Fostering is important to help shelters and rescues care for the animals; not only does fostering provide a safe, loving home, but it also helps to socialize the animal and prepare it for adoption. Fostering animals is when an individual opens their home to care and provide housing for an animal until it is adopted or able to return to its home. Most foster organizations and shelters will provide supplies for the animal, or provide a refund. Sometimes these animals need special care; if they do, the shelter or fostering organization will pay the bills.
I asked my friend, who has successfully fostered in the past, for advice. She explained that fostering is a great way to learn about the animal’s personality and needs; often, an animal behaves differently in a shelter than they do in a home. For example, in a foster home, there may be another pet. There are many ways to properly introduce a foster and a pet to ensure the safety and comfort of both animals. And of course, there is always the concern of becoming attached to a foster which becomes adopted; however, knowing that you helped an animal in need is often enough to make it worth it.
Shelters will try to match animals to the foster home. If you are thinking about fostering, consider the resources and needs you have. Are there other pets in the home? Young children? How often will you be at home and care for the animal? If it is not working out for you or the animal, they can be moved to another foster home. But you may be surprised to see how you can make room for a foster in your life.
Great places to foster with:
Information from:
https://www.petsforpatriots.org/what-is-pet-fostering/