Foster a Dog

If you’re ready to foster a dog in Long Beach, K9 Kismet provides the support, supplies, and guidance you need to make a meaningful difference.

Fosters make our work possible. When you open your home, even temporarily, you give a dog the space to heal, decompress, and find a forever family.

Apply to Foster
K9 Kismet Diesel Project dogs Oreo and Tomas smiling and playing in the yard during training

Fostering Is Free

We cover medical expenses, food, and supplies, and provide training support along the way. Whether you are experienced or brand new, we will thoughtfully match you with a dog that fits your comfort level and lifestyle.
Have questions before you apply? Email foster@k9kismet.org.

When You Foster, You…

Ease Overcrowding

Opening your home for one dog creates space in the shelter and gives another life a chance to be saved.

Provide Stability

Shelters can be overwhelming. A home environment helps dogs decompress and feel secure again.

Help Them Heal

Some dogs need medical care or training before adoption. A foster home gives them time to recover.

Four Ways to Foster a Dog in Long Beach


Not every foster commitment looks the same. Whether you can help for a few days or for the long haul, there is a role for you:

Long Term Foster Care

Care for a dog until the right adoptive family is found. This may be weeks or months, depending on the dog’s needs.

Emergency Foster

Step in when a dog urgently needs placement before a long-term foster is available. Typically a few days to a few weeks.

Forever Foster

Provide a loving home for a dog with ongoing medical needs. We cover financial costs while you provide lifelong care.

Relief Foster

Temporarily care for a foster dog while their long-term foster is away. Usually short stays of a few days.

Support

Fostering is a partnership. Here’s how we support you and what we ask in return.

We Provide

General Needs

Food, crate, bedding, toys, collar and leash

Behavioral Support

Training resources and guidance

Medical Care

All veterinary treatment and prescriptions

You Provide

Love & Care

A safe and nurturing environment

Consistency

Routine and positive reinforcement

Time & Transportation

Help with appointments and monitoring

What Our Fosters Say

Fostering changes lives. Here’s what our volunteers have experienced.

Rating: 5 out of 5.
This was our first time volunteering as a foster with a rescue group and I would just like to say that my experience with this team was truly awesome. The K9 Kismet team offers so much support to their foster volunteers. They provided everything our foster puppy needed. They sat with us and walked us through fostering. Provided plenty of literature to help us a well. They’re so super friendly and truly cared about us as fosters. Reachable at anytime.
M.D.K9 Kismet Foster Parent
We’ve been a foster family for K9 Kismet for a few years now. It’s been a wild ride for us as we were inexperienced before. The rescue made it easy to be a foster family. With training, food, vet visits, questions, they really care about the dogs’ health and quality of life. Before bringing in a new dog, they put a lot of thought into home dynamic and the how the animals will cohabitate. They’ve been really helpful with our own dog as his health declined. The rescue has helped so many dogs find home, both temporarily and forever, as well as helping local families with their pets.
L.D.K9 Kismet Foster Parent
K9 Kismet is the most altruistic organization I’ve ever come across. There are no hidden motivations here: if there is a dog in need, they will do everything they can to help, spending countless hours and dollars to make sure it’s done right by the dog and it’s future family. I’m not sure where they find the time and energy but I’m grateful they do!
T.H.K9 Kismet Forever Foster Parent

Read more from our supporters here on GreatNonprofits

K9 Kismet dog Levi smiling on the grass at the park

Ready to Make a Difference?

Opening your home can change the course of a dog’s life. If you’re ready to foster, we’re ready to support you.

Join our foster team and help us continue saving lives.

Start Your Application