Sometimes, circumstances beyond a family’s control can make it temporarily difficult to care for an animal companion.
Toronto Humane Society’s Animal Companion Temporary Care (Respite) program provides temporary foster care and respite for animals whose families are experiencing a short-term situation that affects their ability to safely care for them.
The program gives families time and space to navigate their circumstances while their animal companion receives a safe, loving home and the care they need.
The Animal Companion Temporary Care (Respite) program was formerly known as Urgent Foster Care.
Animal Companion Temporary Care (Respite) is a temporary pet care program designed to help keep animals with the families who love them.
When a family is facing a short-term challenge, temporary foster care can provide a safe alternative to surrendering an animal. While an animal is in foster care, their family can focus on finding stability and working toward a time when they can be reunited.
Families may seek temporary pet care when they are:
The program is intended for families who want to remain together with their animal companion and plan to reunite once their circumstances have stabilized.
We are currently experiencing a higher than normal interest in entering our Urgent Care program. With an increased number of inquiries, it may take up to 3-5 business days to receive a response from an Urgent Care staff member. We apologize for the delay in advance and will respond as soon as we can. Please note, the Urgent Care program is not an emergency service. The program relies on the generosity of foster homes, so we can only offer Urgent Care services to families as foster homes are secured.
Families complete an application telling us about their circumstances and their animal companion’s needs.
The program is not an emergency service. Placement depends on the availability of appropriate foster homes, so we can only accept animals when a suitable foster placement is available.
Due to the current level of interest in the program, it may take 3–5 business days to receive a response from a member of our team. We appreciate your patience while we review your application.
[APPLY FOR TEMPORARY CARE]
If we are able to accept an animal into the program, our medical team completes a wellness assessment at intake.
Toronto Humane Society covers the cost of necessary veterinary care during the temporary care period, including vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery and other treatment deemed necessary by our veterinary team.
Animals may also receive support from our Training & Behaviour team when appropriate.
Our team carefully matches each animal with a foster family based on their individual needs, temperament and care requirements.
Foster families receive the support they need to provide safe, compassionate care throughout the temporary placement.
While in foster care, animals have access to Toronto Humane Society’s veterinary and Training & Behaviour teams when needed.
Families also receive regular updates and photos so they can stay connected with their animal companion while they are apart.
Temporary care is intended to provide a bridge through a short-term situation—not to permanently separate an animal from their family.
When the family is ready and their circumstances allow, our team coordinates the animal’s return home.
Temporary care is offered for a minimum of two weeks and up to six months, depending on the individual circumstances of the family and animal.
For many people, an animal companion is part of the family. The bond they share can provide comfort, companionship and stability—particularly during difficult times.
But housing instability, unsafe living situations, health challenges and other circumstances can sometimes make it difficult for a family to keep their animal with them.
Families should not have to choose between getting the help they need and keeping the animal they love.
Animal Companion Temporary Care (Respite) creates another option.
By providing temporary foster care, we can give an animal a safe place to stay while their family works toward stability. This can help prevent unnecessary surrender and preserve the relationship between animals and the people who love them.
Temporary care can be the bridge that helps a family stay together.
Animal Companion Temporary Care (Respite) is part of Toronto Humane Society’s commitment to supporting both animals and the people who care for them.
When we address the circumstances that can put the human-animal bond at risk, we can help prevent animals from entering shelter care unnecessarily and give families a path toward reunification.
Our goal is simple: help animals stay with the families who love them whenever it is safe and possible to do so.
Toronto Humane Society is committed to sharing knowledge and resources that can help strengthen access to temporary pet care and respite services across the animal welfare sector.
Our team has developed the Animal Companion Temporary Care Resource Manual to help animal welfare organizations develop and operate their own temporary care fostering programs. Download the manual here.
