A Bridge Between Treatment and Home

FosterBridge is Serenity Kennel’s core program designed to support individuals entering inpatient chemical dependency treatment by ensuring their pets have a safe and caring place to stay during that time.

For many people, the uncertainty of who will care for their animals can become a real barrier to seeking treatment. Pets are family, and the thought of surrendering them or leaving them without reliable care can delay or prevent someone from taking that step. FosterBridge was created to help remove that barrier.

FosterBridge is a foster-based program, meaning dogs and cats are placed in volunteer homes where they receive consistent care, attention, and stability while their owners focus on recovery. Pets remain under the ownership of their families and are reunited with them once treatment is complete.

At this time, FosterBridge operates through a referral partnership with The Retreat in Wayzata. Individuals preparing to enter treatment at The Retreat may be referred into the program, and Serenity Kennel manages the application, foster matching, and placement process directly.

Placements are aligned with the duration of inpatient treatment, most commonly in 30, 60, or 90 day timeframes. FosterBridge is not currently able to extend placements beyond the treatment stay, though we are continuing to build partnerships and resources to support additional needs as the program grows.

As a developing program, FosterBridge is intentionally building its foster network and operational capacity. This allows us to provide safe, appropriate placements while working toward expanding access to additional treatment providers and a broader range of situations over time.

The goal of FosterBridge is to support both people and their pets during a critical transition. By ensuring animals are cared for, individuals can focus on recovery without the added concern of what will happen to a companion they love.

FosterBridge exists to keep people and their pets together through recovery, and to make entering treatment more possible for those who might otherwise feel stuck.