Skip to main content

Fostering

 

Why Foster?

  • It's free! Most animal shelters and rescues provide necessary food to feed a foster. Often times, they can also provide bedding, crates, treats and toys. Any medical costs or veterinary care are not up to the foster. Of course, check with your local animal shelter or rescue about this, first.
  • Fostering not only saves the life of that pet, but another that takes its place. This is crucial to the lives of pets currently in shelters. 
  • While you can grow attached to your foster pet, it's okay! That's a normal part of the process and shouldn't prevent you from trying out fostering. It's important to know that your foster pet won't be completely devastated being adopted into a new home. Adoption is ultimately the end result. If you're struggling with this, reach out to the shelter staff and/or foster coordinator for support. They've seen it all before and can help put your mind at ease. You might also consider joining fostering groups on Facebook and connecting with the Foster community for additional support.

"Remember that letting go of this one enables you to save another life. If keeping this foster dog means you can’t take in another dog in need, then you could be missing out. And the other dogs in need are definitely missing out." —Petfinder.com

  • A pet that has been in a foster home has a higher chance of being adopted, faster. How? Pets in homes aren't experiencing the stressful environment of a shelter that include a lot of constant noise, overwhelming smells, lack of safe hiding places and more. A home environment reduces the pets stress, making them that much more adoptable to families looking to add a pet to their family. It also helps staff learn more about the pet and their behaviors, mannerisms, play style, socialization (with other animals and people), bathroom habits, etc. Dogs will get some training and a much-needed routine that will help the next family and their transition in a new home. 

Looking for more? Check out these additional resources: 

"Your primary role as a foster parent is to be a loving and patient caretaker while your foster dog acclimates to domestic life. Your “job” as a foster parent is to learn all about the dog’s personality and behaviors, in order to help find a great adopter." —Foster Dogs NYC

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kennel Personality Cards

These cards are meant for the outside of kennels at animal shelters to give visitors some insight as to the personality of the individual animal. So often animals at shelters don’t have a bio, or are judged purely on breed, stereotypes or first impressions. It’s helpful for visitors to know that a dog knows some basic commands, or likes to play or run, or is good with kids/other small animals, etc. Also available in kitties! These cards will advertise kitties as independent, a lap kitty, a playful kitty, etc.  The Kennel Card Packs are about 3” x 4” and laminated. Hole punch is optional. The graphics are hand-drawn digitally and feature bright, fun text to grab adopters attention! Work at a shelter and are interested in these cards? Email us !  We're still working on the logistics and order form, so please bear with us! We recently worked with HEAL Animal Rescue in Pennsylvania! Here are the Kennel Personality Cards in action:
2 comments
Read more

The importance of a good photo

Animals in shelters aren't seen if they don't have a photo. Animals aren't shown at their best with a crummy photo. Great photos get animals noticed! It gives potential adopters, and rescuers, an idea of what breed the dog may be, or its size. A friendly photo makes an animal look more adoptable, look happy, and friendly. A great photo makes a huge difference in the visual adoptability of an animal. Clear, bright pictures of the animals make the best impressions. Head shots are great, but people actually want to get an idea of the size of the dog. I try to take "body shots" of the dogs, to sort of get an idea of their size, like their height for example. Sometimes, a head shot of a Chihuahua can be deceiving; dogs that are labeled Chihuahua's are often much larger than the true standard Chi. An accurate photo helps when one is looking for the right dog who might not be local, and aren't able to show up at any shelter. Photos of dogs in training are a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kennel Enrichment

Kennel Enrichment (KE) includes a variety of things, including stimulating toys (such as treat dispensing toys), training or exercise activities, in-kennel activities, music, scents, social needs, etc. The first step in KE in an animal shelter, is keeping the dogs calm, and focused while in their kennel. A quiet, distracted dog shows much better when visitors are walking by the kennels. Photo courtesy of Center for Shelter Dogs KONGs are great, durable, treat dispensing toys. There are plenty of other brands of treat dispensing toys that are equally as challenging, and durable.  You can use a variety of dog treats and peanut butter. You can put most anything in them including regular kibble, bananas and yogurt. You can also freeze them! They last longer, and are great on hot days when frozen.
Post a Comment
Read more