Friday, June 29, 2012

What Is Fostering a Cat?: Fostering Cats: How You Can Help Pets

YES, WE HAVE CAT THAT NEED FOSTERING ALSO.

What Is Fostering a Cat?: Fostering Cats: How You Can Help Pets

What Is Fostering a Cat?

iStockphoto

The following was originally published on the Petfinder Blog.

By Jane Harrell, Petfinder.com associate producer

What does fostering a cat involve?
When you foster, you agree to take a homeless cat into your home and give him or her love, care and attention, either for a predetermined period of time or until the cat is adopted.

Why do adoption groups need foster homes?
There are many reasons a cat might need foster care. Some of the most common include:

A rescue group doesn't have a physical shelter and depends on foster homes to care for cats until suitable homes are found.
A kitten is too young to be adopted and needs a safe place to stay until he or she is old enough to go to a forever home.
A cat is recovering from surgery, illness or injury and needs a safe place to recuperate.
A cat is showing signs of stress such as pacing or hiding in the shelter.
A cat has not lived in a home before or has not had much contact with people and needs to be socialized.
The shelter is running out of room for adoptable cats.

Why should I foster a cat?
Fostering a cat is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have (other than adopting, of course). By taking an animal in need temporarily into your home you're:

freeing up a spot so the shelter or rescue can take in another cat.
giving your foster cat the time he needs to be ready for adoption.
helping the shelter or rescue learn more about the cat so he can end up in the best home possible.
socializing the cat to a home environment and possibly getting him used to being around other pets and different types of people.

Not sure you can foster a cat? We know eight reasons you can, even if you think you can't. Also check out Fostering a Cat: Frequently Asked Questions.

How do I sign up to foster a cat?
Find a rescue group or shelter near you and contact them. They'll likely have you fill out a foster application and, if you are approved, they will work with you to figure out the right foster cat for your household.

How to Let Go of Your Foster Dog: Fostering Dogs: How You Can Help Pets

How to Let Go of Your Foster Dog

The following was originally published on the Petfinder Blog.

By Jane Harrell, Petfinder.com associate producer

One of the questions I'm most frequently asked as a dog foster parent is, "How do you let go?" Similarly, a lot of people tell me they don't foster dogs because "I could never give them back."

That's why I'm sharing my top five tips for letting go at the end of a foster period. While they're not exactly foolproof (we just decided to adopt our last foster cat, Wes), these tips have helped me let go of well over 20 foster cats and dogs and place them in loving, happy homes -- that aren't my own.

1) Get a foster dog who's not right for you long-term.
For me, letting go starts the moment I decide to take on a new foster pet. I select fosters whom I believe I can help, but whom I wouldn't want to adopt. Generally this means smaller dogs (like my past foster Alvin) are a great bet for my household. I love working with them and their small size does well with my cats, but having a dog long-term in my small New York City apartment is hard.

Don't take in a foster dog you can't handle -- you want to keep everyone safe -- just choose one who doesn't quite suit your lifestyle. Do you hate to clean? Foster a dog with a long coat. Are you a couch potato? Foster high-energy puppies. As much as you'll miss your fosters when they're adopted, part of you will welcome the return to normalcy when they're gone.

2) Get your friends or family involved.
In my home, fostering is a family activity, but even when I lived with roommates I always got them involved. (It should go without saying that your whole household needs to agree to fostering a dog in the first place.)

Having your foster dog bond with a variety of people can help you keep the emotional distance you need to let go -- you won't think of the dog as "yours" and you won't worry that he or she will never be happy without you.

It's also great for the dog. Having your friends and family handle, play with and cuddle him gets your foster dog used to meeting and interacting with strangers -- a valuable life skill for any dog and one that helps him make a good impression when meeting potential adopters. (Be sure to speak with the rescue group or shelter about how your foster dog does around men, women, strangers and children first.)

3) Help find and screen potential adopters.
Helping your foster dog find a new home will keep you in the mindset that he won't be with you for good. Ask the shelter or rescue group how you can help. Maybe you can take great photos and write a detailed description of your foster dog for his Petfinder profile, or ask your friends to share a link to his Petfinder page on Facebook. You may even want to make a video of your foster dog that the group can post to his Petfinder profile. (Check out the video I made for my former foster dog Nini.)

