Animal shelters and rescues around New Jersey serve as places of hope for animals in need — providing them with support, medical attention, and love. Fosters are always needed to help provide temporary homes for dogs, cats, and other small animals throughout the United States. In recent months, many New Jersey animal shelters have become overcrowded. To ensure every animal has a place to sleep comfortably, fosters are needed at many rescues in our area. We’ve compiled a list of animal shelters and rescues that need the community’s help. Read on for a list of New Jersey animal shelters and rescues that currently need fosters, and how you can help them.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. We’re sharing rescues that have noted a need for fosters on their websites. Please contact the rescues for more information.
Associated Humane Societies | 124 Evergreen Avenue, Newark
Founded in 1906, The Associated Humane Societies is the largest animal sheltering system in New Jersey. The shelter rescues stray and homeless animals, both domestic and wildlife, providing care and sanctuary until homes for them can be found. Fostering opportunities can be found here and an application must be filled out.
Foster Needs: Dogs, cats, kittens, + puppies
How to apply to foster: APPLY HERE
Contact Information:
- Website: https://ahscares.org/
- Email: newark@ahsppz.org
- Phone: 973-824-7080
- Facebook: /ahsnewark
- Instagram: @ahsnewark
Clifton Friends of the Shelter | 900 Clifton Avenue, Clifton
Clifton Friends of the Shelter is a small shelter run completely by volunteers. Its mission is to provide abandoned and abused animals a second chance at a loving home. Those interested in volunteering and fostering need to contact the shelter directly at 973-470-5936. A voicemail can be left if there is no response and a shelter volunteer will reach back at their convenience. Learn more here.
Foster Needs: Dogs + cats
How to apply to foster: APPLY HERE
Contact Information:
- Website: https://cliftonanimalshelter.com/
- Phone: 973-470-5936
- Facebook: /FriendsoftheShelterClifton
- Instagram: @cliftoncats
Read More: Animal Shelters in North Jersey Looking for Volunteers
East Coast Canine Rescue Inc. | New Jersey
Based on the East Coast, this rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit volunteer-based animal welfare organization. It has two headquarters in New Jersey and Connecticut. However, the organization serves the North East and South Eastern regions of the United States. Founded by animal advocates, Vicki and Paula, the rescue is looking for fosters for dogs. An application must be filled out here.
Foster Needs: Dogs
How to apply to foster: APPLY HERE
Contact Information:
- Website: https://www.eastcoastcaninerescue.org/
- Email: eastcoastcaninerescueinc@gmail.com
- Facebook: /ECCRDOGS
- Instagram: @eastcoastcaninerescue
Halfway Home Animal Rescue Team | Oakland, New Jersey
Based in Oakland, New Jersey, this animal rescue is entirely volunteer-run. All breeds are rescued, including dogs, cats, small animals, and horses. Hard-to-place animals such as seniors, those with special needs, those who have critical medical needs, or have been discarded previously are the shelter’s priority. Applications for fostering and volunteering can be found here and here.
Foster Needs: Dogs, cats, bottle babies, senior animals, + special needs animals
How to apply to foster: APPLY HERE
Contact Information:
- Website: https://www.hharteam.org/
- Email: rescue@hharteam.org
- Phone: 973-475-5065
- Facebook: /halfwayhomeanimalrescueteamofnj
- Instagram: @halfwayhomeanimalrescueteam
Montclair Township Animal Shelter | 77 North Willow Street, Montclair
Run and governed by the Township of Montclair, the MTAS works for animal care and control in the City of Montclair. There are currently two different volunteering opportunities at the shelter. There is dog walking, where volunteers can help by walking and socializing dogs in a supervised space. The second opportunity is cat care, where volunteers attend to cats by sterilizing cages, washing food bowls, attending to litter boxes, and interacting with the shelter cats. Each opportunity has distinct application forms that can be found here. Fostering information for the Montclair Township Animal Shelter can be found here.
Foster Needs: Dogs + cats
How to apply to foster: APPLY HERE
Contact Information:
- Website: https://www.montclairnjusa.org/Government/Departments/Animal-Shelter
- Email: mtas@montclairnjusa.org
- Phone: 973-744-8600
- Facebook: /MontclairAnimalShelter
- Instagram: @montclairtownshipanimalshelter
- X: @mtas77
Mount Pleasant Animal Shelter | 194 NJ-10, East Hanover
For more than 50 years, Mount Pleasant Animal Shelter has been caring for homeless animals while working to find a permanent, loving home for cats and dogs. There are many different fostering opportunities available. The shelter prioritizes fosters who can assist with unweaned puppies and kittens, puppies or kittens too young for adoption or requiring medical care, and dogs or cats who are stressed in a shelter environment or recovering from medical procedures. Fostering information can be found here.
