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Why should I foster a dog?

When you foster a dog, you will be doing so much more than temporarily caring for an animal in need. A foster home is a stepping stone in preparing a homeless dog for a forever home. The skills, training and love that a foster family provides can make a huge positive difference in finding a permanent home for that dog.  Best of all SCDR provides everything you need to care for your foster pup!  You just provide the LOVE!

Here are the Top 10 reasons why YOU should foster!

    1. Make a Difference – There is so much need for this service!  As a foster, you become a voice for each dog in your care, and a guide on their path to a positive future. In the case of abused or neglected dogs, a foster home is just what he needs to learn to trust again. Everything is new and scary in a world they have not experienced. As a foster, you can gradually and patiently earn the trust a dog needs to be able to thrive in his forever home. It is a chance to teach the dog that there is a happier and better way to live!  Helping just one dog even for a short time does make a difference, especially to that one dog!
    2. Increase Rescue Resources – The rescue has limited space for the endless dogs that are brought to us for care. More foster families offering a temporary home increases the number of dogs that can be saved!  It’s not humanly possible to help every single dog in need, but if every person who loves animals offered help in a small way by fostering a dog until a home can be found, it would be an act of love put into action.
    3. Training and Socialization – A well trained and socialized dog is likely to be adopted sooner than one who isn’t. Training and socialization is an important service that a foster can provide. Even puppies can benefit from basic training and getting used to living with humans.
    4. The Right Fit – You can specify the size and energy level of the dog you want to foster, if you feel some are beyond your capabilities. For instance, an older or less mobile person may want to care for a small or less active dog. With some abused or neglected dogs, a calmer home may be just the ticket for them to get used to interacting and living with humans. Our foster coordinators will work with you to find a good fit for both the dog and the foster family.
    5. Short Term Commitment – Even among dog lovers, not everyone is willing or able to take on the lifetime responsibility of caring for a pup. With fostering, you get the joy of working with dogs, the companionship of a dog on a temporary basis, and the satisfaction of making a positive contribution to an animal in need. If you have lost a dog but don’t feel ready to adopt another one, fostering can help you cope with missing your canine companion while you help the rescue and the dog.
    6. You could be a pet matchmaker – Every time you take your foster dog on a walk, or out to a dog-friendly establishment, it’s a chance to connect with potential adopters.
    7. Put your Instagram account to good use to help animals – Many pets adopted from Best Friends adoption centers find homes after a foster parent shares a post on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.
    8. You’ll be providing invaluable insight – It’s difficult to know all the important things about a rescue animal, such as how they feel about other animals or kids. This kind of information is vital!  Foster volunteers help us to understand who that dog is as an individual so we can match the dog with the perfect forever home
    9. Fostering to know if you’re ready to adopt – Adopting a pet is a big decision. If you’re not sure you’re ready to take that next step, fostering is a great way to test the waters. You’ll gain experience caring for a pet, so that when it’s time for you to adopt, you’ll do so with confidence.
    10. You’ll be saving more than one life – Every time a shelter animal is able to leave the shelter for a rescue foster home, space is created for another deserving homeless pet who needs a second chance.

Being a foster volunteer is a win-win service that is not only helpful for the dog and the rescue group, but fulfilling for you as well. Seeing how a dog changes in the home of a loving foster, and then seeing the difference your care made when the dog finds a forever family, makes all of the work worthwhile. When you foster a dog, you are offering hope for a bright future.