i'm about to move for a year and having a dog is usually a really grounding routine for me so i figured maybe i could foster one while i live my new city. anyone have experience? how long did you foster? what kind of animals? and how hard were they to give up?
I have fostered a few dogs over the years, usually for a few months at a time, as well as raising a litter of 4 bottle baby kittens. (I kept two of the cats, so the attachment is definitely possible). I feel like a house is totally empty without animals, they make it alive. You do kind of get attached, but you also have to rembember that not every dog is for every person. While you might find yourself wanting to keep one, you have to ask, is this really the best situation for the dog and myself? It's usually not, it's just hard not to love dogs. That excitement you feel when they go to their forever home, and know that you'd helped make that happen, is a really wonderful feeling and so very worth it.
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I've fostered bunnies and cats before, and it was a very rewarding experience (especially bunnies as they have a much higher rate of abandonment/kill than many other pets). Fosters lasted from 3-6 weeks typically, depending on the age/needs of the animals. The one thing that a lot of people don't consider is that shelters typically have strict requirements around your time at home and what you do/how you do things with the animals you are fostering.
I've been fostering cats and kittens for a couple of years now. I definitely do get attached to my fosters, especially the young ones that I have to bottle feed (they're pretty much my babies!) but I know that I cannot keep them and that their forever home is out there, but not with me. And with every cat that gets adopted, it leaves me space to bring in a new one who needs my help. It's a great feeling!! It's not always a happy experience fostering, though- I've taken in kittens that were too injured, or grew sick, and just couldn't be saved despite my best efforts and the efforts of my vet. I've lost one just last month that still pains me to think about. BUT, more often than not, I find my kittens becoming healthier and stronger than they were when I found them. ^^ And it makes me so happy to see them getting better and seeing the difference that I'm making for that little life.
I don't foster through a shelter though, so I couldn't tell you much about how that works- I foster on my own and through a local cat rescue. I take in abandoned kittens and friendly strays/ferals and get them in top shape and socialize them to become good house cats, then I advertise on my personal Facebook page and through the rescue to find them homes. Typically I have my fosters for around 4-6 weeks, but some I've had for almost a year with no interest. But they all eventually find their homes, some just take longer than others.
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I loved fostering kittens back when I was in high school but the sad truth is, is that kittens are really hard to adopt out sometimes. Plus the attachment you get!
Not sure if it counts as fostering but I used to venture to random pet stores and adopt/buy sick and injured fish and keep them. I had fish with missing fins, missing or no eyes and spine deformities. Some lived a month and some lived 10+ years with me. Fish have always been my favorite but maintaining aquariums is a pain sometimes.
My local shelter has a foster program, and my friend used to volunteer there. You bottlefeed puppies and kittens, take the dogs for walks, or can just sit in a room and play with the animals. All the perks of having a pet without taking them home or worry about their expenses. You're required to take some classes there though before you start volunteering.
If you wanna foster animals at home (you keep them for a certain amount of time and them give them back or adopt them out yourself) I think you'd have to go through private rescue agencies.
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i do worry about the attachment factor just because my life is a little bit turbulent right now and i don't plan on staying in new orleans for more than a year. also if someone else didn't adopt my foster and i needed to leave what would happen do you think?
i love animals and the work that goes into them is so rewarding; i just don't want to make a rash decision.
also i love love hearing about your experiences <3 i'm smiling just reading about them!
I currently foster dogs (getting our newest guest on Monday!) and it's amazing. You get to take a doggo that might not have known any love in their life and give them much needed affection and care. Then you get to find them the perfect home. It's a great feeling. I will say though, it can be very hard... easy to get attached and hard to let them go.
We fostered cats when i was a kid
Some we had for weeks, others months
I liked it at first but as I got older and I got attached to some of the cats we had a long time it was upsetting to have to give them up
It's rewarding in the long run though. Knowing your giving an animal a temporary loving home and environment until they are adopted. Id rather they be sat on my lap and getting cuddles every day rather than been sat in a cramped shelter
also if someone else didn't adopt my foster and i needed to leave what would happen do you think?
In a situation like this, if you know ahead of time that you will be leaving, you could reach out to another foster to get the pet placed.
Very rewarding fostering. Giving some hope to an animal who has not had a home, or lost the home they knew, instead of sitting alone in a shelter is worth it in my eyes.
Attachment is an issue but you could look at it like this, if you don't give it up, you won't be able to help another animal in need. One in, one out, another in.
It's a great feeling!! It's not always a happy experience fostering, though- I've taken in kittens that were too injured, or grew sick, and just couldn't be saved despite my best efforts and the efforts of my vet. I've lost one just last month that still pains me to think about. BUT, more often than not, I find my kittens becoming healthier and stronger than they were when I found them. ^^ And it makes me so happy to see them getting better and seeing the difference that I'm making for that little life.
