Many dog lovers have never tried fostering before because they think they can’t for one reason or another. It could be because of the time commitment, living situation, or emotional attachment. Whatever the reason, it’s valid not to constantly foster dogs. Fostering isn’t for everyone. However, if you genuinely want to try it, you shouldn’t let your fears and concerns stop you. Most barriers to fostering have solutions, so keep reading to find out how you can overcome your fostering fears.
You’re Worried About Getting Too Attached
The biggest reason dog lovers choose not to foster is because they’re worried about getting attached to the dog. When they hear that someone fosters dogs, their response is usually something like “I could never do that” or “I would want to keep them all.” But those aren’t reasons not to foster.
There are plenty of dog foster parents that get attached to their foster dogs, but they still let them go and keep fostering. It does take plenty of strength to say goodbye to a dog you love, but many foster parents quickly learn that it isn’t as devastating as they envisioned.
How to Overcome This
If you feel this way about fostering, it can’t hurt to at least try it once. It may end up being easier to let the dog go than you realized. And even if it’s not, you learned that fostering isn’t for you while still helping a dog in the process. For anyone who fosters a dog and decides they don’t want to keep fostering, there are plenty of other volunteering opportunities you can help with.
One of the best fostering solutions to prevent heartbreak is to go into it with realistic expectations. Remind yourself that this dog is temporary. Most people don’t feel devastated when they’re done dog-sitting a friend’s dog, so you should go into fostering with the same mindset.
When fostering, it’s also important to remember that falling in love with a dog doesn’t mean you need to adopt that dog. In some cases, adopting your foster dog may be the best decision. But in other cases, you may realize that the dog would do better in a different type of household. While it can be sad to accept that you’re not the perfect home for the dog, you need to remember that you still made a huge impact on that dog’s life. Missing your foster is a much better situation than knowing a dog was put down because you didn’t foster.
For most dog foster parents, fostering is more rewarding than sad. It feels good to see the dogs go from rough pasts and lonely shelter environments to finding a home they’re truly happy in. Plus, you may not even want to keep all your foster dogs. Having an extra dog can be a lot of work, and some of them may be more than you can handle long term. So, depending on the dog, you might be relieved to get a break when they get adopted. That definitely makes it feel less sad to say goodbye.
You Don’t Want to Get Stuck with a Dog You Can’t Handle
Even if you love all dogs, you might not be able to properly care for every dog. Sometimes people are hesitant to foster because they’re worried about getting stuck with a dog that’s too much work for them. There are lots of dogs with high energy, health concerns, and behavior problems looking for foster homes, but not every rescue dog is difficult. There are plenty of easygoing, low-energy dogs too.
It’s a valid concern, but most organizations are pretty understanding. They’ll never force you to take a dog that you don’t think you’re ready for.
How to Overcome This
Rescues and shelters typically let you choose the dog you foster. Yet, it’s normal to still be nervous. There isn’t always a lot of information about each dog, especially if they haven’t been at the organization for long. So, to help ease your nerves, talk to the organization about their process for fostering. Ask them how foster parents choose their foster dogs and what happens if you end up with a dog that you can’t handle.
Even though most shelters and rescues desperately need foster homes, they also want to set their foster families up for success. So, they’ll likely allow you to meet the dog in advance if possible so you can get a feel for the dog’s personality. Then, you can decide if your home is a good fit. You can specifically choose to foster dogs that fit your needs, such as dog-friendly, cat-friendly, or kid-friendly dogs.
Sometimes, even if you choose the foster dog yourself, it could still not be a good fit. But that’s okay! If you let the organization know, they can help you find a different foster home for the dog if possible. And if you’re still feeling up for it, they can help you find a different dog to foster that better suits your needs. The best fostering solutions usually involve communication with the organization.
If you can only foster the easy dogs, don’t feel bad. All dogs need foster homes, so no matter what type of dog you foster, you’re making an impact.
You’re Worried About the Time Commitment
It’s no secret that caring for a dog can be time-consuming. So, you may be hesitant to foster because you’re worried about it getting in the way of your plans, such as work, social events, and vacations. Thus, your excuse for not fostering is probably something along the lines of being too busy.
Yet, foster dogs aren’t as time-consuming as they might seem. Like any other dog, they can be left alone and the organization may be able to help you work around your existing plans.
How to Overcome This
Everyone has times when they’re too busy to foster, but most people aren’t busy 24/7. Fostering is temporary, so if you ever have a month that’s less busy than usual, it can’t hurt to try fostering while you have extra time.
If you can only foster for a certain amount of time, let the organization know. They may be able to help with fostering solutions, such as finding a different foster family to take over for you. Fostering short-term is better than not fostering at all.
Also, if you will be out of town for a few days, many organizations can help you find accommodations while you’re gone. For example, another foster family could watch the dog while you’re away.
While being busy can make it harder to foster, it doesn’t mean you absolutely can’t foster. If you want to foster but aren’t sure if your schedule will allow it, talk to the shelter or rescue. There will most likely be a way for you to help, even if it’s just short-term fostering.
You’re Worried About Something Going Wrong
If you’ve never fostered before, it’s hard to know what to expect. It’s also tricky to know how to react to unfamiliar situations while fostering. Thus, some people may avoid fostering because they’re scared of things going wrong, such as the dog getting sick or running away.
Not every fostering experience will go smoothly, but many of them do. Also, if problems arise, there will most likely be other dog lovers to help you.
How to Overcome This
It’s normal to be scared of new situations, but you shouldn’t let that stop you from giving fostering a try. Remember, even though the dog will be staying with you, the organization is still responsible for the dog’s fees and medical needs. So, if something goes wrong, they can inform you on what to do and they’ll cover the costs.
You’ll likely have lots of questions during your first time fostering. So, most organizations have lots of volunteers you can reach out to for all types of questions. If they don’t give you a list of people to contact, ask them who the best person to reach out to for questions is. When fostering, you’ll likely be surrounded by a community of other dog lovers who are fostering too. Thus, there will usually be lots of people willing to offer fostering solutions when you need them.
Things may go wrong at times, but those moments are rare in comparison to all the good moments you’ll have. Keep that in mind when you’re deciding if you should foster or not.
Don’t Let Your Fears Stop You From Fostering
It’s easy to say no to fostering and come up with an excuse. Yet, shelters and rescues across the country are crowded with dogs, and having more foster parents could save more lives. So, if you have any interest in fostering, please consider trying it at least once. Most barriers to fostering have some solutions involved.
If you’re still certain you can’t foster after reading this, then consider helping in other ways. Donate to animal organizations or do other types of volunteering. Also, spreading the word about adoptable dogs, such as the critical dogs in Memphis, can help those dogs find foster homes and forever homes faster. Everything you can do to help dogs in need can make a difference.
