If you’ve had pets in the past, you know what an absolute joy it can be to share your home with a cat, dog, or other type of creature. The affection and companionship you receive from an animal can far outweigh the time and expense you put into caring for them.
Fostering an animal is not unlike giving a canine or feline a forever home. That said, there are a few distinctions to be aware of. The following information will better prepare you to decide if fostering is right for you.
What fostering involves
Essentially, fostering a pet involves giving a dog, cat or other animal a temporary home while they’re awaiting adoption. This means taking care of all of their needs, just as a regular owner would. These future adoptees will be in the care of a humane society or private animal rescue operation. While there are many kinds of critters that might be involved in a fostering program, most are canines or felines.
When you sign up to be a foster parent, you can expect the animal to be with you for as long as they need. In most cases, this is until they’re adopted by a family. Depending on the number of dogs and cats in the care of the shelter, your foster animal might be waiting awhile for the right permanent pet parent to come along. There are other situations where you might be asked to foster a pet on a temporary basis, such as when their owner is unable to care for them for awhile.
How Fostering Helps
Fostering can have incredible benefits for both you and your foster animal. Your new housemate will be thrilled to be in a real home with a comfortable pet bed, lots of room to move around, playtime with their special person, and all the individual attention they crave. Trixie or Theo will thrive in this welcoming environment.
As a foster parent, you can feel good that you’re helping to reduce the population at an overcrowded shelter. You may even be saving a life if the facility otherwise disposes of animals they can’t manage. At the very least, you’re saving a creature from a boring and depressing time in a cage or small enclosure.
And, by fostering an animal you gain so much personally. Caring for a pet is good for your mental health. You’ll find community at the dog park or by sharing a love of cats with others. There’s a new sense of purpose and the enjoyment of a feline friend or canine companion that aims to please and is there to greet you when you walk in the door.
The Responsibilities of a Foster Parent
Being a foster parent comes with all the usual duties of pet ownership. You’ll need to ensure your new family member has food and water, a comfortable place to sleep, a safe environment, proper training, and enough attention. Fluffy or Fido will need regular veterinary checkups, and their vaccinations must be kept up to date. The humane society or shelter may sponsor adoption events from time to time and you’ll have to take your foster animal to these.
Your role as a pet foster parent will include socializing your dog or cat by offering opportunities for them to interact with other animals and people that they don’t see every day at home. In addition, you must teach them what is and isn’t acceptable behavior.
By taking these responsibilities seriously, you’ll be helping the animal to be more adoption ready when the time comes. What you learn about the pet’s personality and unique quirks is information that you can pass on to the shelter staff to further improve the animal’s chances of finding a permanent family.
What Else There Is to Know
To qualify as a foster parent, you must be able to show that you have the ability and willingness to care for an animal. Your home should be pet-proofed and adequate for the pet’s needs and you should have sufficient time to devote to their care.
Each organization will have their own fostering policies and procedures, and this includes what costs they may cover. Normally, food is purchased by the foster parent while veterinary expenses are the responsibility of the shelter.
Finally, if you have your foster kitty or doggie for awhile and build a strong bond with them, you might be interested in adopting them. This is certainly one route to pet ownership, even if you decide to keep fostering other animals.
In Closing
When it comes to fostering a pet, there are tremendous advantages for both you and the cat or dog that you bring into your home. This can be an enriching journey to enjoy for many years.