How does fostering a dog work?

Ever thought about fostering a dog? Our four-legged friends may need a temporary home for a variety of reasons, such as recovering from illness or injury, struggling with the stress of shelter life, or adjusting to home living for the first time. Some might even be too young to be adopted just yet, whilst dogs that are old or unwell may be in need of a safe place to spend the rest of their days in peace. 

Whether you’re interested in opening up your home to a four-legged guest or you just want to make sure you’re well-versed on the topic, let’s take a look at how fostering a dog works.

What is fostering a dog?

Fostering a dog means taking care of a four-legged friend in your home for a limited amount of time. It usually involves preparing them for their forever home, but it’s not uncommon for a dog that’s coming to the end of their life to be in need of a foster home. When this is the case, the focus is on ensuring the pooch pal is as comfortable and cared for as possible in their final moments. 

How does fostering a dog work?

Shelters and rescue centers are often looking for people to help care for their pups. This takes some of the strain off these facilities, which are often full of animals in need of a new home. 

If you’re interested in fostering, the shelter or rescue center will typically ask you to fill out a foster application. They’ll assess your living situation, lifestyle, and experience with dogs to make sure you’re a good match for fostering. 

Depending on the outcome, you’ll then be paired with a pup for an indefinite amount of time. It can be hard to predict how long your furry friend will stay with you as it all depends on how quickly they find a forever home. 

What does fostering a dog mean? 

The aim of fostering dogs is to prepare them for their forever home. This means the foster parents must provide a safe, comfortable environment for their furry friend, and do the following:

• Establish a balanced routine. 
• Exercise dogs regularly.
• Provide basic training.
• Ensure they’re sufficiently mentally stimulated.
• Socialize dogs.
• Provide them with water and a nutritious diet.
• Monitor their health and behavior.

What are the pros and cons of fostering a dog?

Although shelters strive to provide the best care for each animal under their roof, pups usually do better in a loving home environment. Foster parents typically have the time and space to provide more personalized care, and dogs are less likely to encounter diseases or experience high levels of stress in a home setting. 

Fostering a dog also helps them adjust to life within a household so they’re better prepared to move to their permanent home. 

Pros:

• You get to change the lives of multiple doggies.
• It’s the best way to prepare furry friends for their forever homes.
• It’s extremely rewarding.
• It relieves pressure on shelters.
• It’s temporary, making it a good option for those who can’t commit to a pet long-term.
• It’s an opportunity to learn about dog behavior and care.
• Fostering a dog may even save a life.

Cons:

• Saying goodbye can be bitter-sweet.
• It requires time and energy for care, training, and possibly dealing with behavioral issues. Some pups may need extra patience and space. 
• There can be unforeseen costs. 
• Fostering animals can have an impact on other pets.

While the benefits of fostering a dog greatly outweigh the downsides, it’s important to be realistic about all the ins and outs. Dog sitting or taking care of pups owned by friends and family is a great way of seeing whether dog fostering is right for you.

Tips for fostering a dog for the first time 

Here are some fostering a dog tips:

• Take it slow - your furry friend may need some time to adjust to their new home. 
• Designate an area for your pooch pal to retreat to when they need some peace and quiet. This should be a safe space for them to relax undisturbed, with access to everything they need, including a cozy bed, toys, and food and water. 
• Pet-proof your home and make sure it’s safe and comfortable. Remove any potentially dangerous objects.
• Stock up on supplies like bedding, food, toys, and a leash before welcoming your pup home. 
• If you have other pets in the house, bear in mind that you may need to keep them separate from your foster dog, especially at the start.
• Put aside extra time for your fostered furry as they’ll likely need some special care and attention. 
• Be prepared to administer medication and take them to the vet for regular checkups. 
• Note that you may also need to cover veterinary care and other costs. 

Fostering a dog is a great responsibility filled with challenges and surprises. Yet it can also be extremely rewarding, from the joy of seeing a timid tail wag transform into enthusiastic zoomies, to the heartwarming moment when your foster pup finds their forever home. If you do decide to foster a dog, remember that you’re their best chance of finding the perfect forever home.