Love animals? Want to make a difference in someone’s life?

San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) and Public Health Policy and Planning (PHPP) are seeking volunteers for The Fostering Wellness Program, which provides temporary pet foster care through a network of volunteer foster homes.  

For someone facing mental health or substance use challenges, pets offer vital emotional support. But when someone needs a higher level of care, concern for their animal’s well-being becomes a major barrier to getting help. Many people delay or forgo treatment because they have no one to care for their pets. Foster support gives pet owners the peace of mind they need to seek treatment for themselves, knowing their animal companions are safe and cared for.  

We’re now recruiting volunteers to provide temporary foster care for pets – typically for 30-90 days. We are looking for foster homes located in San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda and Santa Clara counties.  

 We welcome all animal lovers, especially those who can foster dogs and cats. The fostering program is confidential for clients and fosterers, provides training and home inspections and will supply all food and veterinary care for the pets as needed. All you provide is a safe, loving environment. For more information or to volunteer, email fosteringwellness@smcgov.org. 

Client Referrals

Providers and case managers can please email fosteringwellness@smcgov.org to receive the referral form.  

Testimonials

From a fosterer in BHRS: “In late August it was brought to my attention that a client had surrendered her beloved pet cat to the SPCA on a thirty day hold. We had only two days left and the client was not going to be able to provide a home for her any longer. The Fostering Wellness program was contacted to explore the possibility of fostering her immediately. We volunteered to foster and were approved and provided with all the necessary items for her care. The next day, we picked her up and brought her home. The first day she was bouncing off the walls with glee. She settled in very well and was inseparable with us. Her extremely affectionate nature is a joy! We highly recommend the Fostering Wellness Program as the success has been amazing.  Her original owner has piece of mind, a pet has been saved, and her foster parents lives have been enriched beyond measure.”