What is Fostering?
Help save a pet’s a life and create space in the shelter for other homeless pets.
From biggest groups like ARL to smallest breed groups.
Your generosity provides young and old, injured and sick, abused and under socialized and death row pets a second chance to live, grow or heal before finding their forever homes.
Fosters are needed for dogs, cats, horses and even bunnies and goats! There are ten things you need to know about fostering pets.
- The average stay for a pet in a foster home is about 2 months. Puppies may only stay a few weeks. Certain breeds and senior dogs may stay longer.
- You must sign and submit a Foster Application and Agreement for review before you can physically meet a foster pet. Once reviewed, suitable applicants will be contacted for a home visit. Once approved, the pet and parents will be paired based on preferences.
Example questions that are asked on the Dog foster application:
- Are your family/roommates aware you would like to foster?
- Are you available for adoption events?
- Descriptions of the pets in your home
- Are your pets spayed/neutered?
- How many people reside in your household?
- If your yard fenced? Type of fence?
- Can you provide food?
- How would you handle a foster dog that doesn’t get along with other dogs?
- How much time will the dog spend alone during the day?
- Where will he/she spend time when no one is home? Crate, gate, garage, free roam?
- List all vets you have used and their contact info
- List 2 non-relative personal references
- Do you own a crate?
- Have you fostered before?
- Can you take a dog to and from vet care?
- What kinds of dogs are you able to handle? High energy, senior, puppies, females, exercise, etc
- Why do you want to foster?
- How do you feel about Euthanasia?
- How long can the foster dog stay in your home?
- You CAN adopt your foster pet just as long as you meet the requirements necessary for adoption. Actually, foster parents have the first choice to adopt their foster dog, but must go through the same process as everyone else and pay the adoption fee. FOSTER FAILURE!
- If you are unable to foster any longer, you can return your foster pet. However, it is extremely stressful for the pet to be moved from home to home. Give the rescue as much notice as possible so they can look for a new home to transfer the pet to.
- Prepare your pets – Protect your personal animals. Make sure your animals are up to date with all of their vaccinations.
- Prepare your home – Safeguard your belongings. It is necessary to animal-proof your entire house. Pay attention to small and dangerous objects, electrical cords, household chemicals, toilets, children’s toys, poisonous house plants, and more.
- Prepare your yard – Check for holes if you have a fenced backyard. Do not leave your foster pet outside unsupervised. Keep the pet on a leash for his/her first few trips outside as he/she explores the new environment.
- Have the right supplies – For example, if you already have a cat, you will still need a second litter box for a foster cat. You will also need the space, basic training, toys, exercise, and love.
- Be strict with yourself and your foster pet – You cant just be the “cool” uncle or aunt that foster pets get to hang out with and do what they want with no rules or discipline. You will be handing over the foster pet to their future owners, so train them to follow the rules you expect your pets to follow.
- Don’t get too attached – be ready to say goodbye – Be prepared to give your foster pet away and remind yourself that it is going to happen. If you have kids, be sure that they understand the situation.
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