Thinking about Fostering Animals?

The coolest kitten ever; our first foster Murphy.

If you follow any animal welfare groups on social media, whether they’re county shelters or nonprofit rescues, you’ve probably seen requests for foster caregivers. Across the United States, there is a crisis of too many pets, too few adopters. Animal welfare organizations are running out of space. That’s where fosters come in, to give pets a loving home until that pet is adopted. In some cases, an organization doesn’t have a shelter environment, or the pet is not a good fit for the shelter because of anxiety and/or medical conditions. Additionally, the stress of a shelter can bring out undesirable behavior in pets, making them less likely to be adopted. The longer a pet is in the shelter, the more likely they’ll reach their time limit and be euthanized when space is at such a premium, particularly in some parts of the country where the overpopulation of pets is so high. Without foster caregivers being willing to accept pets, many animals simply wouldn’t have a place to go. It’s a heartbreaking situation, and while fosters are desperately needed throughout the country, it isn’t a role that is for everyone. It takes time, patience and emotional energy.

For those who are willing, fostering can be such a rewarding experience! Caregivers are able to see pets blossom right before their eyes. The animal might have been found as a stray, surrendered because their person could no longer provide care or from a neglected or abusive situation. When a pet is given a safe home, they begin to relax and play and become their happiest, healthiest selves. For some pets, the transition might seem to happen overnight; for others, it might take a lot of time and patience before they are able to trust that they are safe and loved. As a foster, we’re able to get to know the pets in our care, learning what they need and the type of environment in which they’ll thrive. And in many cases, we’ll be able to help select the person/family that is a perfect fit. If you’re considering becoming a foster caregiver, thank you! You are needed. Here are some things to think through as you begin this new journey.

My first foster dog Simon loved to snuggle on the couch with me. We had a very special bond.

Here are a few questions you might want to consider and discuss with your fostering organization in order to determine if you want to foster and which pets might be a good fit for you.

• What do you want to get out of the fostering experience? What are you most looking forward to? Why are you interested in fostering?
  
• What experience with animals do you already have? Are there any skills you’re interested in learning? Realistically, what potential challenges do you feel comfortable handling and are willing to manage? This could include medical care, behavioral issues or socialization, among other things.
  
• How do you hope your foster pet will fit into your current lifestyle? Are you looking for a hiking buddy or couch snuggler? A young animal who loves to play or a senior who spends most of their days sleeping?
  
• How much time do you wish to devote to your foster pet? Are you working full-time, managing kids and juggling a thousand activities so that you need a pet that requires a limited amount of time each day? Or are you excited to devote lots of time playing and training and walking with your foster?
  
• How long of a commitment do you want to make to an individual foster pet? Are you interested in having an animal stay with you for a very short period of time? If that’s the case, a sleepover or foster respite situation might be best. The former allows the pet a night or two out of the shelter, and the latter enables the pet’s regular foster to go on vacation or take a break before the pet goes back to them. If you’re looking for a long-term foster situation, some organizations keep animals for the rest of their lives, particularly if the pets are advanced in age and/or need a lot of medical care. Some organizations offer foster care to the pets of community members in crisis (such as a house fire or fleeing domestic abuse), and you might find that you have a heart for caring for those pets (and their people). And of course, lots of pets need time in between short- and long-term care, whether that’s just a few days or several months.
  
• What are your expectations from the organization through which you wish to foster? Do you require that they cover all care costs, including food, treats, and supplies, like litter boxes and litter? How confident do you feel in your role as a foster? Will you need guidance as you navigate fostering, and perhaps working with an animal, for the first time? If the pet has behavioral challenges or requires medical care, how much support do you expect to need? Does the organization have a dedicated staff member who will be available to help you, or do they provide a volunteer foster mentor you can work with?
  
• When it comes time for your pet to be adopted (if applicable), what do you want your role to be in that process? Do you wish to meet with prospective adopters or have the organization handle all communications?
  
• Do you have any constraints or attributes that might affect which animals are a good fit for your home? For example, do you have a catio that would be perfect for a cat transitioning from an outdoor to an indoor environment? Do you have a family member who uses a cane or wheelchair, which might not be a good fit for some pets? Do you live in a community that only allows pets of a certain size or breed? Do you have another pet in your home, or does a friend’s dog come to visit your house on a regular basis? Do you have children, or maybe your grandchildren don’t live with you but come over frequently? Do you need to climb multiple steps to enter your home, which might be challenging for a senior dog?

