Many shelters and animal rescues around the country partner with people willing to foster cats and dogs to help socialize the animals, care for them while they mature to an adoptable age or prevent the animals from developing stress and behavior issues common to shelter animals. Fosters take the animals into their own homes and care for them, work with them through training and handling and offer the animals a safe and low-stress environment.
To become a foster, one must be interested in the wellbeing of animals and desire to give them what they need to become viable family pets. Fostering is typically a short-term commitment, such as caring for a litter of kittens until they are old enough to be adopted or working with a dog that needs to learn basic skills to become an ideal family member. By fostering, you provide a safe space for an animal and free up a space for one that might otherwise be turned away.
Although each shelter is different, a foster is typically required to transport their animal for vet visits; take photos of their animal; provide updates on their training, health and personality; as well as provide the basics for shelter, safety and lots of love. Some shelters can provide you with food, toys, a crate, treats and other supplies for needs of the animal, but anything you can provide further lessens the burden on the shelter’s resources. If you have your own pets, they should be up to date on all vaccinations and preventatives.
Once the required amount of time passes with your foster animal and it is ready to be adopted or moved to another foster (perhaps for further training or recovery from surgery), you will have to surrender the pet to the shelter. This can be a tough day for compassionate animal lovers, as we hate to say goodbye, but know that the time that you have spent working with or nurturing a pet has made them adoptable to a forever home, and you have saved a life.
Contact your local shelter or rescue to apply to become a foster today.
Arie McFarlen, an animal lover and advocate, writes Paws & Reflect to educate others about animals, especially those at the Athens Limestone Animal Shelter.
