimberly Nnowalue
Founder & Executive Director
Sierra Overlook Animal Rescue
CA
Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2026 09:03 AM
From: Kelly Duer
Subject: Growing your Foster Program: Increasing Live Release Rate for At-Risk Animals- March 2026 in Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection
On Thursday, March 5, 2026, join Maddie's® Monthly Foster Connection at 12pm PT/3pm ET. Ryan Miller, Grants Manager at The Animal Foundation, will be discussing how they empower their community to foster two of the highest-risk groups in many shelters: neonatal kittens and adult dogs.
Register for the session so that you can receive notifications about upcoming webcasts and participate in discussions after the webcast.
Webcast Description:
Fostering is a critical lifesaving pathway for most municipal shelters, but too often at-risk populations are overlooked in favor of highly adoptable animals. This presentation will focus on two of the highest risk animal groups in your shelter and how to make them a focus of your foster program: dogs with extended lengths of stay and neonatal kittens.
Short term fosters, or "Foster Field Trips" as they're known, help dogs by giving them a psychological reset from the shelter with minimal effort from foster families. Foster Field Trips help you set up these high-risk dogs for success in two major ways - they help improve kennel presentation and overall behavior upon their return to the shelter as well as provide your team with valuable personality insights that matter to potential adopters.
Empowering your community to foster kittens before they even enter your shelter can not only increase your capacity for care, but also set these kittens up for the best shot at a healthy life. For the kittens already in your shelter, overcoming the barrier of "I've never fostered kittens before!" is often the first and only step you'll need towards increasing your live release rate within this population.
Ryan Miller is currently the Grants Manager for The Animal Foundation, and has been with the company for nearly six years. He graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 2010 with a degree in Mathematics and further pursued Master's coursework in Industrial Engineering with an emphasis in Project Management.
He has an educational and professional background in project management, financial forecasting, program development, and operational auditing. He refined these skills in large-scale retailers and technological law firms, gaining experience and has since carried this knowledge over into the nonprofit sector.
He left the for-profit corporate world in 2019 to pursue his lifelong passion in animal welfare. Starting in the animal admissions department and working his way through multiple areas including foster, community outreach, and accounting, he ultimately ended up in the Development department. In his current role, he works heavily with nearly all departments within the shelter, helping to create or enhance programs with funding, planning, and implementation.
In his off time, he enjoys hiking desert trails of the Mojave Desert, training his AmStaff soul dog, and reading fantasy novels.
#FosterPrograms
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Kelly Duer
Senior Shelter Solutions Specialist
Maddie's Fund
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