Why Fostering Animals is Important: The Benefits of Fostering Pets

There has never been a better time to consider fostering an animal: Animal shelters across the country are at capacity to overflowing and understaffed. Fostering, or temporarily taking care of an animal in need, not only provides animals with safe homes and the attention and love they need to be more adoptable until they find their forever homes, but also frees up space in already crowded shelters.

There are a number of reasons why people may hesitate to foster, but there are a lot of great reasons to foster as well. Here are just a few.

1. Fostering helps you know if you’re ready to adopt.

If you’re not sure if you’re ready to commit to being a pet parent forever, fostering offers an opportunity to get to know what it’s like to have different kinds of pets.

When choosing which animal to foster, however, it’s important to consider which kind of pet is best suited to you and your home, and factors such as the time you have available to care for a pet and the size of your home should all play a part in that decision.

2. Fostering a pet is a short-term commitment with lifelong rewards.

If you’re an animal lover but don’t have the time to devote to having a pet for their entire life, fostering is a great short-term way to help animals in need. Shelters and rescue organizations are always looking for people willing to open their homes to pets, and getting a pet ready for adoption — especially those that may have been stuck at shelters for a long time — by giving your love, time, and friendship is incredibly rewarding.

3. Fostering is endlessly entertaining.

You’ll never be bored with a pet in your home. There is always something to do with your foster, from cuddling to playing fetch to everything in between.

4. Fostering can help you find a community.

Fostering is a great way to meet new people who care about animals. For example, many rescue organizations have events, such as those devoted to promoting pet adoption, where fosters can meet each other and the wider rescue community.

5. Fostering saves lives.

Opening your heart and home is an important part of saving a life; each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Fostering a pet is one of the most direct ways you can help an animal and save them from this fate.

6. Fostering can be tax-deductible.

Fostering-related expenses may be tax-deductible; ask your tax professional for advice. Depending on the shelter or organization you foster through, however, you may not have many expenses at all — most cover medical expenses for foster pets and many others are able to provide food and other supplies.

7. Fostering provides relief for shelter staff.

Animal shelters across the country are at capacity to overflowing and understaffed. Fostering not only helps shelters’ capacity but also allows already overworked shelter staff the ability to focus on one less pet — which helps them better take care of the pets already in their care.

8. Fostering is an educational opportunity.

Fostering can be a great learning experience as you’ll likely learn a lot about caring for different kinds of animals and their various challenges. For example, you may learn about an animal’s physical needs, such as dietary restrictions or medical conditions, or behavioral needs, including helping them by training them.

Fostering a pet can also teach children in your family invaluable lessons about responsibility, empathy, and caretaking.

9. Increased adoption rates.

Research shows that fostering pets can help get them successfully adopted. For example, one study found that dogs who were fostered were less likely to be returned to shelters and benefited from being exposed to potential adopters out in the world at places like parks and restaurants. Even brief visits in foster homes can also help lower dogs’ stress, which can help them connect with potential adopters.

Commonly asked questions:

Is animal fostering only for cats and dogs?

Cats and dogs are probably the most commonly fostered pets, but many organizations and shelters have other animals that need foster homes, including rabbits, birds, and even farm animals.

How does fostering benefit shelters and rescues?

Fostering benefits shelters and rescues by creating capacity for them to save more pets. Animal shelters across the country are at capacity to overflowing and understaffed. Fostering not only helps shelters’ capacity but also allows already overworked shelter staff the ability to focus on one less pet — which helps them better take care of the pets already in their care.

How long do animals usually stay in foster care?

The length of time animals stay in foster care depends on a number of factors, including the pet’s age and/or breed, the level of demand in the area, the pet’s health, and more. Some fosters only have their pets for a few days, while others have them for months.

Can I adopt the animal I’m fostering?

Many shelters and rescue organizations allow fosters to adopt the pet they’ve been fostering. There’s even a term for this: “Foster failure.” Of course, foster “failure” is hardly a failure since the goal is for the pet to be adopted. Some shelters and rescues even have “foster-to-adopt” programs.

References

Evaluating Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes in Conjunction with the Secure Base Effect for Dogs in Shelter and Foster Environments

Evaluation of a Novel Dog Adoption Program in Two US Communities

Emergency Fostering of Dogs: Shelter Practices, Foster Caregiver Engagement, and Dog Outcomes

Fostering Rescued Dogs: An Exploratory Study of the Experiences of Foster Care Providers

Benefit of Short Term Foster Sleepovers