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It’s no secret that there are significant numbers of homeless animals in the United States A recent report found around 7.6 million animals enter shelters every year. Unfortunately, it is also clear that there are not enough shelters or places in shelters to meet the demand. This makes adoptive pet parents an essential tool on the road to adoption.
In many ways, this arrangement can be mutually rewarding for both the animal and you as the adoptive parent. The animal has the opportunity to experience invaluable love and attention in a family environment. You enjoy the presence of another life in your home and build incredible memories. That doesn’t mean it’s always easy, though. It is important to take the time to understand the issues before committing.
Let’s take a look at some of the key things to consider when becoming a pet adoptive parent.
Is this the right time?
It’s important not to rush into becoming a pet adoptive parent. It is true that there are certainly a large number of animals that need to be housed before being adopted. However, going to the wrong foster home at the wrong time can cause additional trauma to the animal and stress to the adoptive parent. Although you have the best intentions in offering your home, it is essential to first ensure that it is the right time for you to make this commitment.
Several factors should be considered in this regard. These include:
Time
Bringing in a pet takes a lot of time. You are bringing an animal into a foreign place at a time when it may feel vulnerable. They will need you to support them through their first introduction to your home, through their daily activities, and meeting potential adopters. Although not all pets require the same level of care, it is important to be clear about whether you have enough time.
finance
Living with a pet is a significant financial commitment. It’s no different when you become a foster pet parent. Unlike those who adopt human children, you are unlikely to receive any form of financial compensation. Although some shelters may provide a certain amount of food or access to veterinary care, this is not always the case. As such, you need to be sure that now is the right time financially to commit to fostering an animal.
Is your house ready?
When you become a pet foster parent, you are not only giving your time, energy and love, you are also welcoming an animal into your home. As such, it’s important to make sure your home is ready for their arrival. This means assessing and adapting the space to ensure it can meet your pet’s physical, psychological and emotional needs.
This should start with establishing areas that need to be pet proof. There are some general techniques you can use to protect both your pet and your home. These include keeping toilet seats closed to prevent the animal from drinking household chemicals and securing medications in inaccessible places at all times. If you are keeping houseplants, it is important to research whether they are toxic to pets and move them to a safer location if necessary. Any heavy bookcases or freestanding furniture should also be secured to the walls to mitigate the risk of an exuberant pet knocking them over and injuring themselves.
Along with more general forms of pet care, you will also need to prepare your home to meet your pet’s unique needs. Some animals may live with anxiety or find the presence of loud noises or other stimuli overwhelming or stressful. If you live in the city, it may be a good idea to install soundproofing or dimming light switches to provide your pet with a more comfortable environment. If you’re bringing in a pet with reduced mobility, you’ll likely need to make accommodations for it. This may include rearranging furniture to minimize obstructions or even putting steps up to the windowsill for an elderly cat.
Can you train a companion?
In some circumstances, one of the responsibilities of a pet foster parent is to ensure that the animal is able to be rehomed. This may involve training your pet to be a suitable companion for a future adoptee. Indeed, a pet that has been trained in certain areas can help make it a more viable potential pet for a forever home. As such, one of your considerations should be whether you are able to provide rudimentary training.
This does not mean that you have to be able to teach the animal to do tricks or even to be obedient at all costs. On the contrary, you should be able to work with them on the essentials. Potty training is especially important for young animals, although some older animals that have had traumatic experiences may also need help. Dogs, cats, and even birds may also need behavioral diversion training to prevent them from biting or scratching furniture or people. These activities require time, patience and some knowledge to do well.
Obviously, not everyone will have expertise here. Some shelters organize or provide access to courses for their host families. If not, it may be a good idea to seek help from a local training provider. However, at the very least, it’s a good idea to get advice on basic pet training from reputable online sources.
Are you emotionally ready?
One area of consideration that many inexperienced potential pet foster parents overlook is their emotional preparation. An adoptive pet requires not only tangible forms of support, but also genuine love and care. It’s something they probably haven’t received much in a while and is key to rebuilding trust. Therefore, your emotional availability is one of the minimum requirements for fostering a pet.
While it’s true that pets can be great for your emotional and mental health, in these cases the welfare of the animal should come first. There’s no shame in admitting that you’re in the wrong place in your life or even that your own emotional state doesn’t leave much room for you to care for another emotionally vulnerable being. However, it is essential to be honest with yourself about it and to wait until you can devote yourself fully.
It should also be remembered that pets in foster care may have had significant traumatic experiences. As such, they may exhibit behavior or feelings consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder. This is not only a challenge for the animal, but you may also find its symptoms distressing. Taking the time to reflect on your emotional readiness is essential both to support an animal going through this experience and to care for yourself.
Can you facilitate the transfer?
Being a pet foster parent is a temporary arrangement. Although you love and care for the animal as if it were part of your family, the intention is to support it on the way to a forever home. You should consider how best to approach and manage this process.
It’s not always easy for people. You may need to arrange to meet with potential adopters, provide updates on their progress, and manage the logistics of the transfer. There are certainly tools that can help you on a practical level and allow you to be a good representative of the shelter. For instance, send a thank you card with photo of the animal to new adopters is a thoughtful and practical act. First of all, it’s a more personal memory to express your gratitude and that of the shelter at a key moment in the animal’s journey. You can also put your phone number on the card so the family can contact you for any help or advice they may need.
However, you will find that there is another emotional component to this process. It can be difficult to part with an animal that has spent weeks or even months with your family. It may be helpful to talk to your shelter or more experienced adoptive parents about approaches and techniques to help you here.
Conclusion
Becoming a pet adoptive parent can be a rewarding experience for you, the animal, and the shelter. However, it’s important not to jump in until you’re ready. Seriously consider whether this is the right time for you to accept responsibility. Prepare your home, explore training methods, and understand the challenges of facilitating a transfer to a forever home. By spending a little more time and energy now, you can ensure that the onboarding process has the most positive impact.
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