How to Become an Animal Foster Carer

The 6 Steps to Becoming a Pet Foster Carer

Are you in the right place to become a pet foster parent? If so, that’s great news! There are hundreds of pets in your region being rescued, abandoned or needing temporary care in a loving home. Shelters are often filled to the brim and organisations cannot keep all the animals they save or take in. That’s where you come in. If you are in the right place to start taking in temporary rescues and strays until a permanent home is found for them, they are lucky to have you. To see the best success in each animal fostering experience, it helps to be fully prepared. Make your plans, prepare your home, prepare yourself, and finally, prepare each pet who comes to stay with you so you can give them the best opportunity for success. Here are our top six steps to becoming a successful pet foster carer.

1) Decide what type of animal you wish to care for

What kind of pet foster carer will you be? Some people are “dog people”, others are “cat people”, and some like both equally. Some have a knack for smaller pets, and others have the skills and temperament for delicate or exotic animals like lizards, birds, turtles or native mammals.

Knowing the type of pet you will foster helps you prepare for the experience and assists you in deciding on which pet rescue organisation to assist.

2) Find pet rescue and care organisations

Next, look up the local rescue and care organisations in your region. These groups regularly handle rescued pets and need foster parents before permanent pet owners can be found. You will find local shelters in your area and smaller volunteer-run groups in need.

Do your research to discover who each of these organisations is, how they work, how fostering works and their approach to pet rescues and re-homing. Naturally, you want to work with a group close to home with values and a process that aligns with yours. Their process should also work with your lifestyle and ability to foster.

3) Reach out and ask important questions

Before you commit, reach out to each of these organisations and ask a few essential questions. Answers to some of the following questions will give you an idea of the values of your chosen organisation and what your fostering experience, resources provided and expectations of each party will be like.

Who provides the resources such as food, medicine and veterinary treatment if required?

• Some programs provide all the resources you need to foster; others may expect you to provide everything.

Will you be required to help in rehoming the animal?

• Many organisations manage re-homing with foster carers just providing an interim home. Some expect fosters to seek out new owners, which you may or may not prefer.

Does the animal have any planned veterinary procedures? How will you be involved?

• If you have a sick or injured rescue, they might need visits to the vet. Ask how the organisation will handle and pay for these visits.

What happens if you can’t cope or can no longer continue to care for the foster pet?

• Everyone gets stressed, overwhelmed or experiences unexpected life changes. Foster animals rarely stay forever, so what happens when you need to bow out? Find out if there is a way to exit your arrangement (or temporary break) when you sign up.

Can you adopt the foster pet if you want to?

• Some programs let you adopt your fosters and feel this is a happy, permanent home; for some, it is against policy. Decide how you feel about their policy before starting.

How long can you expect to foster each animal?

• Fostering can last anywhere from a day to a year, so ask what the average foster length is for each rescue organisation. Determine how long you will expect to keep and care for each pet.

Can the pet be left alone?

• For each pet, ask if they can be left alone. Some animals need 24/7 care, which you may or may not be able to provide. Some are peaceful and good to nap all day. With others, you can go to work and leave them at home, and some make great boarders as long as you work from home.

Are you expected to train the animal?

• A good foster home can leave a rescue better trained and prepared for life with their future family. However, not all fosterers are trainers, and some organisations may expect regular training activities from foster carers.

Do you have access to a trainer, behaviourist or veterinarian if you have any issues?

• What resources can you access if you foster a pet with a medical or behavioural problem? Ask your organisation if they have professionals on-staff or on-call to help you with a troubled foster pet.