Interested in fostering animals? Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
With an estimated 6.3 million animals (Trusted Source) entering U.S. shelters each year, fostering is one of the best ways to help out a homeless animal. Your act of generosity reduces overcrowding in shelters, opening up more room for more animals to be saved, and giving foster animals a loving home while they wait for adoption.
Wondering if fostering a dog is right for you? We’re here to walk you through everything you need to know before taking that final step of bringing a foster dog into your home environment.
Dog fostering allows for dogs to stay in temporary homes instead of a shelter while they wait for their forever home. There are many reasons why a dog may not be suited to stay at a dog shelter, and in these cases, dogs need a loving home to stay in while they wait to get adopted. This is where foster homes come into play.
When you foster a dog, you’re opening up your home to love and take care of a dog while they are on their road to adoption. Most of the time, these situations are temporary, but each case varies. Some foster parents meet their forever pup through a foster situation and end up adopting them permanently!
In this type of situation, fostering may be seen as a way to see if having a dog permanently fits with your schedule without the commitment of adoption. Since the foster dog lives with you, you’ll also find out how or if they get along with other family members and pets.
👉 Fun fact: A study on the effects of canine foster care funded by Maddie’s Fund® found that foster environments improved dogs’ overall mood, behavior, and adoption odds.
There are plenty of reasons why pets might qualify for foster homes rather than shelter stays. In certain cases, the reason may be the animal in question, such as if there’s a history of abuse. Other times, the shelter may be at capacity and need help taking in more animals.
Here are some other common reasons why a dog may be a good candidate for a foster stay:
While fostering a dog may not be quite the same level of commitment as adoption, you should still make sure you are in a place where you can care for any dog that may be put into your care. Here are a few things to consider before fostering:
Time commitments to taking care of an animal — Walking, feeding, and socializing a foster dog is part of the job description. You can still have a full-time job and foster, but you should be around enough to provide adequate care.
Consider the costs — Many rescue organizations provide food and other necessary materials. However, most of the “cost” associated with fostering is emotional. You’ll likely get attached to your pup, but remember that a foster situation is temporary.
Understand basic training techniques — You may need to help train a pup with basic obedience training, so having an understanding of how to train a dog will be helpful. You don’t have to be an expert, but knowing the basics won’t hurt.
Know what you are responsible for — You might need to take your foster pet to the vet, talk to potential adopters, take them to adoption events, provide photos for social media, provide reports on the dog’s behavior to the shelter, and more. Make sure to ask the shelter what is required of you before fostering.
Consider your family and household — If you own pets already, make sure that they are friendly enough to get along with other animals in the household. Families with kids should also set expectations with their family members to make sure adding a pet to the mix will be manageable. Of course, you’ll also want to make sure your physical home is ready for a foster dog, too (more on that below).
👉 It can be hard to say goodbye, but it can help to keep in mind that fostering gives dogs a loving home and ultimately saves lives. Of course, if you do fall head over paws for your foster dog, there are ways you can adopt them yourself and become the forever home they’ve been waiting for.
After carefully weighing your lifestyle and setting realistic expectations, you’re ready to begin the process of becoming a dog foster. Here’s a practical list to get you started:
👉 Deciding what type of foster you want to be is an important step in your foster parent journey. For example, some people like to focus on senior dogs or animals with behavioral problems. Others welcome any four-legged creature who needs a home.
Knowing everything you can about the fostering process before you commit helps you take on the responsibilities when they come. For example, some questions you might consider asking include:
Congratulations! The rescue group accepted you as a suitable foster and now you’re counting the days until your temporary resident arrives. Here are a few things left to do before you welcome your guest through the door.
You don’t have to accept every dog who needs a foster. Sometimes your home might not be the best fit for the dog in question, so it’s wise to find out everything you can about the dog before you let them in. Some things you might want to ask include:
You might not be able to provide for every foster dog’s individual needs. And that’s okay. It’s better to learn everything you can about the foster animal ahead of time to determine whether or not your home is a good fit. If not, it might be best for you and the foster dog if they go to another foster who can better meet their requirements.
Fostering an animal is rewarding work, but it’s also just that — work. Here are some tips that can help you smooth out common problems that you might run across.
Not every foster dog comes with aggressive behavior issues — there are so many different types of dogs that end up in foster care. However, your pup might have other special needs such as emotional or behavioral issues.
Food aggression, separation anxiety, lack of basic training, and biting when cornered are all common issues. If you have a hard time dealing with their behavior, reach out to the rescue group for advice and support.
Underlying health issues can cause behavioral problems that signal a need for medical care. Plus, the emotional turmoil of being in a new environment can also cause physical symptoms of stress that need to be treated under veterinary care. Be sure to keep an eye out for any signs of issues, including gastrointestinal distress, lethargy, or refusal to eat.
Some foster dogs with emotional and behavioral issues come from abusive or neglectful homes. Because of this, a rewards system during dog training can go a long way compared to a discipline-focused training method. Being patient with them earns their trust.
Socialization with both humans and other animals is important. Not sure where to start? Slowly get your foster pup used to being touched by you. Rituals such as weekly brushing, nighttime cuddles on the couch and more can help normalize interaction with humans. If you and your foster dog are up for it, introducing them to friends and family in small doses can help get them used to being around new people, too.
As long as they don’t show signs of aggression, you should get them accustomed to other dogs as well. Use treats to reward good behavior, and make sure to be diligent about staying close during interactions in case you need to intervene.
Preparing to become a foster parent is one of the most important steps of the process. Understanding your responsibilities and learning about the specific dog you’re taking in makes everything go easier once they’re in the house. If you ever feel overwhelmed, remember the rescue group is always there to lend a hand or offer advice.
Fostering gives a homeless dog a temporary place to stay until they are safely placed in a forever home. This selfless act relieves your local shelter and often provides a more peaceful environment for a pup in need. These situations are temporary by nature, but usually, you are able to request an adoption application if you fall in love with your foster.
As a foster parent, you may be the first source of love that the foster dog ever recognizes. It’s an awesome, humbling privilege to play such a pivotal role in their life, and you’ll likely feel their admiration and affection. However, it’s important to keep in mind that they will adjust to their new pet parent when the time comes to say goodbye.
The duration of a foster animal’s stay depends on the rescue organization and the particular situation. Asking specific questions at the beginning of the process helps you get a feel for what you can expect.
You might not need to teach them fancy tricks, but it’s certainly a good idea to teach them basic obedience skills. In some cases, you might have to house-train or crate-train your foster dog. Helping them learn these basic life skills increases their chances of adoption.
