Why and How to Foster a Dog
Fostering a dog entails taking a homeless pet into your home and providing love and care for a set amount of time, or until he finds his forever home. If you’ve ever considered fostering a dog, here’s why and how you should do it.
Why Dogs Need Foster Homes
Dogs need foster care for a variety of reasons. They may have been taken in by a rescue group that counts on having foster homes to care for them until forever homes are found. Or, maybe it’s a puppy who needs a safe home until it’s old enough to be adopted. In some cases, it could be a dog that’s recovering from illness, injury, or surgery and needs a safe place to recover.
Shelter dogs may need foster homes if they’re showing signs of stress at the shelter, like hiding or excessive pacing. The dog may have come from a puppy mill or off the streets and not had much contact with humans, so it needs to be socialized. It could even simply be that the shelter has run out of space.
Why Foster a Dog
Many people find fostering a dog to be one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. When you take a dog in need into your home free up a spot in the shelter or rescue, providing a safe place for another pet in need. You are also buying more time for the pet you are fostering to find a suitable home.
It also gives the rescue or shelter more time to get to know the dog so he can end up in the best home right from the beginning, instead of being returned to the shelter if he doesn’t do well in certain circumstances. Dogs who are given the opportunity to socialize with people or other pets have a much better chance of being successfully adopted.
How to Foster a Dog
If you are interested in fostering a dog, call around to shelters and rescues in your area to let them know. They will probably want you to fill out an application with details about your home, family, and other pets. A home visit may also be required. Once your application is approved, they will work with you to find the perfect foster dog for your situation.
Although fostering a dog requires a major commitment, it’s well worth doing. Not only is it an amazing experience for you, but it’s also a lifesaving experience for the dog you foster.
