7 Reasons for Fostering a Pet
Make a difference – become a foster carer
- You may save an animal’s life: Shelter animals are euthanised after a defined stay in the shelter. So, with every animal that finds a foster home, you may help to save a life and reduce a shelter’s euthanasia rate.
- The rate of cats and dogs euthanised in RSPCA shelters has dropped by about two thirds since 2000 with the increased awareness of "rescue culture" (ABC News, 2019)
- But, 12% of dogs and 22% of cats were still euthanised in 2018-19 (RSPCA National Statistics).
- You will help to increase your foster pet’s chance of being adopted: Your care will help prepare your foster pet for adoption, helping them learn to live in a home environment, socialising them with other people and animals and helping them to adapt to new experiences.
- Fostering is temporary: Fostering is a great solution for people who love pets and want to help an animal in need but cannot commit to the lifetime care of a pet.
- Fostering helps animals that are highly stressed in a shelter, particularly older dogs and cats and animals who have experienced cruelty. Although shelter staff do their best for each animal, they do not have enough time to give the personalised care some animals may need.
- You are financially covered: Shelters and rescue groups typically pay for veterinary care, sometimes for food and bedding, too.
- Goodbye means a happy end: For most pet owners, ‘goodbye’ often means the passing of a pet but in the case of a foster carer, your tears are tears of joy when your foster pet finds a loving and forever home.
- You may find your ideal pet. Fostering can lead to a happy foster failure, where you fall in love with ‘your’ foster pet. In this case, failure can lead to a happy ending where you may adopt your furry foster pet for good.
