Fostering a cat or dog is one of the kindest things any person can do. By taking on that task, you are giving a previously neglected animal a chance to feel loved along with a better opportunity to end up in their own forever home.
We won’t lie to you though. Fostering can also be difficult.
It will require you to make some adjustments that affect you, your family, and your other pets. If you’re still up for it though, we’ve highlighted some of the adjustments you need to prepare for.
Devoting Time to Your Foster Pet
Being a foster pet parent typically means changing your schedule. Your foster cat or dog is likely going to be anxious in their new surroundings. They will turn to you in search of comfort.
During their first few days in your home, you need to spend as much time as possible together with your foster pet. That’s the best way to ensure that they will be able to relax inside your home.
Be prepared to take the foster pet to medical appointments and meet & greets with potential adopters.
Fostering Means Staying Away from Your Other Pets for a While
Taking on the role of foster pet parent means temporarily reducing time you spend with your own pets.
BestFriends.org suggests keeping foster cats/dogs away from your own pets for about two weeks; however, the shelter/rescue may have their own policies for quarantine. It’s important that foster parents understand they need to follow the guidelines of the rescue/shelter with which they’re fostering even when they don’t align with your own beliefs.
Though you will be devoting extra time to the foster in socialization activities, it’s still important for you to personally dedicate quality time with your own pets. Hiring Tailored Pet Services to exercise them can help make fostering a positive experience and the extra support will decrease the stress of having a new foster pet.
Fostering Means Taking on More Expenses
It’s not always a given, but you will likely have to spend some money on your foster pet. Getting some new food and toys may be needed for training and you’ll probably have to pay for those things yourself.
Because veterinary care expenses are included with fostering, you’ll need to follow rescue/shelter’s guidelines and adoption even when you don’t agree with them. Sometimes it can be difficult, but it’s not your pet and that’s part of the deal.
Making sacrifices is a must if you want to be a good foster pet parent. Still, those sacrifices will all be worth it once you see your foster pet growing into a happier and better-adjusted animal.
To summarize, tending to your foster pet can take up a lot of your time and energy. We at TAILored Pet Services can help you out by watching over your other animal companions as you focus on your foster pet. Call us at 425-923-7791 or visit our dog walking page to learn more about how we can help.
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