You may find yourself sitting at home, especially in these times, wanting a pet or thinking about adding another to your life. Maybe you aren’t sure if you should get one, or you’re nervous about finding a food fit. Maybe you’re not sure how to even choose a pet. Maybe you’re not sure how to care for a pet properly. Maybe you’re just not sure if your current pet would be okay with another one. Well, keep reading to find the answers on how to make the hard decision: am I ready to foster? It could be the most rewarding decision you’ve made, and it could also be extremely beneficial to you and your pet both mentally and emotionally.

Some essential “need-to-know” facts and some questions:

• To foster means to provide shelter to a pet.
• Many pets in shelters have been abandoned or rescued.
• You don’t have to keep the pet. You’re a caregiver/temporary parent until the pet is adopted/finds a forever home. 
• What will the time commitment look like?
• Will I be able to give the pet away when it is adopted? 
• Will this pet be right for me? 

10 Signs I’m Ready to Foster

1. Am I ready to adopt? 

Fostering is a temporary way to see if you’re ready to make that commitment to adopt a pet forever. It can motivate you to adjust your life. To make sure you have enough space. To make sure you have enough time. To balance your finances. To adjust your schedule so that you can give the pet lots of love. To help confirm if the long-term commitment of adopting a pet is the right decision for you. 

 2. Will my current pet get along with another pet? 

Fostering is also a wonderful way to give another pet some love and to see if a new pet would fit in with whatever pets you may have in the house. Now for this you want to take precautions, like asking for more information about the foster pet. Make sure to check in with your current veterinarian to see if there are any precautions you can take with your current pet as you bring the foster pet to its new environment. It may take time for the animals to adapt to each other, but this could give you the confidence you need to add another pet to your home. 

3. I don’t know what my future holds, but right now I’m ready for a pet. 

Remember, fostering is short-term. Maybe you don’t plan to stay in your city or town. Maybe you plan to switch jobs. Maybe you’ll just be moving to a new home. Whatever your situation may be, fostering is a short-term option for companionship. It’s a way to share your love with another creature who really needs it. It’s a wonderful way to help out and take some stress off the overpopulated shelters. 

4. I have the space.

Foster parents are wonderful because they free up shelter space. Also, the more space or availability you have to play with the pet or even let it run, the better. Like people, pets need to exercise and play as well. Sometimes shelters can be too loud for certain pets and almost claustrophobic. A pet is more likely to be adopted if they feel the love and happiness of being in a home versus feeling shy or scared in a shelter. 

5. I have the time to give. 

Foster parents are wonderful because they can give more attention to one animal than shelter staff. There’s a higher chance of adoption when a pet is already in a home and feeling cared for rather than having tons of pent up energy and feeling cooped up at a shelter. This can also be great for shy pets that just need some love, or even a pregnant pet who needs some additional attention. This can be especially great for pets healing from injury or illness as they will recover faster given the extra love and care.

6. Maybe mentally or emotionally I need a pick-me up.

Pets can be a wonderful thing for your emotional and mental health. It’s a creature to love and care for. A pet will get you up and about to play, to be fed, to go for a walk. Pets love to be pet, scratched, rubbed. You’re bound to release positive hormones like oxytocin when caring for a pet, which is often called the love or cuddle hormone (Pappas, 2015). This positively affects the pet as well (Petersson, 2017). However, do be careful about becoming too attached to the animal as it will eventually be adopted and leave or maybe you’ll end up with an adopted pet yourself. Either way, having a pet at home will offer an excellent source of companionship.

7. I’ve thought about the pros and cons, and I believe I’m ready. 

It’s important to make sure you consider that while it can indeed be wonderful to have a pet, this pet is in a shelter because it was given up or abandoned. This pet may show some sporadic behavior. Pets have feelings too and can be emotional; imagine how you might feel if you had been given away or left behind. Make sure to contemplate your decision and be ready to fully love the pet for all of its flaws too. Be ready to have to train the pet and pet-proof your house. Know that it will take them some time to adjust to a new environment. 

8. I will speak up for the pet.

It’s important to remember this pet will be spending most of its time with you. You’ll get to know the pet best and have a hand in the pet’s future home. You should be willing to speak up for the pet and to make sure that this pet's forever home will truly be forever and that it will be a good match. Have pictures and stories ready to show the future parents how much you’ve enjoyed the pet and the things you love most about them. As a short-term guardian you’ll eventually be giving the pet away to a forever home that will hopefully love them as much as you have. 

9. I have experience caring for or training pets, but I don’t own a pet right now. 

If you have the experience, then that’s half the work. If you have the time and space, help a shelter out and love a pet that needs some affection and training. Help an animal shelter place a pet in a forever home. A foster parent can be wonderful as they can dedicate their time to training one pet, while a shelter has many pets to worry about. If you’ve done your research and you’re ready, you can make a huge difference in a pet’s life. 

10. I’m patient and kind.

Once again, many pets at shelters were left or abandoned. If you have patience to love and train a pet, and deal with its possibly erratic behavior, this could be great for both you and the pet. You’ll probably even feel fulfilled and gain happiness from helping a pet find its forever home. Do your research and help a shelter out today by deciding to be a foster parent. 

Now that you’ve asked yourself these 10 points, do you think you’re ready? If you are, it’s time to reach out to your local shelter. Make sure it’s a reputable shelter. Both Petfinder and ASPCA have lists you can check for this information. See what fostering from each specific shelter  entails. Make sure it’s a good fit in that you understand all that you must do for the pet. You can even check Facebook groups and other forms of social media to double check your choice or even for continual support and help in making the decision or caring for your foster pet. 

Questions to ask the shelter:

• Will I need to attend meetings for the pet?
• Do you have any specific breed or weight restrictions due to housing? 
• Will I need to train this pet?
• Will I need to pay vet bills including vaccinations, microchipping, spaying or neutering?
• What will I need to buy for the pet: a crate, pillow, food or water bowl, toys, leash, collar, litter box and litter?
• Will I need to attend adoption events with the pet? Where will the pet meet potential forever families? 
• What requirements are there for the pet? Are stairs okay? Is a yard needed? Does the pet do well around kids? Does the pet do well around other animals?
• Is there anything I need to know about the specific pet: behavioral issues: leash pulling, jumping, illness and medication, personality traits, the situation that brought the pet to the shelter?

Please do remember that many pets will require some training and lots of love. Also, be prepared to be the best type of “foster fail,” sometimes foster pets do really become forever pets. However, keep in mind that there is prep work and a financial aspect to fostering a pet. A pet does take time and effort. Pets need lots of attention, toys, and love. Do your research and become a foster parent today!

This post was contributed by Raisa Alstodt, a program analyst. She grew up in a company of adopted dogs. She enjoys travelling and is looking forward to fostering a dog once she moves to Washington DC for work.