In every shelter in every town in every state of our country, there are homeless animals waiting for their forever families. That’s just a fact of life.
Another fact is that shelter life is really hard on some dogs and cats, causing them to become depressed, anxious, even aggressive. Since these are not behaviors that most people find desirable, it becomes even more difficult for these pets to get adopted.
But you can help. Even if you can’t adopt a dog or cat, you can make a difference by fostering.
It’s simple. You work with your local shelter or rescue to bring a needy dog or cat into your home. You provide her with love and tenderness for a few weeks, maybe even months. You show her what it’s like to be part of a real family, and you help her to regain her trust in the human race.
You just might find that changing her life changes yours as well.
When your little house guest is finally adopted into her forever family, you may feel sad to see her go. But you can sit back and smile, knowing that you did a good thing… no, a great thing.
And then you can go back to your shelter or rescue to bring home another furry friend who needs a short-term home, and the cycle begins again.
Many shelters provide foster parents with everything they need, including food, veterinary care, and even training. Fostering doesn’t cost you anything except a little bit of your time and a tiny place in your heart.
Anyone can be a foster mom… or dad. And if you don’t believe me, just take a look at the unlikely families below.
Your turn: have you ever fostered a homeless pet? What was your experience like? I’d love to hear about it, in comments below.
Aw that is so beautiful!!! I love stories like that! Amazing how loving and nurturing our pets are!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
i fostered for the last 3 1/2 years, mostly for a pit rescue. I am taking a break. i look forward to the day when we won’t need foster moms/dads. 🙂 thanks for getting the word out about fostering. so many rescue dogs are just happy to go for a walk, have a hug, play with a human.
You’re so right, Paula. They just need a little bit of us, and it makes such a big difference to them while they wait for their forever families.
We haven’t fostered in a few years, but used to do it on a fairly regular basis. It was really rewarding experience and helped our dogs as well as us. I didn’t find it difficult to let them go – I worked hard to not let myself become attached.
I think it’s really important to not become attached, at least not in a way that hurts you when it’s time to let them go. And even if it hurts a little, it’s still so rewarding knowing that what you did made a difference for a pet that really needed a family.
Thanks for chiming in, Kate! 🙂
I love the foster’s in nature pictures. What unusual but wonderful pairings there are!
I fostered for years and I loved being able to help the pups until they found their forever home. Due to our living arrangements, I cannot foster at this time but it can be a wonderful experience for those who are able to open their home to a dog in need.
Ha! I love unlikely animal friends!
Great post! Most of the rescues around here run on a foster-home system (I can’t imagine how much work that is to coordinate), which I definitely think is preferable to a shelter/kennel system, since the animals get home lives with fosters who can learn a lot about them. For us, we’ve got our hands full with our permanent residents, so fostering wouldn’t be a fair decision for anyone, but I still think it’s an excellent way to support rescue if/when you can.
I couldn’t agree more about fostering! And I love the hippo and tortoise.
I wrote a piece on it myself and as an independent rescuer foster most of my rescues. I had a pit for 11 years but when he died it was a bulldog that stole my heart and I now rescue primarily bulldogs. Which means lots of snoring, farting and mange 🙂
Although I would argue that not just _anyone_ can be a [good] foster parent, I was amazed by the animals of different species taking care of each other. Some of the pairings are truly amazing: the mother leopard and the baby baboon; the golden retriever that nursed three tiger cubs; Mademoiselle Giselle the Papillion and Finnegan the squirrel. Thank you for the whimsical inspiration!
I love those unlikely families. I can’t choose a favorite one because they’re all so precious, although the hippo and tortoise are rather cool. I’ve been thinking about fostering. I’ve lost 2 dogs in the past year. I have one dog now, a cat, and a Bearded Dragon named Shirley. Not exactly the empty nest syndrome, but still. Something to think about. Thanks for this.