Is Fostering Pets Right For You?

The month of May is National Foster Care Month! Many of our furry patients are former fosters, or foster fails. Fostering fills a critical gap for pets that need training, growth, healing, and/or socialization before they’re ready for adoption. If you’re an animal lover, you might want to consider fostering. This can be a very enriching and rewarding experience! Of course, fostering isn’t going to be right for everyone. A vet lists some things to consider before moving forward below.

Space

You don’t really need a big home to foster animals. However, you do need to have enough space for your furry wards. If you have other pets and/or children, you’ll need to be able to keep your foster charges in separate areas or rooms.

Budget

You’ll also want to consider finances. Some shelters will provide some or all supplies and food, but not all of them can afford to do that. You may have some out-of-pocket costs for things like bedding, toys, food, supplies, treats, and veterinary care. These can add up quickly, so be sure you are ready for it.

Experience

There’s no need for a formal education to foster pets. However, it’s best to have experience with animals, and a good basic understanding about their care and behavior needs. You’ll likely go through some onboarding and training. A home visit may also be in order. Talk to your local shelters to find out more. 

Letting Go

It can be really rewarding to see a pet you’ve cared for going off to their forever home, but it can also be a hard experience. Understandably, many people find it difficult to say goodbye to pets they have come to love. Hence the term ‘foster fails.’ Foster fails are what happens when people get so attached to their fosters that they end up adopting them themselves. This isn’t a bad thing, as of course the entire point is to find that pet a loving home. However, if you think this might be too hard for you, consider volunteering instead.

Time Constraints

There’s often no set date when a pet will be adopted or ready to be brought to the shelter to be adopted. With young animals, this may happen when they’re old enough for overnight stays in the shelter. In other cases, it may be dependent on growth, healing, growth, or even available space. Consider your schedule, flexibility, and upcoming plans.

As your animal clinic, we’re dedicated to offering great care. Call us today!