Fostering

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The Joy of Dog Fostering

Every dog needs a forever home, fostering helps dogs to find one.

Regions have overflowing animal shelters filled with dogs in need of homes. Many are euthanized because there is simply no place for them to go. For rescue organizations, foster owners are one of their most valuable resources. Rescue groups often lack large facilities that can house enough homeless pets. They often need foster families just as much as they need donations (or even more). Of course, if you cannot foster a pet, your donation will still do plenty of good.

Fostering can be a good way to find out if dog ownership is right for you. As a foster, you can take in all kinds of dogs and learn what kind of dog might be best for you to adopt in the future. You can also find out what types of dogs are definitely NOT a good fit for you and your family.

How to Get Started as a Foster Home

When you foster, you agree to take a homeless dog into your home and give him or her love, care and attention.

What Kind of Foster Dog is Best for Your Lifestyle?

Before you talk to a rescue organization about becoming a foster owner, you need to know your limitations and availability. Think about what you can and cannot do.
  • If you work long days, fostering a puppy might not be the best thing for you or the puppy.

  • If you cannot provide a lot of exercise (due to time or physical constraints) don’t foster a high-energy dog or puppy. A calm adult or senior dog might be best.

  • If you don’t enjoy training, don’t foster a dog who needs a lot of one-on-one training or socialization.

  • A large or rambunctious dog might not be best if you have a small home with no yard. This also may be problematic if your current family dog is older or intolerant of high-energy dogs.

  • If you don’t have reliable transportation, you might not be able to foster a dog who needs to be transported to many places (such as adoption events or the vet). A dog that has health issues and needs to see the vet frequently may not be the best choice for you (although some organizations have people to help with transportation).