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Becoming a Foster Parent: Are You Ready?
By Melissa Bahleda, M.A.T., C.B.C.
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Written for volunteers and potential volunteers, this article can be
printed and distributed to community members interested in helping
their local shelters or rescue groups. The author, Melissa Bahleda,
is a certified canine trainer and behavior counselor who specializes
in rescuing and rehabilitating homeless dogs. The owner and operator
of PARTNERS! Canine Training, Behavior Counseling, and Shelter
Services, Bahleda lives in Shenandoah, Virginia, with her husband,
Tom; her horse, Tanka; four goats, two cats, one bird,
rescued "canine partners" Madison, LuLu, and Mona; and an assortment
of foster dogs.
Because I have been fostering shelter dogs for more than 20 years, I
am often asked the same questions: "Why do you foster?" "How do you
find the time?" "How do you choose the right animal?" "How do you
know if they'll get along with your pets?" "How do you keep from
getting attached?"
Fostering a dog, cat, rabbit, horse, or any other animal in need of
shelter, love, and guidance is a time-consuming effort, but it's also
one of the most rewarding ways to help homeless pets. Providing
a "stepping stone" for animals in search of permanent homes saves
lives, alleviates the strain on animal shelters, helps set the stage
for successful adoptions, and teaches you the skills that will enable
you to help other animals in need.
I have found that dogs and cats who are fostered in positive,
nurturing environments by people with basic training and behavior
knowledge are more likely to be adopted; less likely to be returned
to the shelter; less likely to suffer from behavior and training
problems; and less stressed and more able to adapt to life in their
new homes.
With that sort of introduction, you may have already picked up the
phone to call your local shelter or rescue group to ask about
fostering. But as with adoption, the decision to foster shelter pets
is not one to be made lightly. If you're considering taking a foster
pet into your home, first investigate your local shelter's fostering
policies and application requirements; then ask yourself these
important questions.
What If It Doesn't Work Out?
If you have decided that fostering is right for you and feel prepared
for the experience, you may still encounter obstacles to a positive
outcome for your foster pet. These may include unknown behavior
problems that are difficult to modify; illness; injury or unexpected
death; the foster pet's non-acceptance of pets already in the
household (even after a reasonable acclimation period); or existing
pets' non-acceptance of the foster pet.
Because dogs and cats passed from home to home or repeatedly returned
to the shelter tend to suffer from bonding and behavioral problems,
you must be willing to allow a significant amount of time and
training in areas of housetraining, crate training, leash training,
and basic obedience.
But if your foster pet has been given ample time to adjust to your
home (usually two to six weeks) and still seems anxious, becomes
aggressive, or suffers from any significant behavior or health
issues, talk to the staff at your shelter or consult a veterinarian,
trainer, or recommended behavior counselor. Serious health or
behavior problems may require the attention of a veterinarian or
professional trainer. Never be embarrassed to ask for help.
Accidents can happen as well. No matter how conscientious you are,
dogs and cats can escape, become injured, or even die. Talk to the
staff at your shelter about the possibilities before you bring an
animal home, and make sure the shelter you are working with allows
you to sign documents outlining and clarifying expectations,
requirements, and liability issues before the animal is put into your
care.
Does fostering fit your household and your life?
The health and welfare of all individuals in your home—human and
animal—must be considered before bringing another creature into the
mix. Fostering a homeless pet should never be considered unless your
home environment is happy, safe, healthy, and spacious enough to
nurture the foster pet adequately and retain sanity among the
existing members of your home. If any of your family members are
contending with allergies, excessive stress, other physical or mental
health issues, career instability, financial difficulties, or housing
or space restrictions, fostering is not a good option for you at this
time.
But if you believe you have the ability to foster, and the entire
household agrees that fostering would be a positive experience, your
next question should be "Do I have the time?"
Fostering a shelter pet is a 24/7 job. Although you may not be
physically interacting with the animal every second of the day, you
will be responsible round the clock for the pet's safety, comfort,
and general well-being, and this responsibility alone can be
exhausting.
If your work or family schedule is already so hectic that adding
another time-consuming responsibility will only create more stress,
do not consider fostering at this time. If that new foster dog will
spend long periods of time in his crate—periods that frequently
approach or exceed the eight-hour threshold—or if you've killed your
umpteenth houseplant because you just haven't had time to water it,
you'll want to put those foster dreams on hold for now.
The amount of personal attention needed will vary greatly from animal
to animal, but you can expect to spend anywhere from three to seven
hours a day interacting with a foster pet, and even more if you're
planning to foster puppies or kittens. Teaching dogs or cats the
lessons they will need to become happy, thriving, lifelong members of
another family is the essence of fostering, and this takes time and
patience.
What kind of foster animal would be best for your family?
If you and your family feel you have the time and ability to provide
a dog or cat with the socialization, exercise, positive stimulation,
supplies, regular feedings, health care, vet care, and training she
needs to become a happy, healthy addition to someone's home, you next
need to ask yourself, "Who do I want to foster and why?"
