by Brenda Nelson

Created on: October 19, 2009   Last Updated: October 20, 2009

There are always differences of opinion when it comes to deciding where dogs should live while waiting for a new home. Many people feel that foster homes are the best place. However, keeping adoptable dogs at a shelter may be the better option, and may see an increase in adoptions.

Most people, when looking for a dog to adopt, head straight to the shelter. They could not be bothered visiting dogs in foster homes,or waiting for those dogs to be brought to adoption events. They usually want to see a dog, and walk out of the shelter with it in as little time as possible. Driving from foster home to foster home may not be practical, and may make people feel uncomfortable. Additionally visiting a dog in a foster home may make a person feel obligated to having to take a dog that may not be appropriate for them. Foster homes may not be accessible for viewing when a prospective new owner is ready to look at dogs.

Most shelters are open at least six hours a day, for seven days a week. Many have evening hours, if only one day a week. Thus there are many opportunities for a person looking for and adoptable dog to find one. To co-ordinate a potential adopters hours with the hours a foster home can show a pet is sometimes just a hassle for both parties.

There is also the psychological effect of seeing a dog in a cage rather than seeing a dog on a foster owners couch. People respond better when they see a pet in need instead of one pet who appears to already be happy and in a home situation. The public generally has a poor understanding of pet rescue and foster homes.

A potential problem also occurs when a person fosters a pet for a prolonged time and then when somebody else wants to adopt it the foster parent suddenly has a change of heart and they too want the pet. This becomes a sore spot to the person who was legitimately looking for a pet and picked that one. They fear looking at other dogs in foster homes and having the same thing happen.

Of course, shelter life is not as cozy for a dog as life in a foster home, but being visible to the public is a huge advantage to help the dogs to be placed in a permanent home sooner. In the end finding a new, and permanent, home is the main goal of any shelter, and if being kept at the shelter increases a dogs chances then that is what should be done.

One option which would work well, but is seldom in use, is when shelter staff also operate as the foster home. Dogs would be taken home with staff members and returned to the shelter the following day. Thus they would have the benefits of both worlds.

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