Foster a Shelter Dog
Save a Dog’s Life & Change a Hero’s
Open your home to a shelter dog and give them a safe place to land while the Liberty Dogs™ team assesses, trains, and prepares them to become a Service Dog for a U.S. Veteran.
At Liberty Dogs, we partner with high-euthanasia shelters across the Central Valley and Northern California, where large dogs are most at risk. It’s a second chance for shelter dogs to thrive and serve a hero living with PTSD. As a foster, your home is their perfect start as their new journey begins.
Process Overview
Foster Dog Matches Made With Care
No two dogs are alike; some are cuddly and laid-back, others are adventurous and full of personality. Before placement, our team gets to know your lifestyle, preferences, and household, including any pets. The goal is a great fit from day one for you and your foster dog.
Types of Fostering Opportunities
We designed this volunteer opportunity to meet you where you are. Whether you commit to several months or a couple days, your willingness gives a shelter dog a safe place to land and helps our team prepare more dogs for Veterans in need.
Long-Term Foster
Be there for a shelter dog’s entire journey, from training to the moment they’re either placed with a Veteran or change careers. Your foster dog is with you every evening and all weekend long, while our team handles training Monday through Friday. Drop-off is 7–9 AM, pick-up is 5–7 PM.
Flexible Weekend Foster
If you have weekday commitments but still want to be a part of our mission, foster a shelter dog on weekends. Your home offers love and stability as they train over the next 6-9 months.
Pick-up your foster dog on Friday evening and drop-off for training on Monday morning.
Short-Term Foster
Care for a shelter dog in need of immediate support. By opening your home for a short stay (1-3 days), you give them time to decompress outside of the kennel environment.
Training drop-off is optional while the dog settles.
Benefits of Fostering
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All Costs Covered
Liberty Dogs takes care of all costs related to veterinary care, food, and basic supplies.
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Full Support
Fosters for shelter dogs receive guidance throughout the time they work with us. Whenever you need support, our team will be ready.
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Flexibility
This volunteer opportunity is built to work around your life. Flexible drop-off and pick-up hours make the weekday training schedule easy to manage, so fostering fits seamlessly into your routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Where do your shelter dogs come from?
Our dogs come from trusted shelter and rescue partners across California, primarily in high-euthanasia regions like the Central Valley, Bay Area, and Northern CA. Each dog we bring onto the Liberty Dogs campus is given the opportunity to become part of something bigger.
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What types of shelter dogs do you train?
Most of our dogs are large mixed-breed pups (40+ lbs) between 8 months and 3 years old. Because large dogs often face the greatest risk in shelters, they are currently our greatest focus.
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How long will I keep my foster shelter dog?
Fostering is flexible and designed to meet you where you are. Long-Term Fosters typically commit to 6–9 months, while Weekend and Short-Term options offer more flexibility. Life happens, and if a placement ever isn’t the right fit, our team will always support you and the dog.
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Do I need prior dog training experience to foster?
Not at all! Liberty Dogs provides professional training, guidance, and ongoing support from our expert trainers every step of the way. Your role is simple yet powerful: Provide a safe, stable, and loving home while being open to learning.
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Can I have other pets in my home?
Yes. Many of our fosters have resident pets. We ask that they are friendly, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered, with a maximum of two resident dogs. Our team can coordinate meet-and-greets with trainers to ensure the right match based on the information you provide in your application.
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Can I take my foster shelter dog to public places?
Because our dogs are still learning, we ask foster families to keep outings simple and limited to their home or on neighborhood walks. Our professional trainers handle advanced public exposure during daily training to set each dog up for success.
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What happens if the shelter dog I foster doesn’t become a Service Dog?
Every dog has a purpose, even if their path looks different. Some transition into career changes like Hearing Dogs or therapeutic support. If another career isn’t chosen, foster families are given the first opportunity to adopt.
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Is it difficult to say goodbye when a foster shelter dog moves on in their journey?
It’s completely natural to form a strong bond, and saying goodbye can be emotional. Many fosters find comfort in knowing their love and consistency helped prepare a dog to change a Veteran’s life. And, when the time feels right, there’s always another foster pup who needs a loving home.
