For many foster pets, the hardest part is simply being seen.

While photos and social media help, there is something powerful about allowing potential adopters to meet a pet in person, interact with them, and experience their personality firsthand. That is exactly why our PetSmart Everyday Adoption Centers are such an important part of helping foster pets find permanent homes.

FWACC contracts with two PetSmart Adoption Centers that provide foster pets with a calmer, more intimate environment outside of the shelter. These locations see high daily foot traffic, provide enrichment throughout the day, and consistently help pets get adopted quickly with lower return rates.

For foster pets, this can be a huge opportunity.

Unlike a traditional shelter environment, the PetSmart Adoption Centers are quieter, smaller, and designed around helping pets connect with adopters in a more relaxed setting.

Pets staying in the centers receive:

• Daily enrichment and interaction

• Increased visibility to adopters

• A calmer environment

• More one-on-one attention

• Consistent exposure throughout the week

Many pets who may struggle to stand out in the shelter thrive in these environments.

Even better, quicker adoptions mean foster homes open sooner — allowing you to continue helping more animals in need.

We offer two different PetSmart foster participation options depending on what works best for you and your foster pet.

This option allows foster pets to spend the day at the PetSmart Adoption Center for exposure while returning home with their foster each evening.

• Foster drops pet off in the morning

• Pet spends the day meeting adopters

• Foster picks pet up at the end of the day

• Foster must commit to at least 4 days per week

This is a great option for:

• Pets who benefit from routine and consistency

• Foster families who prefer pets remain at home overnight

• Dogs or cats who may do better with gradual exposure

The Doggy Day Care Program allows pets to gain visibility while still decompressing and relaxing in a home environment each night.

This option allows the foster pet to stay at the PetSmart Adoption Center full time for up to two weeks.

• Foster drops pet off for a two week adoption stay

• Pet remains at the Adoption Center during that time

• If not adopted after two weeks, foster picks the pet back up

• Pet can return on new rotation

This program allows:

• Another shelter pet the opportunity to move into foster care

• Foster pets to receive constant adopter exposure

• Faster placement opportunities for many animals

For many pets, these centers create an ideal balance between visibility and a lower-stress environment.

Foster pets are typically eligible for participation after being in foster care for at least two weeks.

Exceptions may be made if the pet is attending the PetSmart connected to the shelter they originally came from.

Each location will have a foster drop-off wait list, so placement may not be immediate.

• Alliance PetSmart receives pets from Henry’s Animal Campus

• Hulen PetSmart receives pets from Chuck Silcox Shelter

📍 PetSmart Hulen
4800 SW Loop 820

📍 PetSmart Alliance
2901 Texas Sage Trail

If you are interested in having your foster participate in either PetSmart program, email:

fwaccpetsmart@fortworthtexas.gov

Please include:

• Your foster pet’s Animal ID number

• Which program you are interested in

• A brief description of your foster pet and how they are doing in the home

Fosters are also encouraged to complete a Foster Report Card. These report cards provide valuable information about personality, behavior, routines, and preferences, helping staff create stronger and more lasting matches with adopters.

The more we know about your foster pet outside of the shelter, the better we can advocate for them.

One of the greatest impacts of the PetSmart Adoption Center program is the ripple effect it creates. When a foster pet gets adopted faster, a foster home opens sooner, allowing another shelter pet the opportunity to leave the shelter and begin decompressing in a home environment. This movement creates more individualized care, more visibility for animals in need, and ultimately more lives saved. These programs work because of fosters willing to take the next step in helping pets find permanent homes, and for many animals, that step makes all the difference.