Animal shelters in Indianapolis, and across the nation, are overcrowded. Dogs and cats get turned away, or given slim chances of even making it to the adoption floor, due to the high number of animals already waiting to find their Forever Home.
Luckily, there is something that you can do to help that doesn’t involve opening up your already tightly-strapped pocketbook.
Fostering gives a dog the chance it needs to make it through one of the most difficult times in his or her life. And, not only are you helping the animal who resides in your home, you’re also opening up a kennel at the shelter to be used for another dog looking for a home.
Before you jump into fostering, there are a few things to consider.
How long can you keep this animal? Most foster programs ask for a minimum commitment of 2 weeks. This gives the dog a chance to de-stress from the shelter environment and to relearn what it means to live side by side with humans. Or, if you’re fostering a dog who is recovering from a surgery or other medical issue, it will give enough time to ensure that he or she is up to returning to the shelter.
Of course, if you are able and willing, I can’t think of a single foster program out there who wouldn’t love for you to keep the dog until he or she finds a permanent, loving home!
What kind of dog can you reasonably handle? There are all kinds of dogs waiting for a foster home. They could be mothers who come with a litter of just-born puppies, or an abandoned puppy who needs good socialization experiences during crucial development stages. It could be a dog recovering from heartworm or a necessary amputation. Maybe, it is a senior dog, or a dog who has been in the shelter for a very long time and needs a chance to take a vacation from it. Or, it could be a young, high energy dog with no foundation of obedience training who needs to learn cues and manners.
Be honest with an assessment of your lifestyle. If you can’t commit to daily walks, consider a senior dog who requires less activity. If you work long hours, a puppy may not be the best fit for you, since they require a great deal of attention. If you have a house full of kids, a shy or fearful dog may not work well. Rest assured, there is a dog in need to fit every lifestyle!
Can you let go when the time comes? The best, and most heartbreaking, experience of fostering is watching your foster dog go home with his or her new family. Make sure you are emotionally prepared for this experience, because you could be amazed at how quickly your foster dog starts to feel like your own. I combat this with continually reminding myself that, “This is my dog, and I will love and treat him as my dog until I can find his real home.”
Will you be tempted to adopt your foster dog? Yes, it happens to us all. Afterall, this dog becomes part of your daily life and a true bond of attachment is formed. While it is certainly a wonderful thing to adopt a dog in need, take account of your true motives before fostering. If you are fostering to find the right dog for you and you do, by all means – adopt! If, however, you are fostering with the intent of helping as many dogs as possible, and to move them along to their real Forever Homes, keep in mind that the best way to do that is to place your foster dog in the best, most loving home that you can find, and then, help out another canine in need, with the knowledge that the one you just placed will be safe and happy for the rest of her life.
If you are interested in fostering, here is a list of local organizations who are desperately seeking foster homes. Each of them has a slightly different process to become a foster home, but they are all well worth the time:
- Humane Society of Indianapolis
- Indianapolis Animal Care and Control
- Southside Animal Shelter (no-kill facility)
Love a certain breed? Try searching for a local chapter of a rescue organization specializing in that breed. Most breeds have Indiana-based chapters and all of them utilize foster homes to care for their adoptable dogs.
If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com.