Most dog lovers know that fostering a dog is important, but not everyone understands why. There are lots of great reasons to foster a dog. Some of those reasons are beneficial for the dog while others benefit you and your family members. Thus, fostering a dog is a positive thing for everyone involved, which is why more animal lovers should consider it. Let’s look at the reasons why fostering a dog is good to hopefully encourage more people to give it a try.
If you live near Memphis, there are lots of dogs looking for foster homes. Sadly, many of these dogs could face euthanasia if they’re not adopted or fostered in time. So, please consider fostering one of the at-risk dogs in Memphis to save a life.
Reasons to Foster a Dog
If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do people foster dogs?”, there are countless reasons. Here are 11 great reasons to foster dogs.
1. Fostering Saves Lives
The biggest reason to foster is because it saves lives. Sadly, hundreds of thousands of dogs are euthanized each year because there’s not enough space in shelters. When you foster a dog, you could be saving that dog from euthanasia. Even if you foster from a no-kill rescue, you’re still freeing up space for the rescue to save more dogs from crowded shelters. So, every dog fostered helps save lives.
2. Fostering is Fun
If you’re a dog lover, then fostering is a fun activity. You get to spend time with an extra dog while you wait for them to get adopted, which often involves lots of cuddles, walks, and play sessions. Thus, if you enjoy spending time with dogs, that’s a great reason to foster. You’ll be having fun while also making an impact.
3. You’ll Get to Experience a Variety of Dogs
Since fostering is typically a short-term commitment, you don’t need to be as cautious when selecting a dog as you would when adopting a dog. You can foster dogs of a variety of different breeds, ages, and energy levels. Doing so can help you learn more about different types of dogs. It can also help you better determine what kind of dog is the best fit for you for when you decide to adopt a dog in the future.
4. The Dog’s True Personality Will Shine
At a shelter, dogs are often nervous and overwhelmed. They may be extra shy or vocal as a result. Since shelters can be so stressful, people visiting the shelter dogs might not see the dogs’ true personalities. In a foster home, the dog has more time and space to decompress. They’re in a comfortable environment that’s similar to what their forever home will feel like. Therefore, dogs in foster homes act like they would after adoption while that might not be the case for dogs in shelters.
5. It Improves the Chances of Adoption
Dogs in foster homes typically get adopted faster than dogs in shelters. That’s because the foster parent spends lots of one-on-one time with the dog, allowing them to learn more about the dog than the shelter staff would. Foster families can answer specific questions about the dog’s personality and determine what the best home for the dog would be like. That additional information makes it easier to advertise the dog. With more information available about the dog, it’s easier for them to get adopted. According to a study, even short-term fostering programs can improve the chances of adoption.
6. The Dog Will Likely Be Better Behaved
Since dogs get one-on-one attention with their foster parents, they’re more likely to be trained and socialized. Foster parents can work on commands with the dog and introduce them to people and dogs. Plus, a foster home is a more relaxing environment for training as opposed to a shelter. Overall, dogs often become more obedient after being in a foster home.
7. Your Dog Could Have a Playmate
If you have a dog that loves to play but you aren’t in a position to adopt another dog, fostering a dog could benefit your dog’s socialization. It would also help socialize the foster dog. As long as the foster dog likes playing with other dogs, your dog and the foster dog can run and play to their heart’s content. If you foster more than once, your dog will experience a variety of different dogs. That way, if you ever choose to adopt a second dog, you’ll know the personalities that your dog gets along with best.
8. You Can Help the Dog Find the Best Home Possible
Many organizations allow the foster parent to help choose who should adopt the dog. After all, they typically know the dog better than anyone else. So, you can use what you’ve learned about the dog to decide what type of home would be best for them. That way, if you’re choosing between two adopters, you can help make a more personalized decision than the shelter staff. Plus, many foster parents stay in contact with the adopters so they can stay up-to-date with how the dog is doing.
9. It’s Only Temporary
It’s no secret that dogs can be a lot of work. But fostering is a great way to care for a dog without a long-term commitment. You’ll only have to worry about caring for that dog for a few weeks or months rather than a few years. So, fostering can be a great alternative for people who aren’t ready to adopt.
10. Fostering Can Be Flexible
Despite popular myths, fostering can be flexible. You can usually choose which dog you foster and you can find another foster family to watch the dog if you go out of town. You don’t have to foster one dog right after if you don’t want to. It’s okay to take breaks as needed. Having a foster dog can be time-consuming, but you can choose when you do it and what types of dogs you care for.
11. Fostering is Rewarding
Not only is fostering fun and life-saving, but it’s also rewarding for the foster parent. Many people worry about being sad after the foster dog gets adopted, but it’s typically more fulfilling than sad. Your heart will feel full after knowing you’ve helped a dog in need. If it weren’t for you, that dog might’ve never gotten a second chance at life, so it’s one of the most rewarding types of volunteering you can do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Fostering Dogs Work?
Fostering a dog involves caring for a dog in your home until they get adopted. The organization will typically provide all the supplies you’ll need for the dog. However, every organization operates differently, so ask your shelter or rescue how their fostering works.
Do Dogs Get Attached to Their Foster Parents?
Foster dogs can get attached to their foster parents. However, they’re with you for such a short amount of time that they’ll be able to get attached to their new family too. If they warmed up to you, they can warm up to their adopters. They just need some time.
How Long Will I Have a Foster Dog?
It depends on the dog, organization, and location. Most foster dogs will be in their foster homes for a few weeks, maybe even a few months. However, dogs could stay in foster care even longer if they have specific medical needs or if you’re not in a populated area. If you have a limit for how long you can foster, talk to the organization to see if you can work something out.
How Much Does Fostering Dogs Pay?
Fostering doesn’t pay anything. It’s a type of volunteering, so people do it out of the kindness of their hearts. However, you won’t need to pay anything either since the organization typically covers all expenses.
Should I Let My Foster Dog Sleep with Me?
No, most organizations will advise you not to let your foster dog sleep in your bed. Even if your dog sleeps in your bed, your foster dog shouldn’t. This is because the adopters may not want dogs in their bed, so it’s best not to get the dog used to it.
There are Lots of Great Reasons to Foster a Dog!
With so many reasons to foster a dog, every dog lover should try it at least once. It’s a fun, rewarding experience for the humans and a life-changing experience for the dogs. Every dog fostered saves lives.
If you live in Memphis, lots of dogs are being put down due to overcrowded shelters and a lack of fostering. Please consider fostering an at-risk dog in Memphis to save a dog. These dogs deserve a second chance at life, so let’s help give them that.
