Laney clearly had experienced some trauma, and needed attention and patience from someone who was able to socialize her enough so she could thrive in a home environment \u2014 someone like a foster parent.<\/p>\n
A fosterer temporarily cares for a dog, typically a few weeks to a few months depending on the dog\u2019s needs, until the dog is ready to be put up for adoption.<\/p>\n
Behavioral issues aren\u2019t the only reasons that dogs need fostering. Home environments are better for dogs healing from medical procedures, puppies or kittens too young to stay in the shelter or senior dogs needing a stress-free home for hospice.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can save lives,\u201d says Erin Steen, foster specialist at Best Friends Animal Society in southern Utah, of foster parents who house animals that aren\u2019t thriving in a shelter situation or who care for animals that a shelter no longer has room for.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, we couldn\u2019t keep Laney (still a sore subject in our house!), but it did show me how much impact foster parents can have on a successful adoption.<\/p>\n
Three nationally recognized organizations take us through the steps of becoming a dog fosterer.<\/p>\n
![\"Foster](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CIA_FosterDog_Rocco_0031.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFor more information on the ASPCA go to aspca.org<\/a>. Photography Courtesy ASPCA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Most shelters have information on their websites with a place to fill out an online application. The shelter will then enroll you in an orientation to familiarize you with the fostering process, including the shelter\u2019s expectations, what types of animals need help and how your availability \u2014 no matter how limited \u2014 can be of service.<\/p>\n \u201cFostering is a great option for folks who work full time or travel a lot, and having a pet full-time isn\u2019t an option for them,\u201d Erin says.<\/p>\n Best Friends runs a sanctuary, which acts as a refuge for neglected animals nationwide, and encourages all types and sizes of families to apply, including teenagers who can put fostering hours toward community service credits for school.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity to teach kids about the responsibility of pet ownership,\u201d says Erin, who typically has 75 families fostering a year. Those numbers increase during kitten and puppy litter season in the spring, when more help is needed to look after the pregnant mothers and young babies until they are strong enough for adoption.<\/p>\n North Shore Animal League offers donated supplies, 24-hour support and a dedicated phone line for foster parents. Photography Courtesy North Shore Animal League<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Shelters try to find the best match based on personality, home life and experience levels.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do one-on-one matchmaking, similar to what we would do with an adoption,\u201d says Sylvia Ottaka, senior director of operations at North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington, New York, the world\u2019s largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization.<\/p>\n For more intense cases, for example, a dog recovering from surgery, North Shore offers in-depth training and classes. Other perks include donated food, toys, beds and medical supplies, and a 24-hour-a-day support and a dedicated phone line for foster parents.<\/p>\n With all these services offered, most organizations, like North Shore, require foster parents to live in the vicinity of the shelter for easy access to check-ins and vet appointments.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no obligation or expectation that the foster family will adopt that animal,\u201d says Eileen Hanavan, director of volunteer and foster engagement at the ASPCA adoption center in New York City.<\/p>\n In fact, many foster parents choose not to adopt because they can\u2019t make a long-term commitment to dog ownership.<\/p>\n Through the ASPCA Adoption Ambassadors program, the fosterer can take the lead with the dog\u2019s adoption, posting photos and videos on social media, sharing personal stories with potential adopters or bringing the dog to local adoption events. The program has resulted in fewer dogs being sent back to the shelter after adoption, according to the ASPCA.<\/p>\n Occasionally, some fosterers choose to adopt their foster pets, Eileen says, \u201cand we see that as a success.\u201d<\/p>\n The three organizations partner with thousands of local shelters nationwide.<\/strong> Search their databases online for shelters in your area with foster programs or visit local shelters to research which program will be a good fit for you.<\/p>\n Give it a try; you have nothing to lose.<\/strong> Remember, there\u2019s no commitment. Even if you choose to foster only one animal for a few days, you\u2019re still making a difference.<\/p>\n Foster on your schedule. <\/strong>Shelters want the experience to be rewarding, not taxing. Find the right commitment level, so your family can enjoy the company of another pet.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note:<\/strong>\u00a0This article appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet\u2019s office?\u00a0Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you!\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The post How to Become a Dog Fosterer<\/a> by Lauren Katims<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post How to Become a Dog Fosterer<\/a> by Lauren Katims<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Laney clearly had experienced some trauma, and needed attention and patience from someone who was able to socialize her enough so she could thrive in a home environment \u2014 someone like a foster parent.