Have you ever considered fostering a pet? Fostering a pet is a great way to help an animal in need and give them a loving home until they find the dog or cat a forever home. If you’re thinking of fostering, there are a few things you should know first. Typically, there’s a process to go through before you can even get approved to foster, and, of course, there’s always the option of volunteering at animal shelters to consider as another choice if fostering is too much for your current situation.
Before Taking A Foster Pet Home
For the safety and well-being of the animals, the foster organization usually has you fill out an application, coordinate a home visit, and also do criminal background checks. If everything goes well then you should be ready to save a life of a dog or cat that needs a temporary home. We’ve laid out the important steps to take and facts to consider before you fully devote your life to this new foster.
Talk to the Foster Organization or Coordinator
Before you commit to fostering, it’s important to talk to your veterinarian or at least the foster coordinator or manager. More than likely, the foster coordinator or manager will have information from the veterinarian about the pet and if it has any health issues or still needs vaccinations, etc. Sometimes you won’t get any history on the foster pet because they haven’t had any previous owners or care.
Prepare your home
At this point in the process, you’ve already been approved to foster and you’ve even picked out a new furry friend to stay with you for a short or long time depending on their situation. These are the items you should consider purchasing (most organizations even provide them to you free of charge) before bringing the cat or dog home. Remember, everything you pay for can be written off taxes at the end of the year so hang on to those receipts! Make sure you have the following:
