by Karen Hart

Created on: February 22, 2009

Everyone and everything will flourish in a loving home, even our beloved animal friends. Animal shelters are a needed necessity to house the many homeless animals turned away for what ever reason. Wonderful caring people care for these animals while they wait in crowded shelters for their forever home. While these animals are staying in these shelters they are usually kenneled or caged with others because of limited space. When this happens dogs and cats learn to fight to gain their own space or get a bite to eat to fill their always hungry bellies. Though volunteers come into the shelters to help care for the homeless they are too few to give the love and attention needed by these animals to stay psychologically and physically healthy. Animals are just like children they need a loving home to thrive and grow intelligently and physically. Many shelters have concrete floors which dogs stand and lie down on for hours and hours causing sores and physical ailments in the animals joints and muscles. Lameness is a problem for the young animals growing up in shelters sometimes becoming a permanent aliment into adulthood making it harder to get adopted. Potential owners are leery of taking a limping dog home because of possible added veterinarian expenses. Many animals pick up bad habits in shelters like biting or barking which make them unattractive for adoption.

Foster homes are a dream come true for homeless animals. People who have the time and space to bring animals into their home as a foster are answered prayers for lucky sheltered animals. No longer will a dog have to listen to the constant barking of his frightened kenneled comrades. This barking is not from happy dogs it is from scarred, lonely, unwanted dogs. Such sad songs to hear all day. When a dog arrives at a foster home he is given undivided attention. He will learn basic commands such as sit and come. He will be potty trained and taught how to walk without pulling on a leash. All these things will be important for him to find a forever home easier. Animals like children respond to loving nurturing care. Love and security are musts for any living creature and a home is the best place to find this.

Animals recieve more attention and training in foster homes then shelters. They are socialized with other pets and children to enhance their chances for adoption. Shelters are not staffed sufficiently to offer this type of training for all the dogs housed in their facility. The biggest reason foster homes are better then animal shelters for long term housing is foster parents almost always adopt their foster pet! For this reason alone foster homes are the best bet for homeless animals!

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