Find out if the rescue group or shelter will let you help screen potential adopters. Some organizations will rely heavily on you, while others don't require foster parents to ever meet potential adopters.

You'll feel more comfortable saying goodbye when you know your foster dog is going to a great forever home -- and your efforts increase the chances that he'll find that home.

4) Remember that letting go of this one enables you to save another life.
If keeping this foster dog means you can't take in another dog in need, then you could be missing out. And the other dogs in need are definitely missing out.

Remember that, while each adoption saves a life, a great foster parent can save many lives, by socializing and rehabilitating dogs who might not find homes while living in a shelter.

5) Ask for follow-up stories and pictures from your foster dog's adopter.
The hands-down best moment of fostering a dog for me is dropping my foster off at his new home. Teary? Yes, often. But still the best, because I get to see how much better his life is going to be from now on.

If you've met your dog's adopter, ask him or her for an e-mail update and pictures. You might not always get them, but when you do you'll be on cloud nine.

If you're fostering with an organization where you don't meet the adopters, talk to the shelter staffer who did the adoption and ask for as much info as you can get about the adopters. (Just be sure to do it soon, while they can remember!)

Ok, none of these tips will completely alleviate the pain of letting go of your foster dog, nor will any of them ensure you won't get attached. But think, if the worst that happens is that you fall in love with your foster dog and end up with a new family member, is that really so bad? Wes, my most recent "failed" foster certainly doesn't think so -- and neither do I.

How to Assess Your Foster Dog for Adoption: Fostering Dogs: How You Can Help Pets

How to Assess Your Foster Dog for Adoption

By Jane Harrell, Petfinder.com associate producer
Assessing your foster dog for adoption is a vital role any foster parent plays in the adoption process. You live, feed, play with and have the closest contact of anyone else with your foster dog and can help identify traits that will determine what kind of home he should be placed in.
Below is an example of an assessment form from a Petfinder.com member shelter. Your shelter or rescue might ask you to fill out something similar to help describe your foster dog. You may also be asked to write a short description of him for his Petfinder listing, or to describe his behavior to potential adopters. Use the assessment form below to help guide you in getting the vital information to your rescue or shelter:

Assessment Form - Dog

Please indicate (circle one for each) how the foster dog is doing with each item. Thanks!
How long has the dog been in foster care: ________________
Behavior
Food bowl:

Good
Eats faster when approached
Freezes over food

Furniture:

Not on
Is easily moved off
Won't get off

Basic Handling
Can open muzzle:

Easily
Fair
Clamps down

Can easily touch:

Everywhere
Everywhere Except (list):___________________

Hug:

Likes
Dislikes (struggles/growls)

Brushing:

Likes
Dislikes

Play:

Mouthy/can redirect
Mouthy/overly excited/can't redirect

Toys:

Can take all away
Can take some away
Can't take away

Crate trained:

Likes crate
Dislikes crate
Didn't try to crate

Obedience Commands
Dog knows (circle all that apply):

Sit
Down
Watch
No jumping on guests
Other: __________

Socialization
Car rides:

Likes/doesn't bark
Likes/barks
Doesn't like

Strangers:

Likes all
Dislikes all
Likes only women
Likes only men

Children:

Likes all
Dislikes all
Likes over age:_____
Don't know

Dogs:

Likes all
Dislikes when restricted (leash/fence)
Dislikes
Don't know

Cats:

Likes
Dislikes
Don't know

In General
Is housebroken:

Yes
No
Accidents only when left alone

Is destructive/chews:

Yes
No
Only when left alone

Overall (circle all that apply):

Shy
Assertive/bold
Active
Quiet
Afraid of Noises
Playful
Walks nicely on a leash
Pulls on a leash

