Foster with us
Fostering with New Collar Collective
At New Collar Collective, we believe that pairing rescued animals with their loving foster families is a key step in their adoption journey. We are a foster-based rescue - meaning we don’t have a brick and mortar shelter. Without available fosters for our rescued animals, they would be left behind in a shelter somewhere. When you foster with us, you are literally saving lives.
The animals that we rescue are immediately placed into foster homes, while all necessary supplies and vetting costs are covered by us. As a foster, our rescue animals rely on you to provide them with a safe, stable and loving spot to land as they wait for their furever family. You can foster with us no matter your experience level.
New Collar Collective is a 100% volunteer-run organization that is dedicated to saving animals in areas that need our help the most. We do not discriminate based on age, size, breed or physical location.
Please check out the FAQs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost to foster a rescue?
All supplies and vetting costs are covered by New Collar Collective when fostering. We have partnerships with several vet clinics in the GTA. All rescues will be microchipped, receive necessary vaccinations, and be spayed/neutered before they are adopted to prevent further homeless animals.
New Collar Collective will not be declawing rescue cats and we do not advocate or condone this unnecessary procedure. It is painful for the cats and can result in unnecessary long-term health risks. There may be rescue cats that have been declawed prior to coming into our care. Fosters need to be willing to be attentive and redirect the foster cats and understand there is a likelihood that some damage to property may occur.
If I live outside of GTA can I still foster?
Absolutely! Please note that our intakes and veterinarians are generally located within the GTA. As a foster you will need to be able to pick up your foster on intake days and bring them to their vet appointments (usually one vet visit). Many of our events will also happen in the GTA and there may be times you will be asked to bring your foster dog or cat to an event to help promote its adoption.
Can you guarantee the foster animal will be healthy?
New Collar Collective cannot guarantee the health of the rescues we take in. We commit to disclosing all information we have on the rescue animals before we place them in your home.
It is common for rescue dogs to have intestinal worms, kennel cough or loose stools. And rescue cats sometimes have eye or respiratory infections that may be infectious to other animals in the home. All are very treatable and do not pose long-term health risks for you or other pets in your home. We would encourage you to speak with your vet prior to fostering if you have any concerns for your pets.
Can I still foster if I don’t have a fenced in yard? Or if I live in a small condo downtown?
Of course! You can foster a rescue dog or cat whether you live in a house, condo, or apartment. Fosters need to be committed to providing their dogs with regular opportunities for exercise depending on the dog’s energy level. And opportunities for mental enrichment for foster cats.
Small condo/apt? No problem! A dog bouncing off the walls of an apartment doesn’t need a bigger house; they just need more exercise.
Please note when fostering cats, we do not permit foster cats to be outside.
I work full time, can I still foster?
Yes. New Collar Collective recognizes that many people who work full time would like to foster. But if your regular full workday is then followed by going straight to the gym, and many evenings out during the week...perhaps fostering is not right for you at this time.
If your work schedule requires you to be away from your home longer than ~9hrs for dogs or ~12hrs for cats, we ask that you arrange with a friend, neighbour or pet sitter/walker for a mid-day break for foster (costs for a pet sitter/walker will not be reimbursed).
Can I have other pets and foster?
Yes. Many of our foster dogs and cats get along with other dogs, cats and other animals. We provide fosters with resources to guide slow introductions with current pets to increase successful meetings. Please note your pets MUST BE SPAYED/NEUTERED and must also be up to date on their routine vaccinations.
What supplies does the rescue provide?
New Collar Collective will provide each foster with a collar, leash, tag, food, crates, and litter/litter boxes. As we are dependent on donations for our supplies, items such as toys, bed, bowls, etc., are subject to availability. We are grateful for any supplies fosters decide to purchase for their dog or cat but it is not required.
How long is a typical foster period?
There isn’t an exact science to how long it takes a foster to be adopted. New Collar Collective will not match our rescues until 2 weeks after they have come into our care. This allows us to know enough about them to make strong matches with adoptive families. Dogs are usually with fosters for an average of 2-6 weeks. Sometimes cats can be with fosters for several months.
What if I want to adopt my foster?
Many fosters start to have adoption feelings for their foster dog or cat and want to adopt them. As an approved foster, the application process is a bit shorter, but you will still need to fill out an adoption application and speak with an adoption coordinator. New Collar Collective does not match our rescue animals to a potential adopter until two weeks after they have arrived. This can also provide you with an opportunity to decide if you want to apply to adopt.
Please note that if another application is received ahead of yours, it will be reviewed first.
What happens if I foster but it’s not working out?
New Collar Collective will always try to make the best match possible for both our rescues and our fosters. We ask that fosters give our rescue dogs a chance to settle in. This can take a few days to a few weeks. These animals have been through a lot and sometimes it can take a bit for things to settle down. Our team is always here to support you. If an animal needs to be moved to a new foster, we will try to make the arrangements as quickly as possible but please note that it may take a few days.
What happens if I have to leave for a work trip/vacation while I am fostering?
No problem! When fostering dogs, we will find a temporary foster for the time that you are away. We ask that you give us as much notice as possible (minimum 5 days). In some instances, the foster may be moved to a new full-time foster to reduce the number of moves a dog has to go through.
It can be very difficult for a cat to be moved from home to home, so we recommend that fosters plan for in-home care (friend or family member) that can watch the foster cat.
Do you allow families with kids to foster?
Yes. New Collar Collective believes that fostering a rescue animal is an opportunity that should be open to families of all shapes and sizes. Families with children four years and older are welcome to apply.
It is a parent’s responsibility to ensure that children are aware of how to appropriately interact with the foster animals. New Collar Collective will share educational resources as they are available. We will also only match dogs and cats who our rescue partners indicate are appropriate to place with families with children. These are rescue animals. We do not know their history most of the time. Parents are responsible to ensure children are supervised and know how to interact appropriately with the foster animals.
Okay, I’m ready!
How do I become a foster?
To become a foster with New Collar Collective the first step is to fill out our foster application.
Check out our foster process & policies page here for more information.