Before we started fostering, Duncan was one of the many dogs we would take on field trips from our local rescue shelter. He will always hold a special place in my heart! If fostering isn’t a fit for you right now, consider taking dogs out just for the day.

I’d imagine that everyone who fosters has a heart for animals in need, and they know that the benefit to those animals is truly meaningful. Fostering is showing patience and compassion while helping an animal learn what it’s like to live with a loving family. It saves pets from a stressful shelter environment, and in many cases, saves lives.

So why do people foster, apart from knowing that they’re making a difference? There are many different reasons why people choose to foster, either alongside their own pets or in lieu of adopting. Here are some of the reasons I can think of, and I’m sure there are plenty more.

• Enjoy a pet temporarily, while still allowing freedom for travel, special projects and downtime without a pet when not fostering
  
• Get a feel for what it’s like to have a pet in the home to determine if they want to adopt their own pet
  
• Experience the joy of a pet without the cost of owning one
  
• Get to know a specific pet, particularly one with challenges, to determine if they’re a fit before adopting
  
• Snuggles with babies! They’re a lot of work, but some people just LOVE caring for babies!

You think that fostering is a good fit and you’re excited to get started. Now what? I’m very new to all this, so take my suggestions with a grain of salt, but here are my recommendations.

• Get to know the organizations in your area that have a need for fosters. Look into city/county shelters as well nonprofit rescues. Talk to them, meet current fosters, spend time volunteering with them. Determine if they’re an organization you’d like to foster with. What are their expectations for fosters? How much training and support do they provide their fosters?
  
• Once you’ve decided which organization you’d like to foster with, you’re ready to complete their foster application. Most organizations have an online form to complete. In some cases, you might simply reach out to the organization and speak directly to their foster coordinator. If you’ve found a couple of organizations you’d consider fostering with, that’s perfectly fine. Go ahead and complete the foster application for both organizations. Take the time to consider your responses to the questionnaire. Your answers will help the organization determine pets that might be a good fit for you.
  
• If this is your first foster experience, you might want to consider a short-term option to start. Consider taking a dog for the weekend, or take in a cat that just needs a little time in a home environment to come out of their shell.
  
• When considering specific pets, talk with your foster coordinator about taking on an “easy” case for your first experience. I’d suggest not taking a major medical or behavioral case initially unless this is where your passions lie and you already have a lot of experience in these areas.
  
• Every organization’s process will be different, but after you’ve submitted your application, you’ll usually be contacted by a foster coordinator and might be sent additional materials to review (such as a foster manual or even a training video). Some organizations might invite you to an in-person foster orientation, and some will add you to their foster Facebook group where they share pets in need of a foster.
  
• When a pet is a fit for you and your home environment, the foster coordinator might reach out to you directly, or you might see the pet’s story in the foster Facebook group and know that it’s one you’d like to consider. While there is pretty much always a need for fosters, you do have the ability to decline fostering a pet if you feel they aren’t a fit for you or if the time frame doesn’t line up with your current life schedule.

After your first foster experience, take the time to process it. Were there any challenges you want to discuss with your foster coordinator? Are you ready to learn a new skill and take on a foster with more complex needs? Did you learn that the organization wasn’t a good fit for you and you’d like to try with another group? Based on what you learned through this first experience, what types of animals do you think are a good fit for you to foster in the future?

Consider your first foster experience a trial. It’s hard to know what type of pet is going to work for you and your environment until you test it out, even if you’ve had pets before. And keep in mind that every foster experience is different because each pet has their own needs and personality. And each fostering organization will manage the process differently. Evaluate your experience. Figure out what works for you, and then try another foster. I’d suggest fostering at least twice before you determine if fostering is right for you.

And hopefully you’ll find that you enjoy fostering and will continue to volunteer your time. And if fostering isn’t for you, as it certainly isn’t for everyone, it’s wonderful that you gave it a try! There are many ways to support the animal welfare organizations in your community even if you can’t foster. Most organizations have numerous volunteer opportunities (animal interaction, cleaning, administrative tasks, event planning, construction/projects). You can also attend (and help promote) their events or contribute financially. Animal welfare organizations are doing so much good, but most are overwhelmed and exhausted because the need is so great. Thank you for helping in whatever way you can!

Want to hear directly from foster parents about their experiences? Check out The Highs and Lows of Fostering Animals: Foster Stories in our Own Words.