How to Foster a Pet: What To Know Before You Start

Choosing to foster a pet is a big decision. Whether it’s your first foray into any kind of pet ownership, or because your life doesn’t allow for permanent placements, it can also be a deeply rewarding experience. 

 At Voices of Change Animal League (VOCAL) located right here in Ocala, Florida, pet fosters help us provide temporary care for animals in need until they can be placed with families. From ensuring a nurturing home environment to understanding the various care needs, we’ll help you know what to expect and how to get started. 

What is Pet Fostering?

Fostering a pet means opening your home to a dog or cat from a rescue organization, providing them with care, affection, and perhaps some training until they are adopted. 

Pet fosters do not own the pet. Placements are designed to be temporary, but the exact time frame is difficult to determine. Ideally, a pet would remain with a foster until they are adopted. In the event a foster is no longer able to keep a pet and a home hasn’t been found, it goes back to the rescue organization. 

Why Are Pet Foster Programs Needed? 

Imagine being expected to go from living in a small kennel or cage, with limited exposure to the world to a full house filled with new smells, loud noises, and strange people? 

Pretty stressful, right? That’s the reality for a vast number of dogs and cats being sheltered at various humane societies and country animal control centers. 

Why is this important? A study completed in 2013 by the American Humane Society found that one in 10 pets adopted were no longer in those homes six months later. Considering the age of the study and the limited scope, it’s a strong possibility that the number is much higher.

While hard data on the reasons why are difficult to pin down, there are some that pop up more than others when speaking with various shelters and rescue organizations.  

• House soiling
• Escaping
• Issues with other pets
• Furniture chewing
• Digging/Scratching
• Leash/food aggression
• Unexpected expenses
• Health conditions (pet and owner)

Many of these reasons can be attributed to that type of life dogs and cats live at shelters. Overcrowded shelters often don’t have the resources to provide things like routine leash walking, separate potty facilities, or even separate kennels for multiple animals. 

As the saying goes, you don’t know what you don’t know. A pet that has never experienced or been taught how to live in a house or apartment is going to go through some learning pains. The longer a pet is in a shelter situation, the harder adjusting to a home can be.

Sadly, some owners are simply not prepared for this reality. They may lack experience in dealing with certain issues or feel that they can’t risk other household members, like children, being caught in a bad situation. 

Other situations that benefit from access to pet foster programs include:

• Pregnant or nursing females that need additional attention
• Puppies and kittens that need bottle feeding 
• Pets recovering from surgical procedures

These are all cases in which shelter environments can actually make things worse. Nursing animals have a tendency to exhibit increased aggression out of a protective instinct, especially if they feel stressed, a common kennel issue. 

Depending on the age of the puppy or kitten, they may need feeding every two hours — a schedule impossible for a shelter without a night shift available. For dogs recovering from surgical procedures, the risk of infection is higher within a kennel facility.

How Pets Benefit From Foster Programs

Enter the pet foster parent and programs like VOCAL that provide a means to help pets in need. 

We act as a bridge between a pet’s past and future life, stepping in when shelters are too full to provide opportunities for animals to learn to be pets.  

Dogs and cats alike can benefit from:

• Reduced stress
• Less exposure to disease/infestations
• Individual attention
• Opportunities for socialization
• Basic obedience training
• Leash walking
• Litter box practice

A home, big or small, with a person or people willing to spend time and love on helping a rescue, can be the difference that helps a pet find its forever home. 

Reduced levels of stress can bring out a pet’s real personality and reveal the quirks and behavior issues that may need to be addressed. All of this can contribute to making pets more adoptable. 

Meanwhile, you can benefit as a person. Those who are aware they can’t keep an animal long-term can still experience the joy of having a pet. People who are considering adopting their own pet, but are unsure of their own abilities, can practice. 

We actually encourage this, as a foster system gives people something of a safety net and protects the welfare of the animal at the same time. Realizing that pet ownership isn’t for you? That’s okay. Just return the dog or cat to us at VOCAL. 

