PEAK TO PEAK — Animal shelters across the country are often overcrowded, which is the main reason why potential pets are often euthanized.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, euthanization rates of animals in shelters dropped from 13% to 8% between 2019 and 2024. But still, over 1,000 animals are being euthanized daily in US shelters. Fostering animals saves them.
Shelters tend to euthanize animals that have behavioral or health issues, are old, or those that come in as strays. Looking to foster a dog or cat with these problems will save them from being put down.
Fostering can be seen as a trial run for both you and the pet. If you are unsure whether you want to commit to adopting an animal, fostering provides real experience of what it’s like to live with one.
You would be taking care of the animal, providing it with a safe home, and learning if you are able to do that full time. You could see what types of breeds and personalities fit your lifestyle the most, while providing love and care to each animal that enters your home.
Entering a foster-to-adopt program is also an option if you believe you found the right companion, but still feel that you need more practice before you fully commit.
For the animal, you are providing it with the opportunity to get used to a loving home. Many animals that end up in shelters come from the streets, or from homes where they were not loved, so they may be out of practice or completely ignorant of the whole “being cared for” thing.
They also get the chance to live where they are not locked up in a cage, which can turn an animal from being labeled as “aggressive” to being “playful, energetic, and cuddly.” Fostering gives their personality a chance to shine and space to be their true selves.
Fostering is an agreement between you and the shelter. You must be able to take care of the animal at a basic level: providing them with food, water, shelter, and exercise. Sometimes animals can come with more responsibilities if they have health issues or need to be trained.
The shelter is responsible for vet bills. As a foster home, you may share a responsibility in finding a permanent home for the animal, but the shelter tends to have final say when choosing that home.
To get started with fostering you should first apply through a local shelter or rescue organization. They will most likely require a background check and a house check to ensure that the environment will be safe and fitting for pets.
After getting accepted into a fostering program, you can begin to prepare by buying the basic needs for the animals. Try to tailor things you buy to different kinds of animals, unless you are planning to only foster one kind.
Some basics you could start with are training pads, food and water bowls, and comfortable pet beds. Some shelters may host a fostering orientation before you can actually bring an animal home, so make sure to attend that.
After receiving your foster, make sure you have easy contact with the shelter in case you need help, information, or have an emergency.
If this is your first time fostering, just remember that things may not go smoothly right away. The more you foster the easier it will become as you find things that work for you and your home. It may take time to get it right, as with everything else new you try. So don’t give up even if you’re having a hard time.
Dedication to fostering will allow animals in shelters to live a longer, more fulfilled life. And it will make your days brighter, too.
