Foster Emergencies:
“If you have a foster dog emergency, please contact 847-807-5757"

Resources for Current Fosters and Volunteers

Thank you for donating your time to the dogs of Second City Canine Rescue! The below boxes link to resources for you in your volunteer efforts.

You can download our Fostering 101 guide to have on hand as needed.

Important Contacts for Fosters and Volunteers

Connect with staff and team leads who can answer your foster and volunteer questions.

Sign Up for a Volunteer Shift

Click here to help dogs in need.

Available Foster Dogs!

View dogs in need of a foster home.

BabySitting

View dogs in need of a short-term Babysitter.

Request a Babysitter

This is for fosters to request a short-term babysitter.

Request Medical Care

Please email our medical team at medical@sccrescue.org with any questions or concerns.

Fast – Foster Training & Behavior Support

Get help for your foster’s behavior or training issues.

Provide Proper Decompression

Learn more about what this means,
and how to provide it.

Foster Supplies

Request Supplies for your Foster.

Promoting Your Foster Dog for Adoption

Tips and steps to help promote your dog to potential adopters.

Request a Dog Dash

Need help transporting your dog to the vet or an adoption show or do you need to have supplies delivered?

Request a New Foster Home

If it’s not working out, our team can place your dog in a new foster home.

Foster FAQ’s

    • Submit an application to become an SCCR Volunteer through Better Impact.
    • Check our events calendar to attend an upcoming volunteer orientation.
    • Complete the following modules in Better Impact

Keep an eye on your email for more information on next steps.

Already completed these steps? Click here to claim your first foster and we will reach out about next steps.

For dogs coming from out-of-state: Out-of-state transports are scheduled in advance so we know when the dogs will arrive. Most pickups will occur at our Adoption Center, 570 N. Smith St., Palatine, IL. Pick up may be as early as Saturday evening or as late as Monday evening, but you will receive an email with details about where and when to pick up your dog.

For dogs coming from local shelters or owner surrenders: These pickups occur within a few days of when you claim a local foster dog and will be coordinated with you by our local intake team via email.

When a dog first comes to SCCR the foster gets to choose the name! Please choose a name that hasn’t been used in the last three years by referencing our list of past foster names here.

If you’re taking over a foster dog that has already been in SCCR foster care, then the dog does not need to be renamed and will keep his/her existing name.

In the event of traumatic medical injury, please call Martha at 847-807-5757 ASAP. If the call is not answered, please text her & include “ER” along with the dog’s name in the message.

Ideally, you will care for a foster dog until it is adopted, which can be a few weeks to, occasionally, several months. However, we are willing to work with your schedule and can find a babysitter for your foster dog if you have a planned vacation or need a break. We ask that when you “claim” a foster dog, you plan to keep it until it is adopted.

All dogs in SCCR care spend a minimum of two weeks in their foster home. After about one week, you will be asked to fill out this questionnaire to collect information about your foster dog and a request for quality photos for their bio.

When your foster is cleared by the medical and training teams our Adoptions & Foster Manager, Carrie Smith, will reach out with more information about your foster being available for adoption.

There are currently 3 different options for the adoption meet and greet:
      • Adoption Appointments at our Adoption Center at 570 N. Smith in Palatine.
      • Saturday adoption events. These are typically from 10am-1pm at PetSmart at 1440 East Golf Road in Schaumburg. Occasionally we co-host adoption events with local partners at other locations. You can always double check our schedule of events here.
      • Virtual Adoptions done remotely by an assigned adoption counselor. You will be emailed a link for the virtual meet and greet.
All SCCR dogs in foster care need to be available to meet potential adopters. Each dog’s temperament determines how they will meet potential adopters. Some dogs are better suited for appointments at our Adoption Center or virtually. Outside of Saturday adoption events, we will reach out to coordinate meet & greets that work with your schedule.

Click here to request a dog dash volunteer to transport your dog to a meet and greet.

Visit to learn more about the adoption process.

Marketing your foster dog is a key step to helping them find their forever home!  Head here to learn more.