Our Foster Program Open Your Heart and Home to Help Save Lives

We Need You!

Become a Foster

Considering fostering? Foster homes are EXTREMELY VALUABLE to our rescue operation. Homeward Trails is a humane organization that puts animals first. If we learn of an animal in need, we will respond if we are able to help. Our Adoption Center can house at most 60 dogs and 10 cats at one time, limiting the number of animals we can rescue by the number of foster homes in our program. The more foster homes we have, the more animals we can rescue.

Foster a Dog

Foster a Cat

Why foster?

By providing a temporary home, you are giving that animal another chance at life that they otherwise would not have had. We’ll be there every step of the way, providing you with training and support to have a successful fostering experience. It’s fun to have a furry friend around the home! But remember, being a foster isn’t always easy—dogs may need to be housebroken or have separation anxiety issues, cats may have trust issues or need socialization. Depending on the animal and time of the year, it could take anywhere from a couple of days to many months to find a new home for your foster animal.

We always have a great need for specialty fosters who will take in pregnant and nursing dogs and cats with their babies, litters of puppies and kittens, shy and fearful dogs, dogs who need behavior support, or animals who cannot be placed in a home with other animals.

Are we a fit?

To determine if you are right for HT and if HT is right for you, take a moment to read our Foster FAQs. If you are ready to jump on board and join the HT Foster Team, please fill out the appropriate questionnaire to foster a dog or foster a cat.

A Foster Coordinator will follow up with you to provide more info about the program and answer your questions. Before starting, you will sign our Foster Agreement to clarify what you can expect from us and what we expect from you. We look forward to having you join the HT family!

The Details

Foster Process

Foster Onboarding Process
Getting started. The first step in joining our foster program is to submit a dog or cat foster application. After reviewing your application, you will be contacted by a foster coordinator to learn more about you and discuss details of our foster program. The remainder of our onboarding process includes:
- Foster handbook review
- Foster quiz complete with 100% correctness
- Foster agreement complete
- Join the cat or dog foster email listserve
- Keep an eye on the listserves for a dog or cat who might be a good fit for you or an Adoption Coordinator may reach out to you about a specific animal
It sounds like a lot but the process moves quickly. We want to set you up for success!
Ongoing Training
Learn and grow.

All fosters are strongly encouraged to participate in ongoing training to build their knowledge and skills. We offer the following regular trainings:
- Training on common medical issues live via Zoom or pre-recorded Zoom session
- Online behavior webinars
- Enhanced training program for fosters interested in behaviorally-challenged dogs
- Best Trails Forward Puppy Program (includes documents about puppy rearing from birth to 8 weeks)
- Monthly Ask A Vet Zoom sessions to address any medical concerns
Taking Care of Your Foster Pet

The fun part.

Most animals adjust to the foster home without major difficulties. Be sensitive, however, to the stress that such a change can cause your animal and be especially careful to introduce the foster animal to other pets and children slowly. If it turns out that the animal has a behavioral issue, Homeward Trails representatives can offer advice or recommend trainers if needed. Please make every effort to keep your foster animal until placement is made.
The Adoption Process

Finding their forever home.

Your foster pet will be posted on our website and your Adoption Coordinator will accept and screen applications for adoption. Once we have adequately screened a prospective adopter, checked references and found the person to be a good fit, we will contact you and put the prospective adopter in direct contact with you.

At this point, we ask that you and the prospective adopter make arrangements so that the prospective adopter can meet the animal either at your house or theirs.

We feel it is important that you, the foster parent, are able to play a role in deciding whether or not your foster animal gets placed with the prospective adopters with whom you meet. If ever you meet with a prospective adopter and have legitimate concerns about their ability to care for the animal, you have the right to delay or refuse the adoption. If you do feel it necessary to delay or refuse the adoption, simply inform the prospective adopter that you have some concerns you would like to discuss with us first and that a Homeward Trails representative will be getting in touch.

Your Adoption Coordinator will work with you to finalize the adoption which is all done remotely. Once your foster pet is adopted, you will provide the adopter with the folder you received when you took your foster home.

Fostering is a lot of work but SO rewarding. We are glad you are considering becoming an HT foster!
Post Adoption Follow-Up

Checking in. A few days to a week after the adoption, you will want to follow up with the adopter to see how things are going. Adopters are usually happy to get a call and might want some additional advice. Remind the adopter that they should contact the Adoption Coordinator if there are any problems or issues they wish to discuss in the future.

