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Jennifer Nicole Cox is a staff writer for Dogasaur.com and proud momma of one unique “Bentley” dog.
By fostering a dog from your local shelter or rescue group, you’re helping him through a difficult period of his life. Due to overcrowding, many shelters are continually in need of room for incoming animals. If foster programs didn’t exist, many dogs would have to be euthanized.
When dogs are placed in a foster home, they’ll get to leave the shelter environment and have a chance to be treated (if they’re ill), rehabbed, and later adopted by a loving family. By taking in a foster dog, you’re giving him the chance to recover from the stressful shelter environment while providing space for a new dog.
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Before deciding whether or not to foster a dog, it’s important to understand the responsibilities that come along with it.
Some responsibilities that you may be faced with include:
There’s a time commitment. For example, you may be asked to foster a dog for a couple of weeks or a couple of months. You don’t have to be home 24 hours a day to watch your foster dog, but it’s important to understand that you may need to postpone planned vacations if you’re asked to care for the dog for an extended period of time.
You must be able to say goodbye when it’s time. It’s really sweet if you want to adopt a dog that you’re fostering, but it’s not always the right choice. Remember, if you adopt your foster dog and you’ve reached the limit of dogs you and your household can handle, you won’t be able to accept any future foster dogs. So, don’t forget that fostering is a temporary situation.
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You must have patience. Shelter dogs are often stressed, so it’s extremely important to be patient with them. And play with them a lot. This will help them adjust to their new living arrangement.
You may have to do more for the dog than feeding, grooming, and exercising him. For example, you may be asked to work on some basic training issues with your foster dog such as housebreaking, or temperament issues such as destructive chewing.
You may be asked to care for a sick dog. If a sick dog is chosen for you to foster, you will likely be required to give him medication. Don’t worry about expenses. Medical care is usually paid for. Remember to always consult with your veterinarian about any concerns you have before taking in a sick foster dog.
Be careful with the introduction of your foster dog. If you have children or other pets, you must be extra careful when introducing them to your foster dog. The introduction needs to be closely supervised and made slowly.
Fostering a dog is a win-win situation for everyone involved. As a foster parent, you’ll get to spend quality time with a special dog, and space at the shelter will open up for an additional dog. Most importantly, when the dog is adopted into its new family, it’ll be better adapted to home life and will have a much better chance of living with them permanently.
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So, if you’re interested in fostering an adoptable dog, contact your local humane society, animal shelter or rescue today. There are so many wonderful dogs waiting for your help.
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