Foster Care

GMHS Foster Volunteers welcome animals into their home for a short amount of time, often saving their lives.

​Some types of animals who need temporary foster placement are:

• Dogs/cats with special behavioral needs. Some of our animals lack socialization and training, time spent in a foster home working on basic skills can be lifesaving!
• Neonatal kittens! They need feeding every 2-6 hours, depending on their age. If their mother is not with them, our foster families bottle feed the kittens. 'Kitten Season' starts every spring and lasts through the fall - the more foster homes we have ready for neonatal kittens, the better!
• Dogs/cats recuperating from injury or illness. Some animals enter the shelter injured or ill and require care while they get well. Having a quiet place to recuperate means the world to them!

Fred spent three months in a foster
home healing from a broken femur and pelvis.

How To Become A Foster

If you are interested in opening your home and providing love to a shelter animal, fostering might be for you!  The first step to becoming a foster with Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society is to fill out an application.

Download the Foster Application

Interested in being a GMHS Foster Volunteer, but have some questions? Check out our Foster FAQs.


*All applications are subject to approval.