How to Be a Great Foster Parent to Abused and Abandoned Animals

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By Trese
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Being a foster parent to animals is the toughest job you'll ever love.

If you love animals and want to do something serious to help them, you might consider becoming a foster parent for abused and abandoned animals. No-kill pet shelters are popping up all over the country. Individuals volunteer to foster pets by taking them into their homes and caring for them while the pet rescue looks for a “forever home.” Of course, not everyone or every house is suited to be a foster home for animals. Most pet rescues will want to see that you have a sturdy fence, plenty of room, and conditions that will make for a safe home for the animals. They will also endeavor to ensure that pets fit in with a foster parent’s family and other pets before placing the animal in the foster home.

Not everyone is cut out to be a foster parent. But if you have a big heart and a love for animals that need you desperately, here are some tips for being an excellent foster parent so that you help animals find their forever-homes.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A fenced yard.
A home situation that is agreeable to fostering pets.
Your landlord's permission to foster pets.
Time and patience with animals that have been through tough times.
A heart of gold.

Step 1

Don’t take on an animal that you don’t have time and patience for. Many of these dogs and cats have been through some pretty rough times and treatment, and they will need your understanding. But take heart, most of them respond quickly to love.
Step 2

Provide training in basic commands, like “sit,” “stay,” “come,” “wait.” When they have these manners, they are more likely to attract prospective new owners.

Conversely, if the animal already has bad habits, like jumping on people or potty accidents in the house, work with the pet to break those habits. Again, the goal is to make him or her more adoptable. Watch what habits the pets are forming while in your care. For example, if you feed them table scraps, they will expect it in their new homes, and may be disagreeable when they don’t get it.
Step 3

Ensure that the pet interacts with other people and other animals besides you and your pets and immediate family. Take your dog to dog parks or to visit friends with dogs so that the pet reacts well to new people and other animals in his life. It also prevents the dog from becoming too attached to you.
Step 4

Take the pet to as many adoption events as possible for the greatest exposure. Before you go, make sure the pet is well-rested, well-fed, and has had a good walk ahead of time. That way it gets worn out and with any luck, will have relieved itself before the event.
Step 5

Keep their photos updated so prospective owners get an accurate picture of the pet’s age and appearance. A great site is Petfinders.
If the website allows you to add items about the pet, fill in as much as possible, such as, “good with cats and small children,” or conversely, “wants to be an only dog.” “ loves to ride in cars,” “has separation anxiety.”
Step 6

Take responsibility for getting and keeping track of their vaccinations. The foster agency will generally pay for the shots, but you will need to remember when they are due and transport the animal to the vet. Sometimes the foster agency may be able to arrange for transportation, but it’s important that you keep track of when the shots are due.