Introducing Your Foster Dog to a Stranger Introducing your foster dog to a stranger in your home can be fun and easy; some dogs however might be a little shy…
Read MoreWelcome to We Foster Dogs!
Join Our Community of Fosters Making a Difference
We believe that fostering a pet is not just about providing a temporary home—it’s about saving lives and creating lifelong memories. As a temporary pet parent of a wonderful, loving Memphis Shelter dog (or pup), you have the unique opportunity to make a significant impact in your community by becoming a foster parent. By providing a temporary home for a dog that just needs a second chance, you are helping your community by reducing the number of innocent stray dogs.
These dogs are ready to leave the shelter today!
These dogs can leave the shelter with a foster or adopter TODAY! GO visit the dogs at Memphis Animal Services on Appling Rd. Pick out your new delightful best friend today! Together, we can help save these special pups!








Please contact Memphis Animal Services (contact info below) if you are potentially able to foster one of these dogs. Together, we can help save them!

SPRUCE - FOSTER ROCKSTAR
Hi everyone! Meet Spruce, a mixed breed darling! This beauty came to my home yesterday as a foster. He is approximately one year old and about 60 lbs of pure love! I’ve never met such a people’s dog and I have two of my own. Two sweet pups, but Spruce is at another level of an affectionate dog. He’s quiet and only loves to be with his human(s). Unfortunately, he was found with his front left leg broken but MAS has taken care of that and he’s currently in a cast. He spent his first night in my room and only whined lightly when I got up to go to the bathroom.
This precious baby was in line for euthanasia and thanks to the efforts of our dear neighbor, Catherine P. and Ellen from RescueVet, this baby was saved and I’m thoroughly enjoying him now. I don’t understand why this amazing pup was in line for euthanasia other than his broken leg. The world would have missed out on such a special doggy.
I won’t lie, I half envy the ones who will adopt him and have him for good in their lives. This is my first time fostering and rescuing and I wonder why I hadn’t done it before in my life! If you can foster, even for a short time, please consider this precious life so many others like him at the shelters that if someone isn’t motivated to help they just die for lack of space. That’s not a good enough reason to euthanize! I hope that after you see how wonderful my experience is being, you will find it in your heart to offer a helping hand by fostering or adopting one or two of these special souls!!!
I wish you all the best!!!
Your friendly neighbor,
Georgia xx

Why foster?
If you’re thinking about fostering a dog, here are several compelling reasons why you should consider taking this rewarding step:
- Flexibility: Fostering offers a flexible commitment that can fit into any lifestyle. Whether you have a few hours for a foster field trip or a few months for a longer-term stay, we have options that suit your schedule.
- No Long-Term Commitment: Enjoy the companionship of a pet without the long-term commitment. Fostering is perfect for those who love animals but are not ready for a permanent adoption.
- Support and Resources: We provide all necessary supplies and resources, including food, medical care, and training guides, to ensure a smooth fostering experience.

Benefits of Fostering
When you open your home to a pet in need, fostering a dog can bring joy and companionship to various lifestyles:
- Families with Kids: Dogs can teach children responsibility, empathy, and compassion. They also provide endless fun and energy, making them perfect playmates.
- Single Homeowners: A dog can offer companionship and security, making your home feel warmer and more welcoming.
- Couples: Caring for a dog together can strengthen your bond and provide shared experiences and memories.
- Anyone Who Works from Home: Dogs can reduce stress and increase productivity by encouraging regular breaks and physical activity.
Dogs Urgently in Need of Fosters at the Memphis Shelter!
Click to view videos of our dogs on YouTube!
This channel showcases dogs at Memphis Animal Services that are available to foster and adopt. These videos are also on each dog’s profile through the shelter’s website!
Ready to foster and save a life?
Please help these dogs before it's too late!!












