WOULD YOU BE A FOSTER PARENT FOR A DOG OR CAT?
Fostering can be very rewarding yet challenging, but knowing that you saved an animal from euthanasia and helped to socialize and prepare it for their forever home, will give you endless joy. Fostering animals has numerous benefits for everyone involved:
1. It saves adoptable animals from probable death as a stray, abused and unspeakable neglect.
2. It removes animals from an overcrowded shelter environment and gives them a happy home to live in (to be socialized and feel loved) while they await their forever home.
3.It gives the foster parents the benefits of having a pet without the long-term commitment (or gives their pet a playmate).
4. It allows the foster family to learn the animals personality so they can help our group determine the best outcome for the animal. Animals don’t behave like themselves in shelters–how would you act in jail?
5. If you plan to adopt a dog or cat in the future, it gives the foster parent incredible insight into what they do or don’t want in their own pet.
6. It is highly advisable to work with a rescue group rather than rescuing a pet and finding a home for it on your own.. Most rescue groups work to help identify and save animals that are most adoptable. Most groups will assist any type of adoptable dog in need, especially wonderful mutts who are often dismissed by people seeking purebreds.
BEFORE YOU FOSTER ANIMALS YOU SHOUD KNOW TWO THINGS:
1. It’s emotionally grueling.
if you’re fostering dogs or cats you are likely an animal lover with a big heart. it’s so easy to get attached to a dog or cat, even after just a few days or weeks. Be aware that it is going to be hard letting them go, even though you know they are going to a good place. Prepare to feel very sad every time you ‘lose’ a foster baby.
You may also find yourself upset when your friends or family members insist on buying dogs from breeders. You just have to keep reminding yourself that your foster baby is in a happy forever home where they will be loved until the day they die and that you’re doing your part to save lives.
2. It’s time-consuming.
Sometimes the dogs and cats need to be taken to the vet for shots or treatments (paid for by the rescue group). Generally we will do this, but may ask to, if you are able. Some puppies need to be let out every few hours. Some dogs need potty or manners training. Some animals are scared and need some good T:LC. We will place an animal with you that fits how you wish to foster.
Don’t foster if you don’t have some free time.
Also, if you already have your own pet, it is highly recommended to take time off between foster pets in order to give your animal a little one-on-one love.
—READY TO FOSTER?—
Here are some tip for getting started:
1. figure out what type of animal you want. Dog or Cat?
2. Usually the adoption period is for about one month or less. if you can consider a longer period of time, you run the risk of becoming attached to an animal that may be already pre-adopted.
3. Our rescue group has plenty of years of experience and are more than willing to help you if you need us.
4. Tell us in what capacity you can help. Can your home only accommodate small animal or can you foster big dogs? Can you handle puppies and kitties, or only mature animals? Can you take more than one animal at once?
5. We will notify you when we find an animal that fits your criteria and hand it over to you. We will attempt to supply you with special items and cover any medical needs.
6. Treat the animal like your own, and train them if possible. Meanwhile our groups will be doing outreach to find a forever home and screening applicants.
Also, you need to know that the animal remains the property of our group and we reserve the right to make the final decision as to where the animal is ultimately placed. Generally the length of fostering is about 3 to 4 weeks and in rare case may be longer. After the first of each month, the animal will have been posted for adoption and no changes are then available.
IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD CONSIDER OR DISCUSS, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL…706-400-5548
