Shelters
or rescues will match you with a
suitable pet to foster. For example, if you have a female dog that doesn’t get
along with other females, they’ll only have you foster male dogs. If you work
full time and can't care for young puppies, they’ll only have you foster
adults. In many cases, they’ll train you to screen potential adopters to
determine if they are a suitable match for your foster pet. You will then get
to experience the joy of helping a homeless animal find a loving family of his
own. All Veterinary care is usually paid for by the shelter or rescue. In most cases, a
trip to the Vet must first be approved. You provide shelter, food,
transportation to and from Vet appointments and adoption events, training, and
plenty of love!
It's
impossible to predict how long an animal will remain in foster care. Some pets
are adopted within 24 hours of becoming available. Others may wait for a year
or more for a home. Shelters do not euthanize a dog for taking too long to be
adopted, since it is not taking up much needed space at the shelter. Shelters and
rescues expect their adopters to never give up on their pets, so they will
expect the same from their foster parents.
Getting
attached to your foster pet is normal. After all, you do this because you love
pets! The most common question foster parents are asked is how they can give
them up. The answer is simple. It saves lives. It is hard to say goodbye to a
pet you've fallen in love with, but the alternative is even sadder. You'll
get the satisfaction of helping a previously lost and unwanted animal find a
loving forever home. That makes it all worth it. The trick is to get attached
with velcro and not glue.
If you
do decide that you can't give up an animal, that's ok, too. Foster parents can
go through the adoption process and pay the adoption fee just like any other
adopter. The important thing is to think about what is in the animal's best
interest. Sometimes, even if you love them, the best thing for the pet is to
let them go.
Reasons to foster a dog:
1.
You increase that dog’s chance of being adopted.
By fostering, you are
a link between your foster dog and potential homes. You can spread the word
about what a good dog he is, how he loves people and how he walks nicely on a
leash. By living with you, he has the chance to learn behavior that will make
him more appealing to other families. If you foster a dog, you have the ability
to transform that barking, out of control mutt at the shelter to a dog someone
would be happy to live with.
2.
Your own dog will learn more social skills.
Your dog may get
along with all animals, but it’s still important for her to be around a variety
of dogs. Your foster may be more dominant than your dog, who tends to avoid other
dogs. Having your foster around will build your dog’s self confidence because your
foster encourages and shows your dog how to play. Your dog may also need to
learn to share the water dish and dog bed with your foster and she'll also learn
how to share you.
3.
It’s a good way to see if you are ready for an additional dog.
It’s not always clear
whether a second or third dog would fit in with your family. Sometimes an
additional dog is a disaster. Other times it couldn’t be better. With
fostering, you have a chance to see whether or not another dog is right for
your family. Maybe providing temporary care is better for you.
4.
You help the rescue learn about the dog’s personality.
You will interact
with your foster dog every day, learning about his unique personality and
behavioral issues. It’s hard to know much about a dog when he's living in a
shelter environment with many other dogs. Placing dogs in foster homes help
rescues/shelters learn if the dogs like children, beg at the table, chase cats,
bark when crated, know basic commands or have high or low energy. The
possibilities of what a foster family will learn about a dog are unlimited.
5.
You will appreciate your own dog’s good behavior.
Or maybe you will
realize the foster dog is better behaved than your own dog! It will makes it a
whole lot easier for you to show your foster dog the rules because he has your
dog to copy. If your dog sits at the door, your foster will sit as well. Your foster
sees that your dog sits and waits for her food, so he does the same.
6.
You are saving a dog’s life.
Many shelters are getting
full to their limits and cannot take in more dogs without being forced to make
difficult decisions. They need additional foster homes so they aren’t forced to
make those decisions. Most Rescues are also full to their limits and they can't
take any other dogs until they get additional fosters.
7.
Many animal shelters can’t function without foster homes.
Some rescues depend
entirely on foster homes because they don’t have a shelter. If it weren’t for
all the generous foster families, those rescues may very well not be functioning.
8.
You might end up with a new family member.
Many foster families
realize the dog they are fostering is a perfect fit for their family. This is a
happy ending for both the dog and the family. If you don’t foster a dog, then you
will never know what you are missing. Of course, you may never meet that special dog
that could add to your life.
9.
The dog gets to live with your family rather than at a shelter.
Dogs get stressed
from shelter conditions. Shelters are noisy with limited one-on-one
interaction. The dogs don’t get enough exercise, training or socialization.
With time, many dogs develop psychological issues as pent-up energy,
frustration, aggression or boredom builds.
10.
It’s a way to help without spending money.
If you don’t have the
money to donate to animal shelters, you can donate your time by fostering. Many
shelter and rescue organizations cover everything for you, providing food, a crate,
bowls and veterinary care.