How to Become a Pet Foster Parent

Whether you’re new to fostering or just new to Marion County and looking for a program, VOCAL is always looking for new volunteers. 

Let’s go through some basics to help you prepare.

Decide What Type of Pets You’ll Foster

This is a personal decision, and most of it should come down to recognizing the kind of animal you are best equipped to care for. It’s more than just choosing between a dog or cat. 

Living in a small apartment? Taking in a large, high-energy dog may not be a great idea. Before you submit an application, ask yourself some of the following questions:

• Can I be available to walk a pet at regular intervals?
• Do I know how to care for a pet recovering from surgery?
• Do I have additional support from other members of the household?
• Can I commit to learning and implementing basic obedience training?
• Will my schedule keep me away from home for long periods at a time?
• Do I know how to set up and clean out a litter box?

Reflecting on our lifestyle and home environment helps us determine the right fit. It’s critical to be honest when completing the foster applications to share your preferences and capabilities. This will help VOCAL choose the best foster pet for your situation. 

Setting Up the Home Environment

Before bringing a foster pet into our home, we need to create a safe and welcoming space for them. We’ll provide you with whatever knowledge we have about the pet’s previous living conditions to give you as much insight into their needs as possible. 

Home preparation can include:

• Sectioning off a quiet area for a pet that is shy or stressed
• Providing a comfortable recovery space for one that is post-operative
• Ensuring that all potentially dangerous items are out of reach
• A living area that is escape-proof.

There can be other pets in the home, but be prepared to keep animals separately if needed. There may be a necessary adjustment period before introductions are made. Anyone in the house who may also be helping care for the animal should be made aware. 

Meeting Pet Fostering Responsibilities

As foster parents, our responsibilities extend beyond the basic needs of feeding and providing shelter. We play a starring role in that pet’s path to adoption. 

This includes being able to handle the following:

• Managing veterinary appointments
• Participating in adoption events
• Administering medications
• Nurturing the pet’s socialization needs
• Routine exercise as appropriate

Keeping up with these responsibilities ensures that our foster pets are healthy, happy, and ready for their forever homes. These responsibilities represent a significant time commitment. Be sure to adjust your schedule accordingly. 

Is Fostering a Pet Expensive?

Fostering supported by an organization like VOCAL is done to minimize the financial impact on volunteers. Many of the more expensive needs for a pet, are provided. This includes:

• Veterinary care and medications
• Food
• Kitty litter
• Collar and leash
• Feed/water bowls 

VOCAL may be able to provide additional items such as kennels, bedding, and toys as needed.

However, you may wish to invest in certain items that make having a pet in your home easier and that you can retain ownership of. This can include an appropriately sized kennel, scratching posts for cats, or any number of different toys. 

VOCAL will not be responsible should damage be done to furniture or other household items. Repairing or replacing these are the responsibility of the homeowner. 

Become a Pet’s Hero and Start Fostering With VOCAL

Now it’s time to get started. We always have animals in need of loving foster families, so let’s walk you through the process. 

Step 1: Reach Out to Us 

• Email: Send your inquiry and questions to info@vocalforpets.org 
• Phone: Give us a call at (352) 289-0800

Step 2: Complete the Application 

Your intention to foster is just a few steps away from becoming a reality. Access to our online foster application form, which is meant to make it easy to fill out. Provide us with information such as:

• Which conditions of animals you can take care of
• What species of animals you’d prefer
• Any other pets present in the household
• Whether you have a regular veterinarian
• The availability of a fenced in yard
• Any pet training abilities you may have

Step 3: Prepare to Welcome Your Foster Pet Once 

Once you are approved, we work closely with you to help you get ready for your temporary houseguest. We’ll sort out the details for food, veterinary visits, and other important necessities. 

We’re right here with you, ready to answer any questions you have. Let’s join forces to make a positive impact in these animals’ lives.

Together, we can become heroes for pets in need and give them the loving interim homes they deserve while they wait for their forever families.