How to Foster An Animal

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By cookiesmagic
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Foster An Animal

Have you always wanted a pet, but cannot keep one for too long? You can help an animal out by offering a home for them to stay in. It will be much better for the animal to stay in a home, instead of the cold pound, where if it gets too crowded and they start to run out of room, they will euthanize.

Being a pet foster you will provide the daily care for the animal, such as food, water and a place to seek shelter. Also, being a foster, you can get new (a) born(s) and teach the animal manners. As a foster, you would help the problems: with having new borns, with weak immune systems, having to stay in crowded kennels, animals recovering from surgery, animals that need another environment than the kennel or animals recovering from various surgeries.

Here is a guidance on becoming a foster parent for animals, so animal rescue agencies do not have to turn away animals.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Phone
Access to a computer (to look up numbers and local agencies)
Access to transport animal, if needed
Room for an animal

Step 1

FIND
First, find out if you have the time and room available to take care of an animal.
Step 2

SEARCH
Next, search for a foster agency near you. Either use a search engine online or go into a local pet store. Typically, in most areas, Petsmart or Petco hosts people showing their foster animals, so people will be able to adopt them.
Step 3

APPLY
KEEP IN TOUCH
When you have picked an agency that you like, you either apply online, write an email or call them stating your interest to foster an animal. Make sure to keep in touch with the agency while they are looking for animals that need a temporary home.
Step 4

APPLICATION PROCESS
After you get into contact with the agency that you have chosen, follow their guidelines to take a step closer to fostering an animal. Every agency has their own applying process. With most of the agencies they do a home evaluation. They come to your place and check on the safety of your house.
Step 5

IF YOU HAVE PETS
Typically you have to show that your pets are current with their vaccinations. You may have to get additional vaccinations, consult with your veterinarian when going through this process.
Step 6

YOUR MATCH
Finally, as the application process comes to an end, the agency will match you with the most compatible pet to you.
Step 7

REQUIREMENTS:
Some agencies have their own requirements when the animal is taken to your home. Some agencies require the animal to live inside, to ensure that the animal in not just left free, unattended, chained up, or is likely to escape from the yard. In the end, the agency just want to be assured that the animal will be in a safe and loving environment.
Step 8

COST
Typically, the agency pays the veterinary care, and sometimes provides food and litter.
Step 9

ADOPTION EVENTS
The animal foster may have to transport their foster animal to adoption events

Another way to get the animals shown, is to have the potential adopters come pay a visit to the home of the foster parents.
Step 10

VET CARE
If the animal is in need of veterinary care (becomes ill or injured), the foster parent may be obliged to transport the animal to a veterinary hospital.
Step 11

TIME FRAME
The fostering time frame can vary from a few days to several months.
Step 12

CAN ADOPT
Does not mean that you have to refrain from adopting the animal. If you want to adopt the pet, typically you will have to go through the same adoption proves as any adopter does.