Pet Foster Care
What is Pet Foster Care?
Foster caregivers provide a short-term safe and loving environment for a pet that needs a home. Often when a pet is placed with the humane society, it is not possible for it to be adopted right away. Foster care is used until a permanent home can be found. The foster family’s job of course is to provide a loving and safe home for a pet while he or she is waiting to be placed in that new home. Ultimately, you will be saying goodbye to this pet one day in the not too distant future.
How Does it Work?
There are many things to consider before agreeing fostering a pet. A dog or a cat? Ok a dog. Do I have time? Do I have space? Do I have the patience? Do I have children or other pets to consider? Anyone that provides foster care for dogs is special person indeed. Above all, they must have a genuine love of pets and in this case a dog.
Dogs and foster caregivers are matched by the rescue centre so that they are a good fit for both the dog and the caregiver. If you decide to foster, visit the dog at the rescue centre first before you take him home. A few visits will tell you if you and the dog are compatible. You may want bring the dog into your home in short visits before you decide to continue.
The dog may be a stray and may not come with a history. It may have health problems which need to be addressed. He may have been mistreated or have inappropriate behaviours. The dog may be fearful. He may have decided not to trust strangers at all. Building trust with a dog that has been mistreated can take time. The dog may have been crated, uncrated, slept in a bed, on the floor or left outside all the time. The rescue centre will be there to support you and assist with food and medicinal concerns. Kindness, love and patience go a long way. A loving environment can right a multitude of wrongs. It may also be possible to foster more than one dog. Remember, you are fostering a pet in need. But what a wonderful thing to do!
When Goodbye Comes…
The rescue centre will want your opinion of what kind of home would be best for the dog. You know this dog better than anyone does. Fostering a dog can be extremely rewarding for you, the dog and the rescue centre. You give a needy dog a temporary, caring home. The rescue centre has the benefit of having a dog cared for so that they can take in other needy dogs. When your job is done, this dog will be placed in the home of a loving family. It can be a bittersweet goodbye to your fostered dog, but when you see him leave with tail wagging toward a new life in a happy family, it makes it all worthwhile. Then you are ready to do it all over again!
Please consider helping out a needy animal. If you would like to provide a quality, loving foster home, then please get in touch with one of our centres listed on this site click here for a full list.
Written By Beth Stewart, a dog loving freelance writer
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hi i am looking for some 1 to look after my 2 dogs till i have found a house to live in. i love em both dearly and really dont want to rehome them. i am looking to move in with my mum til i get rehoused due to my sons health so i need to b closer to family. please if some1 cud help me i would b very grateful
Hi, I have a 3year old staff, very loving and great with kids. I am moving house at the moment & the person looking after her for me has since moved to a new place where they are unable to have pets. She would only need looking after for a few weeks/ months until I am fully sorted. I am located in Birmingham. If anybody could help me with finding her a place it would be much appreciated, loosing her would be devastating so I need somewhere fast. Thank you.
Hi We have a lovely labrador/greyhound/other cross who has a lovely temperament, needs exercise and is well behaved in the house. We have recently had a premature baby and we can not manage the dog as well. She has been in kennels for 3 weeks now, but we are really looking for a foster home for her for about 6 months. We live in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Please do get in touch if you can help thanks
I have two chinchillas in Birmingham, desperately in need of a foster home for two months. They have a large cage and would need collecting. Please help!
I have a 10month old Staffie and am looking for a temporary foster carer placment for her until i have have moved house and given birth to my baby…. I live in Oxfordshire. Can anyone let me know of anywhere that do temporary fostering or would foster this fun loving playful puppy? let me know….
I have a 2yr old male blue staffordshire bull terrier who is in desperate need of a home for the next 5 weeks while he awaits migration to Australia. Unfortunately the people caring for him on my behalf lost their house, so he has spent the last 2months in kennels. He needs human interaction and playtimes which they cant provide in the kennels. If anyone can help please email me kelbydent@hotmail.com
Thank you for useful info.
id love to be an animal foster carer but when ever i try sign up for it online rescue centres it doesnt let me many thanks nikki