Why Rescues Desperately Need Fosters — and What’s Happening in California Right Now
California is facing an unprecedented crisis in animal control, and dogs are paying the price.
Every day, shelters across the state are overflowing. Dogs are being surrendered, dumped, or confiscated faster than kennels can open up. Many shelters are operating well beyond capacity, with limited staff, limited funding, and heartbreaking choices being made daily.
Dogs aren’t being euthanized because they’re “unadoptable.”
They’re being euthanized because there is nowhere for them to go.
This is where rescues step in—but rescues can only save dogs if they have fosters.
Fosters are the lifeline. A foster home:
Frees up kennel space in overcrowded shelters
Gives dogs time to decompress and show who they really are
Prevents unnecessary euthanasia
Allows rescues to say “yes” instead of “we’re full”
Right now, rescues are turning away incredible dogs simply because there are not enough foster homes. Not because people don’t care—but because the system is overwhelmed.
This crisis is fueled by:
Irresponsible breeding and backyard breeders
Post-pandemic surrenders
Rising housing and cost-of-living issues
Lack of spay/neuter compliance
Owners abandoning dogs when life gets inconvenient
And shelters are left holding the consequences.
Fostering does not mean you’re on your own. Rescues provide:
Supplies
Medical care
Training support
Guidance every step of the way
What fosters provide is something shelters can’t:
a calm, safe place for a dog to survive.
If you’ve ever said, “I wish I could help”—this is how.
You don’t have to foster forever. You just have to foster right now.
One open home can save multiple lives.
If you can foster, please reach out.
If you can’t, sharing this message matters more than you know.
Dogs are running out of time—but they are not out of hope.
That hope looks like a foster home.