June isn’t just the start of summer—it’s also National Foster a Pet Month, an important initiative led by Petco Love to shine a spotlight on one of the most impactful ways you can help animals in need: fostering.
Fostering means opening your home temporarily to a pet in need—whether it’s a kitten, puppy, dog, cat, or even a rabbit or guinea pig—until a permanent home can be found. It may seem like a small act, but it has a life-changing ripple effect.
“Ending preventable euthanasia of shelter pets is possible today,” says Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. “If just 2% more of the 85 million pet-owning households in the U.S. fostered one pet per year, we could save the lives of 800,000 animals at risk of euthanasia.”
Fostering Saves Lives
Every year, an estimated 1.5 million pets are euthanized in shelters across the United States—many of them simply due to overcrowding. Fostering helps relieve pressure on shelters, gives pets time to heal, grow, or socialize, and dramatically increases their chances of being adopted.
Best of all? Most fostering programs cover food, supplies, and veterinary care, making it a low-cost, high-impact way to make a difference.
A Win-Win for Families and Pets
Fostering isn’t just good for the animals—it’s a rewarding experience for families, too. In a world overflowing with screen time, fostering a pet brings warmth, responsibility, and joy back into daily life. Whether you're caring for a puppy for a weekend or socializing a shy kitten for a month, your time and attention help that pet become adoptable.
Kids, in particular, play a big role in the fostering journey. Pets benefit from being around children, and families can help identify if an animal thrives in a home with little ones—or if they might do better in a quieter setting. It's a real-life lesson in empathy and compassion, and one that creates lifelong memories.
Help Find Their Perfect Match
When you foster, you become your pet’s voice. You’ll learn things about them that no shelter ever could—like how they react to other pets, how they behave in a home environment, or how much they enjoy a cuddle after dinner. This insight is invaluable for helping them find the right forever family.
Ready to Make a Difference?
You don’t need a big house, a lot of experience, or months of free time. Even fostering for a few days makes a difference. Your love and care can give an animal hope—and a second chance.
So, this June, celebrate National Foster a Pet Month by becoming a lifeline for a pet in need. Contact your local animal shelter or rescue group and ask how you can help. You’ll not only save a life—you just might change your own in the process.