SAFE Foster Program

Support for Animals and Families in Emergencies (SAFE)

We can’t always plan for life’s uncertainties, but we can work to reunite pets and the people who love them. Support for Animals and Families in Emergencies (SAFE) helps pet owners experiencing extended hospital stays, homelessness, and other issues (such as displacement due to disasters) that may prevent them from caring for their beloved pets. As a SAFE foster, you can help provide relief for those who need support.

Pets are often a lifeline for people, offering unwavering companionship and unconditional love. Sometimes, pets are the only thing a person might have left when they are experiencing a crisis. Fosters in this program help to foster pets (typically for an undetermined amount of time) so that the pets can be returned to their owners once a crisis has been resolved or they are in a safe place where they are able to reclaim their pets. 

Due to strained resources and lack of space, animal shelters typically cannot offer this type of pet housing for an undetermined amount of time. Also, long-term shelter confinement is not ideal and often has a negative impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of pets. 

If you become a SAFE foster home, Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) will work to provide food, medical care, supplies, and emergency support.

Please submit your information HERE if you are interested in helping people and pets with this type of foster need, and someone from OCAS will reach out to you to discuss when assistance is needed. Your support can change the lives of people and pets for the better!