Get Involved!
Join a community of compassionate homeowners who are making a difference. By fostering, you are helping to save lives and give pets a second chance at finding their forever homes.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Contact us today to learn more about how you can become a foster parent and help us continue our mission of saving lives in Memphis.
The Benefits of Foster Programs
- Foster reduces pets’ stress levels.
- Pets in foster have improved wellbeing compared to pets in the shelter.
- Organizations can learn more about pets’ personalities while they’re in foster homes.
- Foster placement leads to increases in positive outcomes for pets.
- The pet gets an advocate who often helps market them for adoption and continues to be involved in their life at the shelter.
- The shelter gets information on the pet’s behavior in a home, which can be different than what is seen in the shelter.
- It increases shelter pets’ visibility in the community.
- The opportunity to get great photos of the pet in a home environment and out and about.
- It leads to a quieter shelter, which benefits the staff and resident pets.
- Pets going to foster homes help to open up space at the shelter.
- Pets aren’t exposed to as many pathogens as in a shelter
- Short-term foster options are the “gateway” to more fostering. Not everyone can foster long-term. Short-term programs lower the bar and allow more people to participate in fostering.
- The organization engages with their community in a positive way.
Each dog above is on the critical list, which means they need fosters immediately. If you would like to see all of the dogs available at the shelter, click the link below.
Interested in supporting one of these critical dogs? Your pledge could make a difference!
What is a Pledge?
A pledge is an incentive for a rescue to pull a dog from a shelter. The pledges will go to the rescue for that specific dog’s expenses, mostly for their medical needs.
Foster + Pledge = Saves a Critical Dog’s Life!
To pledge, follow these steps:
- Visit the Critical Memphis Animals Facebook page
- Find a dog you’d like to help
- Comment the amount you’d like to pledge on that dog’s post
- Check Facebook Messenger for info on how to donate your pledge amount
When you pledge, you will receive updates and pictures of the dog that you helped via Facebook Messenger. Your pledge could help save a dog’s life!
Featured Articles
Need to find a specific topic? Try using the search function below.
Why Fostering Might Be Your Perfect “Paw-sibility”
Love dogs but worried about long-term commitment? Fostering could be your ideal solution! Experience all the joy of having a furry friend without the 10-15 year commitment of adoption. Here’s…
Read MoreThe Benefits of Having a Dog
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Read MoreLet’s Talk About Black Dog Syndrome (BDS)
Did you know that black dogs are often overlooked in shelters even though they’re just as loveable as dogs of any other color? This is known as Black Dog Syndrome…
Read MoreHow to Introduce Dogs to Each Other
Whether you’re adopting a second dog or welcoming a foster dog into your home, you’ll need to learn how to introduce dogs. No matter how friendly the two dogs seem,…
Read MoreHow to Introduce a Dog to a Cat
Whether you’re fostering a dog when you have a cat or adopting a dog into a household with cats, learning how to introduce a dog to a cat is crucial.…
Read MoreRead This Before Rehoming Your Pet
Pets are family members, so rehoming a pet should be a last resort. There are lots of resources available to help pet parents and their pets stay together, such as…
Read MoreBarriers to Fostering Dogs and Solutions to Overcome Them
Many dog lovers have never tried fostering before because they think they can’t for one reason or another. It could be because of the time commitment, living situation, or emotional…
Read MoreWhat is a Shelter Dog? They’re Not Owner Rejects.
A lot of people talk about the importance of shelter dogs, but what exactly is a shelter dog? Shelter dogs can make great companions in the right household, which is…
Read MoreHow to Prepare for a Foster Dog
If you’ve never fostered a dog before, you’re probably wondering how to prepare for a foster dog. The process can seem overwhelming at first, but if you’re properly prepared, your…
Read MoreCommon Dog Behavior Problems and Solutions
Dog behavior problems can be frustrating for new dog foster parents. Even minor concerns can be annoying to deal with if you can’t find a good solution. So, to help…
Read MoreDog Body Language: Knowing When Foster Dogs are Stressed
Understanding dog body language is a great way for new foster parents to set their foster dogs up for success. Dogs display lots of behaviors that could indicate stress or…
Read MoreFosters Needed for Memphis Shelter
Memphis Animal Services
2350 Appling City Cove
Memphis, TN 38133
(901) 636-1416
MAS@memphistn.gov
HOURS
Monday-Friday 1-6pm
Saturday & Sunday 12-4pm