Pet fosters must remember that they are a vital, but temporary guardian to a dog or cat in need. Fostering allows animals in need a loving home to decompress, adjust, and acclimate in their new surroundings, while we provide all essential supplies. The out-of-pocket cost to our fosters is $0, as the rescue provides all of the vetting, medications, dog food, treats, dishes, toys, blankets, crate, leash and collar.
Most shelters and rescues require fosters to make the pets in their charge available for adoption events, and coordinate drop-off or pick-up of the animals for this purpose. There are many situations for which a temporary home may be needed:
• Puppies and kittens that are too young to be adopted
• Nursing cats and dogs
• Ill, injured, disabled or other animals that may need regular medication or medical attention
• Dogs in need of socialization and training in a home or family environment
• Any animal that is highly stressed in a shelter, particularly older dogs and cats
• Previously abused, neglected or abandoned animals that need to form a healthy bond with people
• Animals displaced due to natural or other disaster awaiting reunion with their families.
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PET FOSTER
Every adoption organization has its own policies when it comes to fostering. Volunteer fosters need the cooperation of family, flexibility, patience, a compassionate nature, and some knowledge of animal behavior.
Cooties Rescued Cuties will conduct a home visit prior to a first-time foster receiving an animal and require that an individual’s own companion pets are up to date on all vaccinations and fixed (spayed/neutered). Foster parents typically must be at least 18 years of age.
‘FOSTER FAILURES’
Sometimes volunteers become so attached to the animals in their charge that they legally adopt them. This is known as a ‘foster failure’ because the capacity of the volunteer to care for other ‘temporary’ pets is diminished by one.
When some fosters are caring for animals for an extended period of time it is natural that strong bonds develop that can lead to foster failure.
WHEN TO THINK ABOUT BECOMING A PET FOSTER
There are many wonderful reasons to become a foster parent to a shelter dog or cat in need:
• Privilege of offering a needy animal a safe, comforting and supportive environment while she waits to be adopted, or reunited with family following an emergency, natural disaster or military deployment
• Help socialize a shelter pet to enhance his adoption potential
• Reduce the animal’s stress, which improves his adoptability
• Enjoy the benefits of pet ownership if you are unable to keep a full-time pet due to lifestyle or other restrictions
While fosters often get attached to their charges, most ‘give up’ the pet to adoption because they recognize it’s in the best long-term interests of the animal to have a permanent home.
