Mercy Full Project regularly cares for hundreds of neonatal puppies and kittens every year. These fragile babies are too small and too vulnerable to survive in shelters — their only chance is a loving foster home like yours.

No experience is necessary.
We train you, support you, mentor you, and provide all medical care and supplies. All you need is love, time, and a willingness to help a tiny life grow.

Baby Bottle Foster Program

What Are Bottle Babies?

Bottle Babies are newborn puppies or kittens ranging from 1 day to about 4 weeks old.

They are our smallest, most at-risk rescues — often orphaned or abandoned, and completely dependent on humans for survival.

Help us save the tiniest lives in Tampa Bay

What Do They Need?

Bottle Babies require feeding every 2–3 hours with a bottle or syringe.

It’s an intense commitment, but one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have.
Syringe Gruelies (3–6 weeks old)
These little ones are transitioning from milk to “real” food. You’ll help by syringe-feeding them a gruel mixture every 4–6 hours and guiding them through this adorable (and messy!) stage.

Gruelies (5–6 weeks old)
They are starting to eat on their own but still need close monitoring, regular weigh-ins, and fresh meals every 4–6 hours. Some may need a bit of extra hand-feeding — every baby grows at their own pace!

Pregnant or Nursing Moms
These moms do most of the heavy lifting.
 You’ll simply provide a safe, quiet space for her to give birth or raise her babies, handle basic care, and help us with vet visits or emergencies. Watching a mom care for her litter is incredibly special.

Who Else Can You Help?

You choose the level of commitment that works for your schedule. MFP will support you every step of the way.

Emergency Overnight Care (1–2 nights)
Just keeping babies out of the shelter for one night can save their lives while we find a long-term foster.

Short-Term Care (up to 2 weeks)
Perfect for stepping in when urgent needs arise or when another foster needs a short break.

Long-Term Care (until adoption)
Raise your babies until they are healthy, strong, and ready for adoption — typically at 8 weeks old.

The Full Experience: Pregnant Moms
Fostering a mom through pregnancy, birth, and raising her babies is truly unforgettable. Cats gestate for 9–10 weeks, dogs for 8–9 weeks — but most often, we meet them halfway through their pregnancy.


Your Foster Commitment — Flexible & Supported

CONTACT US
Many of our Bottle Babies come from heartbreaking situations — illness, filth, neglect, abandonment, exposure to parasites or the elements. Without fosters, these tiny lives would have no chance.
At Mercy Full Project, we can only save as many neonates as we have foster homes for.

 Your home becomes their lifeline.

Why Your help is Critical