<\/p>\n A fosterer temporarily cares for a dog, typically a few weeks to a few months depending on the dog\u2019s needs, until the dog is ready to be put up for adoption.<\/p>\n Behavioral issues aren\u2019t the only reasons that dogs need fostering. Home environments are better for dogs healing from medical procedures, puppies or kittens too young to stay in the shelter or senior dogs needing a stress-free home for hospice.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can save lives,\u201d says Erin Steen, foster specialist at Best Friends Animal Society in southern Utah, of foster parents who house animals that aren\u2019t thriving in a shelter situation or who care for animals that a shelter no longer has room for.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, we couldn\u2019t keep Laney (still a sore subject in our house!), but it did show me how much impact foster parents can have on a successful adoption.<\/p>\n Three nationally recognized organizations take us through the steps of becoming a dog fosterer.<\/p>\n For more information on the ASPCA go to aspca.org<\/a>. Photography Courtesy ASPCA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Most shelters have information on their websites with a place to fill out an online application. The shelter will then enroll you in an orientation to familiarize you with the fostering process, including the shelter\u2019s expectations, what types of animals need help and how your availability \u2014 no matter how limited \u2014 can be of service.<\/p>\n \u201cFostering is a great option for folks who work full time or travel a lot, and having a pet full-time isn\u2019t an option for them,\u201d Erin says.<\/p>\n Best Friends runs a sanctuary, which acts as a refuge for neglected animals nationwide, and encourages all types and sizes of families to apply, including teenagers who can put fostering hours toward community service credits for school.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity to teach kids about the responsibility of pet ownership,\u201d says Erin, who typically has 75 families fostering a year. Those numbers increase during kitten and puppy litter season in the spring, when more help is needed to look after the pregnant mothers and young babies until they are strong enough for adoption.<\/p>\n North Shore Animal League offers donated supplies, 24-hour support and a dedicated phone line for foster parents. Photography Courtesy North Shore Animal League<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Shelters try to find the best match based on personality, home life and experience levels.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do one-on-one matchmaking, similar to what we would do with an adoption,\u201d says Sylvia Ottaka, senior director of operations at North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington, New York, the world\u2019s largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization.<\/p>\n For more intense cases, for example, a dog recovering from surgery, North Shore offers in-depth training and classes. Other perks include donated food, toys, beds and medical supplies, and a 24-hour-a-day support and a dedicated phone line for foster parents.<\/p>\n With all these services offered, most organizations, like North Shore, require foster parents to live in the vicinity of the shelter for easy access to check-ins and vet appointments.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no obligation or expectation that the foster family will adopt that animal,\u201d says Eileen Hanavan, director of volunteer and foster engagement at the ASPCA adoption center in New York City.<\/p>\n In fact, many foster parents choose not to adopt because they can\u2019t make a long-term commitment to dog ownership.<\/p>\n Through the ASPCA Adoption Ambassadors program, the fosterer can take the lead with the dog\u2019s adoption, posting photos and videos on social media, sharing personal stories with potential adopters or bringing the dog to local adoption events. The program has resulted in fewer dogs being sent back to the shelter after adoption, according to the ASPCA.<\/p>\n Occasionally, some fosterers choose to adopt their foster pets, Eileen says, \u201cand we see that as a success.\u201d<\/p>\n The three organizations partner with thousands of local shelters nationwide.<\/strong> Search their databases online for shelters in your area with foster programs or visit local shelters to research which program will be a good fit for you.<\/p>\n Give it a try; you have nothing to lose.<\/strong> Remember, there\u2019s no commitment. Even if you choose to foster only one animal for a few days, you\u2019re still making a difference.<\/p>\n Foster on your schedule. <\/strong>Shelters want the experience to be rewarding, not taxing. Find the right commitment level, so your family can enjoy the company of another pet.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note:<\/strong>\u00a0This article appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet\u2019s office?\u00a0Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you!\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The post How to Become a Dog Fosterer<\/a> by Lauren Katims<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nGetting orientated<\/h3>\n
![\"Davee](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/DAVEE-Dogster-ELLEN-DUNN-Photo.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe matchmaking process<\/h3>\n
Adoption time<\/h3>\n
\n#PawsForThisCause What you can do.<\/h2>\n
\nRead more on Dogster.com:<\/h3>\n
\n
<\/p>\nGetting orientated<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nThe matchmaking process<\/h3>\n
Adoption time<\/h3>\n
\n#PawsForThisCause What you can do.<\/h2>\n
\nRead more on Dogster.com:<\/h3>\n
\n