Fostering a dog can bring companionship, affection, and a sense of purpose while helping an animal in need. But current evidence does not show that fostering heals grief or reliably improves a caregiver’s mental wellbeing. It can also create a bond that makes the dog’s eventual departure painful. Treat fostering as one possible source of connection—not as grief treatment or a guaranteed path to feeling better.
What research says about fostering and grief
A prospective study followed 131 foster caregivers at five U.S. shelters, surveying them before, during, and after fostering between March 2022 and 2023. Caregivers described love, affection, companionship, and emotional support from their foster animals, but the study did not find longitudinal evidence that fostering improved their mental wellbeing. The authors cautioned against treating foster care as a mental-health promotion tool. Powell et al., PLOS ONE (2024)
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In that study, positive affect decreased significantly from baseline to after fostering, particularly among dog caregivers; negative affect did not significantly change. These group findings are not a prediction for any one person, and the study was not a clinical trial of bereavement treatment. Its participants came from five U.S. shelters, so the results should not be generalized to every grieving person, dog, or fostering program.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe same caregivers reported signs of anticipatory or ambiguous grief as foster periods ended, although most believed they adjusted well after the animal left. Attachment and sadness at goodbye can coexist with a worthwhile experience. A 2024 scoping review likewise identifies potential benefits as well as attachment, grief, stress, and burnout. Companion animal foster caregiving: a scoping review (PeerJ, 2024)
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What fostering may—and may not—offer
Possible connection and purpose
Sharing daily routines with a dog may provide companionship and a meaningful way to help an animal. In the caregiver study, 86% said they were likely to foster again. That is a measure of stated future intention, not proof that fostering improved their mental health.
A benefit to the dog, not proof of grief relief
Fostering can also support shelter dogs. A 2023 study of 1,955 dogs in brief-outing or temporary-foster programs and 25,946 control dogs across 51 shelters reported greater adoption likelihood for dogs in those programs. Those findings concern shelter-dog outcomes; they do not show that fostering treats grief in people. Gunter et al. (2023), PubMed
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Decide whether fostering fits your situation
Before contacting a program, consider whether you can manage the daily care and whether you feel able to handle a future transition. Fostering may not be a good fit during acute or overwhelming grief, especially if the practical demands or the prospect of saying goodbye feel unmanageable. This is a personal judgment, not a clinical screening rule. Lower-commitment volunteering or a grief-support resource may be a better starting point; available options and foster terms vary by organization.
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- Do you have household members, other pets, or responsibilities that affect the dog’s fit?
- Can you imagine supporting the dog’s next step, including adoption or transfer, even if the goodbye is hard?
- Do you have someone to talk to or practical backup if fostering becomes difficult?
Questions to ask a shelter or rescue
Contact a local shelter or rescue before choosing a dog or buying equipment. Programs differ, and some provide supplies and veterinary care. The ASPCA notes that its program and many shelters or rescues provide food, supplies, and support, but coverage and policies depend on the organization. ASPCA, “What Does It Mean to Be an Animal Foster Caregiver?” (April 30, 2025)
- How long is the expected foster period, and could it change?
- What food, equipment, veterinary care, and behavior support does the program cover?
- Who should you contact with questions or concerns, and what support is available after hours?
- How does the program handle introductions to other pets and household members?
- What is the likely transition or adoption plan, and what happens if you cannot continue the placement?
Prepare with the program’s guidance
Follow the instructions of the organization placing the dog; do not assume another program’s manual applies. Best Friends Animal Society’s dog foster manual is specific to its Utah program. It recommends an indoor, quiet adjustment area, gradual introductions, routine, coordinator contact, and careful supervision. Its example supplies include a leash, collar and ID tag, bowls, bedding, and a crate, and the manual says that program supplies needed items. Best Friends Animal Society, Dog Foster Care Manual
Ask whether the shelter will provide a leash before buying one. If you walk the dog, use a leash and follow the foster program’s safety rules; the Utah manual says to keep foster dogs leashed on walks and hikes.
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When grief needs support beyond fostering
If grief feels unmanageable, contact a qualified mental-health professional or a pet-loss support resource rather than relying on fostering as therapy. For people grieving a pet, SAMHSA’s pet-loss page points to an AVMA-authored booklet about mourning, self-care, and seeking support from others. SAMHSA, Pet Loss and Grief
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