Foster Care Program
Have you ever thought about fostering?
Current Fosters
Ready to Foster?
Together our foster parents make an enormous contribution to Greenhill and the animals of our community by caring for over 600 animals per year when they need us the most. Without these dedicated volunteers, Greenhill could not provide loving homes to nearly as many deserving animals as we do each year.
We are always looking for foster parents who can open their hearts and their homes to many types of animals such as kittens, puppies and rabbits, nursing Moms with babies, as well as adult animals recovering from surgery or illness. Foster stays can vary from 2 weeks to several months, depending on the animal’s needs and the foster parent’s availability.
If you have questions or would like more information about this rewarding opportunity, please contact Kristi Chizacky, Foster Care Manager, at 541-689-1503 ext. 114 or e-mail foster@green-hill.org. Or click on the Foster Care Application link below to apply. We look forward to hearing from you!
Click on the next tab to view some FAQs about Fostering!.
Thank you for your interest in the Foster Care Program!
Can I foster if I have animals of my own?
Yes! But foster animals do need to be kept completely separate from your own animals with the exception of puppies and some adult dogs. And in most cases your animals need to be fully vaccinated. We suggest talking to your vet prior to fostering to make sure your vet feels fostering is safe for your pets.
Can I foster if I rent my home?
- Yes! We do require landlord approval for all foster parents who rent their residence. Please confirm with your landlord that you are approved to foster animals prior to submitting a foster care application.
Does Greenhill provide any supplies to take care of the foster animal?
- Yes! We can supply most or all of the items that you will need, so that you can take the best care possible of your foster animal(s). We do ask that if you can help with some supplies like food that would be extremely helpful! We try to make it as easy as possible for foster families since you are helping the animals and the shelter so much!
Does Greenhill provide medical care for my foster animal?
- Yes! Greenhill provides on-site medical care.
Can I adopt my foster animal?
- Yes! On most occasions we give the foster parent priority to submit an adoption application for the foster animal. We will explain more in our foster training.
I need temporary housing for my own animal. Is this something Greenhill can help me with?
- Unfortunately, due to our limited resources, Greenhill is not able to provide foster homes for owned animals. Greenhill can only provide foster homes for shelter animals in need.
I am unable to foster animals, is there another way I can help?
- Yes! We understand that not everyone can help an animal in their own home, but there are a lot of other ways you can help! As we rely primarily on donations and service fees to operate our shelters, donations are always greatly appreciated! We are also always in need of supplies to help in caring for our shelter animals. You can check out our wish list here. Anything from food to bottle baby supplies to towels and blankets! Also, volunteering out at the shelter is another huge way you can help! We are always looking for volunteers to help in various areas throughout the shelter! Visit the volunteering page on our website for more information!
Find out What it's like to be a foster
Ready to Foster?
Review the foster program requirements.
- You must be at least 18 years of age to become a foster parent. Children are encouraged to participate fully in this rewarding experience with their parents.
- Landlord approval is required for all foster parents who rent their residence. Please confirm with your landlord that you are approved to foster animals prior to submitting a foster care application.
- Current vaccinations are required for all foster parents’ dogs/cats prior to placing a foster animal in your home. Please confirm that your animals are up-to-date on their vaccinations prior to submitting a foster care application. We also recommend you speak with your veterinarian to make sure fostering is a good fit for you and your pets.
Complete the online Foster Care Application by clicking here.
If you would like to volunteer (not foster), please complete the online Volunteer Application on the Volunteering page.
Upon receipt of your Foster Care Application, we will contact you to further discuss your interests and the foster care program with you.
Complete the foster care program online foster care training and paperwork. A background check will be completed for all new foster parents.
Foster Spotlight
December 2025
Cheryl & Jeff
Meet our Fosters of the Month for December, Cheryl and Jeff! They have been fostering for ten years! They “started fostering mostly because we thought it would be fun to have kittens around. I had seen an ad looking for fosters since kitten season was coming up and I didn’t even know that was a thing. We thought it would be a great way to help in our community and get to snuggle kittens.” And who doesn’t love to snuggle kittens?!
When asked to share a special foster experience, here is what they had to say, “It is really difficult to choose just one unique foster because they are all unique and enjoyable in different ways. But the first one that comes to mind is Vincent (Van Gogh). He had lost part of his ear and tail in the engine of a car and had to have surgery. Due to that surgery, the vet wasn’t sure if he would regain the ability to blink his eye. But after a long recovery, many eye drops and lots of TLC, he did recover and was such a funny goofball. Another unique experience was Rocky, our second foster and first bottle baby. We learned a lot from caring for him and found that kitten fostering can be a lot of work, but extremely rewarding as well.”
We asked Cheryl and Jeff, what they enjoy about fostering, aside from snuggling cute kittens of course! “Our favorite thing about fostering is that we know we are making a difference for these tiny, helpless orphans. When a scared or shy kitten chooses to fall asleep in my lap or a bottle baby kitten finally masters using the bottle or a sick kitten starts to gain weight, it makes all the work worthwhile.”
We know that Cheryl and Jeff spend a lot of time fostering, but we wanted to know, what do they do outside of helping Greenhill? In addition to fostering, Cheryl does bookkeeping part time, as well as candy making and baking many kinds of desserts. Jeff is an equipment manager for a local company and especially enjoys riding his motorcycle whenever possible. “We both enjoy spending time with our family, traveling and visiting our grandson and his parents in Idaho.”
If you have thought about fostering for Greenhill but haven’t taken the leap yet, here is why Cheryl and Jeff think you should consider it!
“There are so many reasons to consider fostering. One is, it will be one of the most gratifying things you can do. No matter which type of animal you choose to foster, they all need our help and we get to play our part in getting them healthy and happy and into their forever homes. It is easy to get started and the foster staff is incredibly helpful and supportive, every step of the way.”
We want to give a special thank you to Cheryl and Jeff for taking on some of the harder cases and all of the love and care they provide to get their foster animals healthy. Even if it means coming out to Greenhill multiple times in a week, sometimes even in a day!