Fostering is a lot of work but SO rewarding. We are glad you are considering becoming an HT foster!

Foster a Dog

Foster a Cat

Shameless... we know. But there are tons of ways you can help!

Donate Today!

Clear the Shelters Adoption Weekend – August 31 and September 1

Reduced and Waived Adoption Fees! Join Homeward Trails as we participate in NBCUniversal Local’s 10th annual Clear The Shelters nationwide pet adoption event. Help us clear the Adoption Center and our foster homes August 31 and September 1 – many of our adoptable cats and dogs will have reduced fee and fee waived adoptions. Homeward Trails Manny Law Adoption Center 11116 Fairfax Station Rd. Fairfax Station, VA 22039 Saturday, August 31 10 AM – 4 PM Sunday, September 1 10 AM – 4 PM Our nation’s animal shelters are facing a capacity crisis and need your help now to get pets from shelter kennels into the couches of loving homes! Since its 2015 inception, Clear The Shelters has led to more than one million pet adoptions and raised more than $4.5 million. The 2023 campaign resulted in more than 158,000 adoptions – lifting the all-time adoption total past one million – and raised over $575,000.
Learn More
Helping Happy Hounds – Fee Waived Hound Adoptions

As you may or may not know, Virginia animal shelters are filled with Hounds. These amazing dogs are most often discarded by callous hunters, found starving wandering the countryside. Many never make it as hunters and are then tied up to chains or left along the side of the road like old furniture. A good number of them do not make it out of shelters alive.But these dogs – like all dogs – are amazing and worthy of families. We just cannot get them families fast enough to stop them from dying in our shelters when there is no more space.And so we are trying something new here. ALL HOUND DOGS ADOPTED FROM HOMEWARD TRAILS WILL BE FREE. Yes, we are WAIVING ADOPTION FEES for Hounds for the foreseeable future.We hope that will entice well-matched applicants to consider a Hound now. Use the money you save on training, treats, toys.We think all dogs are worthy. But the reality is that some take extra incentives. Some have more barriers to getting adopted. And the result is well, more end up dying. And no – this does NOT mean we are just giving dogs away. All applicants will still go through our application/screening process to ensure good homes. This is just us trying to save more dogs by eliminating one more barrier to adoption. And hey, Hound lovers can use all the extra money they can get to buy treats, right?Help us help these Hounds. Our program Helping Happy Hounds is live NOW. Let’s save some lives!
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Our Current Supply Needs – Can You Help?

Each year Homeward Trail spends thousands and thousands of dollars on supplies to care for our animals and support the general operations of our organization. We always strive to keep our costs as low as possible so that we can spend every extra dollar saving more lives. One simple way you can help is by donating these supplies – everything from postage stamps, to cleaning supplies, to ink cartridges and paper, to dog and cat food and litter. Our wish lists are updated regularly so you can always find our most current needs. Please consider donating supplies to help us cover the cost of these items. The more we are able to get donated, the more animals we can help. Thank you! Adoption Center Wishlist Meow Palace Wishlist Dog Enrichment Wishlist Trails Home Farm Wishlist Farmhouse Wishlist Trails UP Wishlist Puerto Rico Wishlist
Learn More

Clear the Shelters Adoption Weekend – August 31 and September 1

Reduced and Waived Adoption Fees! Join Homeward Trails as we participate in NBCUniversal Local’s 10th annual Clear The Shelters nationwide pet adoption event. Help us clear the Adoption Center and our foster homes August 31 and September 1 – many of our adoptable cats and dogs will have reduced fee and fee waived adoptions. Homeward Trails Manny Law Adoption Center 11116 Fairfax Station Rd. Fairfax Station, VA 22039 Saturday, August 31 10 AM – 4 PM Sunday, September 1 10 AM – 4 PM Our nation’s animal shelters are facing a capacity crisis and need your help now to get pets from shelter kennels into the couches of loving homes! Since its 2015 inception, Clear The Shelters has led to more than one million pet adoptions and raised more than $4.5 million. The 2023 campaign resulted in more than 158,000 adoptions – lifting the all-time adoption total past one million – and raised over $575,000.
Learn More