About Us : Adoptions : Foster : Support : Sponsors : Success Stories : Contact Us


About Us

The Animal Welfare Foster Program is a 501(c)3 non-profit animal rescue run by volunteer veterinary students in Blacksburg, Virginia. We coordinate and provide foster homes for animals until they are adopted into loving, permanent homes. During this time, they receive the appropriate healthcare (both routine preventative care and care for any medical conditions) and learn house manners so that they will become healthy, happy pets. The Animal Welfare Foster Program does not represent the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.


Contact Us

  • President: Anna S. amsims@vt.edu
  • Animal Intake: Anna S. amsims@vt.edu
  • Foster Homes: Theresa tje@vt.edu
  • Adoptions: Carrie wangc@vt.edu


    Adoptions : Adoptable Pet List

    An adoption application and home visit are required for Animal Welfare Foster Program pet adoptions. Some animals on our website are described as "courtesy listings" - they are other animals seeking homes not yet in our program. Please contact us (or in some cases the pet's caretaker's contact info may be listed) prior to filling out an application for these animals.

    Pets adopted from the Animal Welfare Foster Program are current on all of their preventative healthcare. They have been vaccinated, spayed or neutered, tested for heartworms, treated for fleas, and dewormed. Cats have tested negative for FIV and FeLV. Any other medical conditions are also treated.

    We ask that if you are interested in adopting one of our animals, you first fill out an ADOPTION APPLICATION, and email the completed application to Carrie at wangc@vt.edu. Because our animals are in foster homes, we regret that we cannot allow interested parties to visit with them before putting in an application. However, we are happy to answer your questions about the animal's personality prior to having you complete the application. Once an application has been approved (this usually takes a few days), we will schedule a meeting with one of our animals. A donation to cover the cost of spay or neuter and vaccinations is requested for each adoption. For dogs/puppies this is $150; while the fee for cats/kittens is $85. We have a one week trial period for our adoptions, during which time we will hold your adoption donation fee while you determine if the animal will fit in well with your family. Your adoption coordinator will review your pet's healthcare and behavior information at the adoption meeting, and will provide you with the medical paperwork.

    Intake notes:

  • The AWFP is a very small organization and often cannot take in animals in emergency situations.
  • The AWFP does not rescue feral cats.

    How You Can Help!

    Monetary Contributions

    We are an all-volunteer run organization. Money is our biggest need. All of our funding comes from donations and adoption fees. We use this to pay the sizable vet bills we accrue each month at Town and Country Veterinary Clinic. Because we are a 501(c)3 non-profit group, all donations are tax deductible! You can make a secure online contribution below or email Shannon S. at scsnyder@vt.edu for information on how to donate by check. Thank you!

    $

    Sponsor an animal

    Rescuing dogs and cats is an expensive undertaking, and our food and vet bills add up quickly. You can help us out by sponsoring one of our animals. By donating in the amounts listed below, you will provide the following items or services :

    We are also in need of sponsors for our special needs animals. This can range from a cat with a respiratory infection to a dog that needs its leg amputated. We are happy to accept donations in any amount you wish to give and will send you pictures and updates of your sponsored pet!

    Foster an animal

    One our biggest needs is a place to keep our dogs and cats until we can find them a permanent home. Since we don't have a shelter, we depend on foster homes. If you have room for a dog or cat in your home, it's one of the best ways that you can volunteer. Foster homes usually keep their animals for a period of a couple of weeks to a couple of months, until they are adopted. It's easy - we pay for all of the animal's healthcare, food, and supplies, and can provide a crate. All you have to do is provide a loving temporary home! Fostering is a very fulfilling way to help out. If you've thought about adopting a pet, but aren't quite sure what breed is best for you, fostering is a wonderful way to try out different types of animals and determine whether they are suitable for your lifestyle. You are still helping to save the animals that you don't decide to keep as your own pet! It's a win/win situation. If you think you'd be interested in fostering one of our homeless animals, please fill out our FOSTER APPLICATION and email it to Theresa at tje@vt.edu.

    Volunteer your time

    We rely entirely upon volunteers to help as many animals as possible! We need reliable volunteers for a variety of tasks including: driving adoptable animals to and from adoption events and veterinary appointments, distributing flyers with photographs and descriptions of adoptable pets, working fundraising bake sales, and staffing our booth at adoption/community events to introduce our animals to potential adopters.


    Our sponsors and supporters - THANK YOU!

  • Town & Country Veterinary Clinic
  • Kim and Jason Shelton
  • Novartis
  • Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc
  • Blue Ridge Shetland Sheepdog Club (BRSSC)
  • Kristen Shackelford - S.A.V.E. Fund
  • Dr. Otto Lanz
  • Zeta Tau Alpha
  • IDEXX
  • North Main Animal Clinic
  • Walgreens--Christiansburg, VA
  • Christiansburg Police Department



    The Animal Welfare Foster Program
    PO Box 10854
    Blacksburg, VA 24062
    Email: amsims@vt.edu

  • About Us : Adoptions : Foster : Support : Sponsors : Success Stories : Contact Us

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