Fostering a pet can be a fun and rewarding experience for both the foster “parent” and a pet in need. Many rescue groups search local animal shelters in an attempt to save as many as they can from being put to sleep, but these groups are limited by the availability of people who are willing to foster a needy pet until a more permanent home can be found.
Why Foster a Dog or Cat?
Perhaps the potential foster home has thought about having a pet but was uncertain about making a long term commitment. Maybe time scheduling restraints allow for having a pet some of the time, but not all of the time. Or perhaps the home owner has a big heart. All of these reasons open the doors to needy pets looking for a temporary home.
When placing a needy pet into a foster situation, most rescue groups will take care of all of the necessary vet expenses such as deworming, updating shots, and any medications that may arise. After that's taken care of, what the animal needs most is to be made to feel safe and cared for. That's where the foster “parent' comes in by providing a home, lavishing the animal with attention and exercise, and making sure the animal gets regular meals.
What Type of Foster Animals Can Be Expected?
Rescue animals come from all types of situations. Some may be surrendered by owners who are unable to care for them, others may be strays, and yet others may have been rescued from an abusive situation. The rescue group makes an effort to determine what type of situation the animal may have came from and the type of temperament to expect.
Don't expect that all foster pets will be house broken or properly socialized. Most pets are very good animals that just have a lack of skills, something that a bit of time and training can help with. The best method of acclimating a foster pet into care is to have a crate available for those times when no one is available to watch after the pet.
How Long Are Animals Left in Foster Care?
It can depend on many different factors. Puppies, kittens, and pure breed animals adopt out faster than older animals. Some animals have special requirements such as being placed in a home that doesn't have children or other pets. And finally there is the screening process that adopting families must go through in order to determine if a pet is right for them.
It's not uncommon for the fostering family to decide that they want to adopt the animal they are fostering, and this can usually be arranged with a minimum of difficulty since fostering homes are usually held to the same standards as a home where a potential pet will someday live.
If fostering a pet sounds interesting, try contacting a rescue group in the local area and offering to become a foster pet parent. It just may give a needy animal a second chance on life.
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