How to Volunteer or Foster with 4Paws Rescue Team

4Paws Rescue Team is a volunteer-run, foster-based cat rescue serving Northern Virginia and the wider DMV area, and the site lists two main ways to get involved: volunteer and foster. To start, go to the "Volunteer" section for volunteer opportunities or the "Foster" section to apply to foster, then reach the team at [email protected] or 703-715-6369 with questions. Because the organization is 100% volunteer-run and foster-based, expect the work to happen in volunteers' homes and at events rather than at a shelter building.

Volunteer Opportunities

The site's Volunteer menu lists Volunteer Opportunities and Foster as separate paths, with a "Get Involved" call to action on the homepage. The published evidence does not detail individual volunteer roles, so use the Volunteer Opportunities page as the authoritative list and confirm specifics with the team.

What the site does make clear about the volunteer experience:

• 100% volunteer run — the rescue has no paid staff layer, so volunteers carry the work.
• Adoption fairs are a recurring need. The homepage promotes an upcoming fair at Petco Sterling (22000 Dulles Retail Plz, Sterling, VA 20166, 1:00 PM–4:00 PM) with a "Meet the attendees" link, and points to an Adoption Fairs page for the full schedule. Events like these are a natural entry point for people who want to help without fostering.
• Donations support the work if hands-on time isn't possible; the site states 96¢ of every donated dollar goes directly to the cats and kittens.

How to start volunteering

1. Open the Volunteer → Volunteer Opportunities page on fourpaws.org.
2. Review the listed opportunities and pick one that fits your location and schedule.
3. Contact the team at [email protected] or 703-715-6369 to confirm availability and next steps.
4. Check the Adoption Fairs page for upcoming events where you can meet the team in person.

Expected result: you'll know which roles are open and have a direct contact for scheduling. Common snag: the site doesn't publish role descriptions in the material available here, so don't assume a specific task exists — ask first.

Fostering a Cat

Fostering is the core of the model: the homepage describes 4Paws as "a volunteer-run, foster-based rescue saving cats and kittens in need," and the Foster section is framed as "Give a cat a safe home." In practice, that means the cat lives with you while the rescue covers the adoption process and placement.

How to start fostering

1. Go to the Foster page (linked from the main menu and the homepage "Foster" button).
2. Read the fostering information and submit the foster interest form or inquiry described there.
3. Contact [email protected] or 703-715-6369 if you have questions about space, other pets, or timing.
4. Once approved, you'll receive a cat or kitten to care for until adoption.

Expected result: an approved foster placement with the rescue handling adoption promotion. Common snag: the site doesn't publish foster terms (duration, supplies, medical coverage) in the available material — confirm these directly with the team before committing.

Volunteer vs. Foster: Which Fits You

Choose volunteering if you want to support the rescue without a cat in your home, starting with events like the Petco Sterling adoption fair. Choose fostering if you can house a cat and want the most direct role in saving one. Either way, contact the team first — the site's published detail on both paths is thin, and a quick email resolves most questions.

Contact and Context

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 703-715-6369
• Service area: Northern Virginia and the DMV
• Track record: 30+ years, 13,500 total cats adopted, 500+ adopted in 2025
• Status: 501(c)(3) public charity; CFC #34517

The 30+ year history and adoption numbers are the best signal of what you're joining: a long-running, entirely volunteer operation where foster homes and event help are the engine.