Foster Needs: Dogs, cats, puppies, + kittens
How to apply to foster: APPLY HERE
Contact Information:
- Website: https://njshelter.org/
- Email: info@njshelter.org
- Phone: 973-386-0590
- Facebook: /Mt.PleasantAnimalShelter
- Instagram: @mpanimalshelter
- X: @mt_animal
See Spot Rescued | Jersey City
See Spot Rescued is a 501(c)3 non-profit dog rescue based in Jersey City, New Jersey and Austin, Texas. The rescue is entirely foster-based and staffed by volunteers. It works to rescue dogs and hopes to lead them into permanent homes. Although there is no physical address for See Spot Rescued, many fosters open their doors and welcome these dogs in the meantime. If a dog moves to a foster home, then another available space opens to save another dog’s life. An application form must be filled out here to be considered to become a foster.
Foster Needs: Dogs
How to apply to foster: APPLY HERE
Contact Information:
- Website: https://seespotrescued.org/
- Email: woof@seespotrescued.com
- Facebook: /seespotrescued
- Instagram: @seespotrescued
Secaucus Animal Shelter | 525 Meadowlands Parkway, Secaucus
Located in Secaucus, this animal shelter welcomes volunteers and foster parents. In terms of volunteering, a minimum of two hours is needed to help out the animals at the shelter. People interested in this opportunity can drop by the shelter during its public hours and they will be asked to fill out a new volunteer application or an email can be forwarded to animalshelter@secaucus.net and someone from the team will contact the applicant. Fostering for the Secaucus Animal Shelter requires the applicant to reach out directly.
Foster Needs: Dogs + cats
How to apply to foster: Contact the shelter directly through the link HERE.
Contact Information:
- Website: https://sasnj.org/
- Email: animalshelter@secaucus.net
- Phone: 201-348-3213
- Facebook: /TheSecaucusAnimalShelter
- Instagram: @secaucus_animal_shelter
- X: @friendsofsasnj
St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center | 575 Woodland Avenue, Madison
For more than 80 years, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center has been helping animals in need in New Jersey. The organization hosts programs such as pet food banks, vaccine clinics, and emergency pet boarding. There are several volunteer opportunities available such as Kennel/Cattery Support, Helping Hand, Dog Walker, Feline Friend, and more listed on its website. Applications for volunteering can be filled out here. St. Hubert’s is also currently looking for foster parents and applications are available here.
Foster Needs: Dogs + cats
How to apply to foster: APPLY HERE
Contact Information:
- Website: https://www.sthuberts.org/
- Email: info@sthuberts.org
- Phone: 973-377-2295
- Facebook: /StHubertsAnimal
- Instagram: @sthubertsanimal
- X: @sthubertsanimal
Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge | 2 Shelter Lane, Oakland
Over 40 years ago, two animal rescue organizations worked separately advocating for animals. However, with limited resources to create a permanent shelter for homeless animals, Bergen Animal Rescue, Inc., (BARI) and Ramapo Animal Refuge, Inc. (RARI) worked together as one organization. Volunteers and fosters are needed to help run the organization meet its goal to place animals in a loving home. Fostering information can be found here.
Foster Needs: Dogs, cats, puppies, + other small animals
How to apply to foster: APPLY HERE
Contact Information:
- Website: https://rbari.org/
- Email: adoptlove@rbari.org
- Phone: 201-337-5180
- Facebook: /rbarishelter
- Instagram: @rbarishelter
- X: @rbarishelter
See More: This Rescue Spent 700 Days in the Shelter: Now He Needs a Forever Home
Wise Animal Rescue | New Jersey
Wise Animal Rescue is a foster-based rescue in New Jersey. It is dedicated to rescuing animals of all ages and breeds throughout the state. Volunteer opportunities include fundraising, working on Wise’s social media pages, and pet transportation. For those interested in volunteering, apply through the link here. With the organization being fully foster-based, becoming a foster parent is another available opportunity to help animals in need. Fostering information can be found here.
Foster Needs: Looking for big dog fosters; always looking for fosters to add to their pool of volunteers.
How to apply to foster: APPLY HERE
Contact Information:
- Website: https://www.wiseanimalrescue.org/
- Email: wiseanimalrescue@gmail.com
- Phone: 973-850-9473
- Facebook: /wiseanimalrescue
- Instagram: @wiseanimalrescue
- X: @wiserescue
Your New Best Friend Dog Rescue | Short Hills, New Jersey
Your New Best Friend Dog Rescue is a registered 501(c)(3) rescue organization based in Short Hills, New Jersey. The rescue started its mission to rescue unwanted dogs and puppies in 2019. It has since saved 3,000 dogs and puppies over the years. Fosters are needed and applications can be filled out here.
Foster Needs: Dogs + puppies
How to apply to foster: APPLY HERE
Contact Information:
- Website: https://www.yournewbestfrienddogrescue.com/
- Phone: 973-464-5592
- Facebook: /yournewbestfrienddogrescue
- Instagram: @yournewbestfrienddogrescue