How long is dog left alone during day: ________

Crated
Not Crated

How to Be the Best Dog Foster Parent: Fostering Dogs: How You Can Help Pets

How to Be the Best Dog Foster Parent

Provided by Dogster

Fostering a dog is one of many ways you can help improve the lives of homeless pets. Most Dogster members are well aware of the pet overpopulation problem both nationally and internationally - there are millions of dogs that wait and sadly die in shelters and rescues annually, awaiting the forever homes they truly deserve.
While shelters and rescue facilities would like to house every homeless pet, this is often impractical and impossible due to a lack of resources or space. Dogs that would otherwise be euthanized due to lack of space can be saved through caring people who are willing to open their home and hearts to a shelter pet in need.
Many homeless pets grew up in homes where they were well-loved family members. For whatever reason, these dogs find themselves homeless and alone. It is scary and stressful to go from a place where you are well loved and surrounded by your family to a place where you are surrounded by strange dogs, people, sights, and sounds. In many of these dogs, the stress is manifested in the form of unwanted or self-destructive behaviors.
Foster homes are a great solution for dogs with kennel stress or other special needs. Whelping mothers, young puppies, and senior dogs are especially vulnerable to the shelter environment and need a quiet place to raise young, grow, and age peacefully until the right forever home can be found. If you choose to become a foster provider, you give these dogs a chance at life, and save them from the fate so many others suffer - euthanization while awaiting a forever home.
How Do I Become A Foster Care Provider?
So you've decided you want to become a pet foster parent. Great! Providing foster care for dogs will certainly be a rewarding experience, but will just as likely be emotionally challenging. Sending a successful foster to his forever home is bittersweet - you are saying goodbye to a friend, which hurts, but are also sending him on to the greatest adventure of his life - a place where he will be cherished and loved until he goes to the rainbow bridge - a forever home.
The first step will be visiting www.petfinder.com to find rescue organizations near you. If you have a favorite breed and are willing to branch out geographically, the site will be able to refer you to a number of breed-specific rescues (which may or may not allow mixed breeds). You can also find toy breed rescues, giant breed rescues, and organizations which focus specifically on senior, special needs, or puppy adoption and fostering.
When you've found a few that interest you, contact them requesting an application for fostering. Review the application carefully. If you have questions, ask! Who pays for the vet bills? Who is financially responsible for the dog's food, microchip, leashes, crate, etc.? Are there organization-wide meetings? If so, when and how often do they occur? Where will the dog be introduced to prospective adopters and how much liberty do you have in scheduling these meetings? Are you responsible for training the dog and if so, to what level?
Some rescues require foster parents with fenced-in yards. For certain dogs, a foster parent who is home all day may be required, or a home without cats or children.
The rescue organization will likely require personal and veterinary references along with a printed application and one or more telephone or in-person interviews.
If You Already Have A Pet
Communicable diseases from the shelter environment could be carried into your own home where your pets may be infected. Talk to your vet about recommended quarantine periods for new foster pets, to keep your own pets safe!
Know Your Limits
Does your homeowners insurance or city have any breed restrictions? Do you have time to devote to a foster pet while giving your own pets the attention and care they need?
What kind of behavior problems are you comfortable dealing with - counter surfing, pulling on leash, jumping when greeting, inappropriate elimination, separation anxiety, barking, reactivity? Don't accept a foster with behavior problems beyond your experience and knowledge, unless you are willing to consult with a qualified trainer.
What kind of health problems are you willing to deal with? Medicating the dog frequently? Incontinence? Digestive disorders? Special dietary needs? What about a dog with a wheelchair?
Are you willing to provide the husbandry needed to keep this dog well-groomed and sanitary? Do you require a foster dog that is safe around small children or animals?
Happy Fostering
Again, congratulations on your decision to start fostering. Let's review the steps:

Check petfinder.com to find rescues near you.
Contact rescues and shelters for fostering applications
Evaluate applications carefully
Complete application process
Set limits
Bring home your foster dog
Smile and cry at the same time when he finds his forever home
Repeat steps 6 and 7 as often as possible!

Good luck, and happy fostering!

20 Questions to Ask Before You Foster A Dog: Fostering Dogs: How You Can Help Pets

20 Questions to Ask Before You Foster A Dog

The following was originally published on the Petfinder Blog.

By Jane Harrell, Petfinder.com associate producer

Fostering pets has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and is something I encourage everyone I know to do. But I've learned some big lessons along the way.