Any animal considered for fostering should be healthy, fully
vaccinated, behaviorally sound, and disease-free (unless you are
specifically fostering heartworm-positive dogs, feline leukemia-
positive cats, or other "special needs" animals). But those are not
the only considerations.
These were some of mine: Although I love cats, my husband is severely
allergic, so I needed to accept the fact that I could not foster
cats. Because I am a certified canine trainer and behavior counselor,
I decided that it would make sense to primarily foster dogs.
In addition to caring for three of my own dogs, I also care for an
assortment of other four-legged and winged creatures, and I
continuously have people of all shapes, sizes, and ages coming in and
out of my home. Because of this, I knew I could only foster dogs who
are known to be non-aggressive with other animals or children, and
who do not possess a high prey drive. (In general, this is the type
of dog I recommend others foster as well. Minor behavior problems
such as separation anxiety and housetraining issues can usually be
addressed with a little time, effort, and knowledge, but aggression
issues should be left to the experts.)
The Skinny on Behavior Assessments
Regardless of the type of shelter or rescue you choose to foster for,
you should aim to work with one that performs a simple, humane
behavior assessment. Every animal who comes through the
organization's doors should at least be evaluated for temperament and
aggression—after a suitable period of time has been granted for
adjustment to shelter life (at least three days, preferably longer).
Cats and kittens should be observed and given a significant amount of
interaction (petting, play, and socialization) to determine their
personalities and the types of homes they are best suited for (a
single-cat abode, a home with no children, etc.). Dogs and puppies
should be observed and evaluated for dominance, aggression, resource
guarding, and obedience. The shelter should also use a standard form
for recording and reporting evaluation results, and should be willing
to share this information with you and other members of the public
wishing to foster or adopt.
Bear in mind that a shelter environment can be stressful on a pet,
and the behavior observed in the shelter may vary greatly from the
behavior an animal displays in your home. Any questionable or
seemingly abnormal behavior should be reported to the shelter
immediately. Conversely, don't hesitate to also report positive
behavior. As a foster guardian, you have the added benefit of
learning more about the animal's behavior than possibly anyone else,
and therefore, you are also the pet's best advocate in helping him
find the perfect home.
Also, because most of the shelters and rescue organizations I work
with can easily find homes for purebred and small dogs—and even have
waiting lists of people eager to adopt them—I have chosen to foster
medium to large mixed-breed dogs instead. (You might want to talk to
your shelter about which sorts of dogs are most likely to get passed
over.) I specifically look for those with wonderful temperaments who
have excelled on their behavior evaluations (see "The Skinny on
Behavior Assessments" at right) but might otherwise be passed by due
to looks, breed, or color. Hence, many of my foster dogs tend to be
Lab or shepherd mixes between one and three years old—the period when
they are most likely to be surrendered.
Other foster families I have worked with prefer to take in specific
breeds or certain kinds of animals—female cats, orange tabbies, or
whatever seems to work best for them, their human families, and the
pets they already have. It's important to do the research before you
bring an animal into your home. For instance, if your family is not
very active, a young, energetic border collie probably isn't the dog
for you.
Remember, fostering does not work if it's stressful for anyone
involved, including other pets. If bringing a young puppy or kitten
into your home stresses out your animal family members or puts any of
them in danger, you may need to reconsider what types of animals you
foster—or even reconsider fostering altogether. Saving one animal's
life while jeopardizing or reducing the quality of another's isn't
justified.
Are you prepared to say goodbye?
Some of my foster dogs are with me for days; some are with me for
months. And yes, there have been one or two who have just fit so well
into our lives, our hearts, and our home that they have attained
status as one of our permanent pets.
It's important to remember, however, that fostering should not be
viewed as a "trial adoption." Anyone who fosters must be realistic
about the expected outcome: that the animal will be adopted by
another family. While it is impossible not to become attached to a
sweet dog or cat living in your home, it's necessary to keep your
original goals in mind and remain committed to finding the animal a
new family.
Although I exercise and socialize my foster dogs with my own dogs
every day, I also plan "Mom Time" activities solely for my own dogs.
Not only does this soothe relations between the temporary and
permanent members of my canine family; it also helps me keep "my
pets" mentally separated from "my foster pets" so the level of
attachment I experience with both sets of dogs remains different, and
the line between the two does not become blurred.
I have met foster families who became too emotionally attached to
part with their foster pets, even when great homes were available and
waiting. Think of it this way: For each pet who is adopted by his
foster family, one fewer "foster opportunity" exists, which
translates into fewer animals being given a wonderful chance at life
in a real home. If you find it hard to say goodbye, imagine how happy
your foster pet will be in his or her new home—and remember how you
helped make that happen.
Reproduced from the September-October 2006 issue of Animal Sheltering
magazine.
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Posted on SHARE Yahoo group 11/24/06