Foster Pets in
Sevier County, TN
Open your home. Save a life. Strengthen our community.
When you foster pets in Sevier County, TN, you play a direct role in saving lives. Fostering provides temporary care for cats, dogs, and other animals who need extra time, healing, or support before finding their forever homes, and allows the Sevier County Animal Shelter to help even more animals in need.
Foster homes are a vital part of our lifesaving work. By fostering a pet, you give them comfort, stability, and individual attention while freeing up space at the shelter for other animals who need help.
We serve all of Sevier County, TN, including Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Pittman Center.
Animals Needing a Foster Home
“Fostering is one of the most impactful things someone can do for Sevier County Animal.”
- Ashley Thomas, Shelter Director
Why foster pets?
Fostering changes lives for animals and for people. Some pets struggle in a shelter environment, while others simply need time to grow, recover, or gain confidence. When you foster animals with Sevier County Animal Shelter, you provide a calm, loving environment that helps animals thrive and show their true personalities.
Foster care often leads to:
Faster adoptions
Improved health and behavior outcomes
Reduced stress for animals
Increased lifesaving capacity for the shelter
Even short-term fostering can make a lasting impact!
Which Animals Need Foster Care?
Many types of animals benefit from foster homes, including:
Orphaned puppies or kittens who need bottle-feeding
Unweaned puppies or kittens staying with their mother
Puppies or kittens who are eating on their own but are not yet ready for spaying or neutering
Cats or dogs recovering from injury, illness, or surgery
Pets needing help with weight gain or weight loss
Animals awaiting rescue placement or transport
Cruelty case animals waiting for the court’s verdict
Pets who need time in a home environment for socialization
Whether you can foster for a few days, a few weeks, or longer, fostering pets from the Sevier County Animal Shelter helps create second chances.
How Fostering Works
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You don’t need special training or a perfect home to foster pets in Sevier County, just a safe space, patience, and a willingness to help.
Our foster families come from all walks of life, and we work with you to find a foster situation that fits your home, schedule, and comfort level.
If you’re unsure whether fostering is right for you, we’re happy to answer questions and help you explore your options. -
All animals are examined by our shelter team and receive appropriate medical care, including vaccines, deworming, flea prevention, and testing. Each animal’s individual needs are carefully evaluated.
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When an animal needs foster care, approved foster families are notified through our foster Facebook group and/or direct communication from our team.
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Foster families pick up their foster pet(s) along with the supplies needed to get started.
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Foster families bring their foster pet(s) back to the Sevier County Animal Shelter as needed for follow-up exams, vaccines, or additional care. Our team remains available for guidance and support throughout the foster period.
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Once the animal is healthy and ready, they are promoted for adoption or placed on the adoption floor until a forever home is found.
Our Foster Programs
Check out our many fostering programs available!
Socialization Foster: Spicy kittens, scared or under-socialized puppies and dogs
Medical Fostering: A variety of medical cases needing help with daily medications/monitoring, physical therapy, medicated baths, and more!
Adoption Ambassadors: Fostering a pet and working alongside the shelter team to advocate for that pet's adoption on social media, in person, and bringing them to adoption events.
Boarding Buddies: Boarding facilities, training facilities, and vet offices assist homeless pets by fostering adult animals and helping them get adopted.
Tiny Hearts: Fostering bottle kittens and puppies
Virtual Fosters: Advertise and sponsor a virtual foster pet, helping us find the animal’s furever home.
Office Fosters: Businesses or individuals working at pet-friendly office spaces can help by fostering a pet at work, which can even be a great team activity and morale booster!
Sleepovers: Give an adult pet a break from the shelter by bringing them home for up to 3 days! Helps pets reset, relax AND helps us by giving us more personality information and content.
Personality Forms
We ask that all foster parents fill out a personality form for the animals so that we can learn more about them. The more information you can provide, the better the team at SCAS can help ensure the pet lands in the best home possible.
A Community Powered Shelter
Our community’s support is our greatest asset. Volunteers, fosters, adopters, donors, and advocates play a vital role in the lives of the animals we serve every day.
Everyone is welcome at Sevier County Animal Shelter. We invite you to visit, get involved, and stand alongside us in creating better outcomes for pets. Whether you choose to adopt, volunteer, foster, donate, or advocate, your support truly makes a difference.
Make a donation
Your donations directly fund lifesaving care, including medical treatment, vaccinations, food, enrichment, and urgent care needs. Every donation helps!
