A foster family provides care for a child or pet that has no place to go. It could be a pet that was abandoned or born homeless, or a child who has lost his parents or whose parents could not take care of him. If the new home becomes permanent, then the child or pet is adopted.

里親家族は、一時的に行く場所のない子供やペットの世話をします。捨てられたペット、野良猫や野良犬の赤ちゃん、親を失った子供、親が育てられなくなった子供等の世話をします。正式に自分の家族にするときは養子縁組になります。