For the experience to turn out well for the foster parent and the rescue organization (and, most of all, the dog), it's crucial that all parties communicate and be clear about their expectations and responsibilities.

Here are some questions to ask the rescue group or shelter before you sign up to foster (the group will most likely have you fill out a foster-home application as well). Don't be alarmed if the group doesn't have answers to all the questions you ask. Each organization has its own procedures.

Questions about the dog:

How did he come to be with the shelter or rescue group and how long has he been there?
Why does he need a foster home now?
Does he have any medical concerns or need medication?
Has he been neutered (or spayed, if the dog is female)? If not, when will he be?
Is he up to date on his vaccinations and has he been tested for diseases such as heartworm?
Since conditions such as kennel cough and upper respiratory infections cannot be tested for, how long should I keep him separated from my own pets?
Does he have any behavioral issues or concerns? How are they dealt with?
Do you know how he is with kids, cats, dogs and/or strangers? Can my children or pets meet him before I commit to fostering him?
Do you know how he does when left alone? Is he crate trained?
Is he housetrained?

Questions about the fostering process:

How long will I be expected to foster this dog? If it's until a suitable home is found, how long do you expect that to take?
What happens if I can no longer care for the dog?
Who pays for medical bills if they arise? Does that include treatments for my pets if they catch something from my foster dog?
What should I do if there's a medical emergency?
Who is responsible for communicating with potential adopters, screening them and introducing the dog to them?
Will I be required to bring him to adoption events and, if so, where/when?
Will you provide food, litter, supplies (such as a leash or a litter box), medications, etc., or will I be expected to?
If I have a problem, whom can I contact? If I leave a message, how quickly will that person get back to me?
Could my foster dog be deemed unadoptable and, if so, what happens then?
Can I adopt him if I choose?

Even the best-prepared foster parent should expect the unexpected. But it's so worth it. Like Marge, the cat with cerebellar hypoplasia whom I planned to keep for two weeks as she recovered from an upper respiratory infection -- but who stayed for four months when it became obvious that she wouldn't do well in the shelter.

Marge had to be isolated and needed daily physical therapy and enrichment work. She was one of my greatest challenges, but that just made it all the more rewarding when she found the perfect home, a devoted couple who continued her physical therapy. Last I heard, Marge is able to climb and descend stairs like a champ -- something we never thought possible when she first came to the shelter.

Why Foster A Dog and What Does It Entail?: Fostering Dogs: How You Can Help Pets

Why Foster A Dog and What Does It Entail?

Photo: Help Orphan Puppies in Kinderhook, NY

The following was originally published on the Petfinder Blog.

By Jane Harrell, Petfinder.com associate producer

What does fostering a dog involve?
When you foster, you agree to take a homeless dog into your home and give him or her love, care and attention, either for a predetermined period of time or until the dog is adopted.

Why do adoption groups need foster homes?
There are many reasons a dog might need foster care. Some of the most common include:

A rescue group doesn't have a physical shelter and depends on foster homes to care for dogs until suitable homes are found.
A puppy is too young to be adopted and needs a safe place to stay until he or she is old enough to go to a forever home.
A dog is recovering from surgery, illness or injury and needs a safe place to recuperate.
A dog is showing signs of stress such as pacing or hiding in the shelter.
A dog has not lived in a home before or has not had much contact with people and needs to be socialized.
The shelter is running out of room for adoptable dogs.

Why should I foster a dog?
Fostering a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have (other than adopting, of course). By taking an animal in need temporarily into your home you're:

freeing up a spot so the shelter or rescue can take in another dog.
giving your foster dog the time he needs to be ready for adoption.
helping the shelter or rescue learn more about the dog so he can end up in the best home possible.
socializing the dog to a home environment and possibly getting him used to being around other pets and different types of people.

Not sure you can foster a dog? We know eight reasons you can, even if you think you can't.

How do I sign up to foster a dog?
Find a rescue group or shelter near you and contact them. They'll likely have you fill out a foster application and, if you are approved, they will work with you to figure out the right foster dog for your household.

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Friday, June 29, 2012