Donating and volunteering your time with an animal shelter or rescue is a great option when it comes to helping homeless animals, but have you ever considered fostering a pet as a way to make a difference in the lives of needy animals?
The Benefits Of Fostering A Pet
When you agree to foster a pet, you are essentially providing loving care for an animal while they await adoption by a forever family. Fostering provides numerous benefits to the individual pet and the community at large, including:
- Freeing up a place in a shelter or rescue so that another homeless pet can be taken in and cared for
- Helping a pet acclimate to living in a home and being around people and other pets prior to being adopted
- Allowing the shelter or rescue organization to learn more about the pet’s personality so that they can be placed in the best home possible
- Giving a pet ample time to be adopted, all while providing the loving care every pet needs to be happy and well adjusted
Getting Ready
Being a foster pet parent is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it’s also one that requires a considerable commitment. Make sure you’re up to the challenge by considering the following:
- You may be asked to foster a pet from a few weeks to a few months or longer. Consider the time commitment involved and make sure you have what it takes to provide care, attention, and possibly the training for a foster pet.
- If you have other pets in the home, you will want to be sure they can handle the arrival of a new animal, and that you can manage multiple pets.
- Shelter environments are very stressful for pets, so it’s likely your foster pet’s true personality won’t emerge for a few days after arriving in your home. Be patient and understand that your foster pet needs time to acclimate.
Financial Considerations
In most cases, the financial commitment involved in fostering a pet is minimal. The majority of shelters and rescue operations will pay for a foster pet’s medical care and may provide some daily needs such as food. Pet foster parents may also be able to deduct out-of-pocket expenses related to fostering on Schedule A as charitable donations.
The Right Thing
Fostering a pet is not without it’s challenges, but it’s well worth the effort! Don’t hesitate to contact the staff at Union Lake Veterinary Hospital with any questions or concerns you may have about this meaningful endeavor.