We cover the costs. You bring the care.
Fostering with Battersea won't cost you a thing. We provide food, equipment and veterinary treatment for your foster animal, plus guidance and training from day one.
You bring your time and patience. We'll take care of the rest.
Why become a dog or cat foster carer?
Fostering gives our dogs and cats a calm, safe place to land while they're in-between homes. For an animal who's found kennel or cattery life stressful, a home environment can make all the difference to their wellbeing and their chances of finding a family.
Fostering is a great way to have an animal in your life when you aren’t able to take on that long-term commitment. There'll be ups and downs along the way, but we’ll be supporting you at every step.
Many of our foster carers say giving an animal the support and training they need is one of the most rewarding things they've done. It takes time and patience, but watching your foster animal settle, grow in confidence and find their home makes every bit of it worth it.
Ella's fostering story
"To provide them with the support and training that they really need, it's really rewarding." - Ella, dog foster carer.
Could you foster?
A few things apply to every dog or cat foster carer:
- No other pets currently in your home
- Live within an hour's drive of one of our sites: London (Battersea), Brands Hatch (Kent) or Old Windsor (Berkshire).
- Willing to complete our training.
Dogs and cats each have their own specific requirements too, depending on age and needs. See the full criteria and how to apply on the page for the animal you're interested in.
Fostering FAQs
None. We provide everything your foster animals needs, including food, bedding, toys and veterinary care.
No. We'll give you all the training and support you need. If you've cared for animals with additional needs before, we'd love to hear from you – but it's not a requirement.
An online induction covering animal behaviour, body language, stress signals and handling, plus details of your specific animal before you foster them. You'll also complete required modules on our online learning platform.
Not directly. Our team matches each animal to the right foster home based on their needs and your circumstances. You'll never be asked to take an animal that you’re not comfortable fostering.
