by Joshua Keyes DVM

Created on: December 08, 2008   Last Updated: January 06, 2011

Have you ever thought about becoming a foster parent to a homeless animal in need? Although the job is a lot of work, it can also be quite gratifying. My children have enjoyed the privilege of caring for mother cats and their litters of kittens each summer, but this is only one example of the kind of animals who are often in need of foster care. Cats and dogs with illnesses, especially severe respiratory infections and stress-related diseases such as colitis are often in need of foster parents, as are animals who arrive at an animal shelter with injuries such as lacerations and broken bones. Also, some animal rescue organizations don't have a shelter-all the animals in their care live in foster homes while a network of volunteers actively works to find each fostered pet a forever home.

Before deciding to take on a foster pet, think about whether or not you have enough time to do the job thoroughly and well. Orphaned kittens, for example, need round the clock care, just as newborn babies to. Even if you take in a litter or kittens along with their mother, you might have to feed them every two hours if the mother refuses to care for them. Older animals don't require as much intense hands-on care, foster dogs still need someone to be there most of the day. Some of them may have been surrendered because of house-soiling problems or separation anxiety. You can't help them to modify these behaviors if you are away from home twelve hours every day. For this reason, the ideal volunteer foster parent for puppies, kittens and dogs is an adult who is home most of the time-retired people, at-home parents and people who work from home.

Some other things to consider are the needs and concerns of the other members of your household. Do you have children who might not be able to let go when it's time to place your foster pet into a forever home? Is everyone in your house in favor of taking care of a pet that you may have to let go? How about your other animals? Do you have a dog with a history or aggression toward cats or other dogs? Then perhaps you could foster a caged pet such as a ferret, a bird or a rabbit instead of a cat or a dog. If you already have cats, do you realize that bringing new ones in periodically may upset their social structure and create behavioral problems? Are you willing to take that risk. Is the humane organization with which you hope to work ready and willing to re-home your charge in the event that unmanageable conflicts arise? If you carefully

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