Wanting to know about fostering
 

Just wondering what it all involved with this. Had a friend call today wondering if I would foster. Really thinking hard about it. There is a puppy mill that had many yorkies needing foster homes. Please tell the good bad and ugly. Thanks Ann.

I do not have any experience fostering dogs. The only experience I have in fostering is with a cat. The local shelter called me to see if I could take care of a newborn kitten. She was about two days old. Someone found it in their yard and brought it to the shelter. So I brought her home, and nursed her. That was well over a year ago...... She is still here:) I just could not take her back. They have so many cats. I just could not bear the thought of her going back and not finding a good home.

I think it may be easier if it were a small dog. They are very rarely in shelters here, and when they do turn up they are adopted very quickly. But then again, it is so hard to give up any animal once it becomes part of the family.

Sorry not much help, but maybe a bump to the top will assist you.

I have never fostered but I also know that I just would not be able to. I am one that would not be able to give it to someone else when the time came. I would want to keep each and every one of them which is impossible to do. So, keeping that in mind, fostering was never an option for me. I just get to attached. I do thank God that there are others who are willing to do this as I feel it is such a wonderful thing. Good luck in your decision!

Not sure of all the stuff. You keep the pet at your home. Bring in to the vet for any work. Work on training at home. Getting housebroken, working with other animals and getting to know the animals temperament. Then be willing to give up the animal when adopted. That's usually the hard part. A local foster said they call you a "foster failure" if you can't give it up.

I fostered once 2 years ago. The shelter I volunteered at got in a bunch of dogs from a puppy mill auction that was going out of business. I fostered the 8 week old pom. I was naive and brought her right into my home and let her be with my other 3. On the third day she tested positive for giardia and I was worried my 3 would get it but they didn't. I had her spayed and soon after my husband's boss adopted her. It was a lot of work having a puppy again and you do get attached. I just told myself from the beginning I was just getting her ready for her forever home. It was easier giving her up since I knew she was going to a home where she was going to get loved to pieces. Her name was angel when I had her but her new Mom changed it to Lola because she said whatever Lola wants, Lola gets. I really admire people who can do it all the time. It is very rewarding but with 4 of my own now I couldn't do it. Good luck in your decision.

My local shelter was glad I did not bring the kitten back. She did not consider me a failure. If they had a home for her, then I could have taken her back as hard as it would have been for me to do. At the time they had almost 17 kittens under 14 weeks old. The chances of her getting a home were slim. And if she did then it was taking a home from another kitten. For that reason I just could not make myself taker her back.

I would have been able to do so if there would have been a home available to her. At least I like to think I would:)

I think if you trust the shelter's policy on placing animals, then it is easier to take one back. If you know the shelter is going to ensure a forever home then you do not have to worry about him/her. But if it is a shelter that is first come first serve with little to know adoption procedure then I think it would be more difficult. Also is the pet you are fostering one that will have a lot of people wanting it when he/she goes back. In this area small dogs are in high demand, and very seldom seen at shelters. Lab and shepherd mixes on the other had are everywhere.

OP maybe you could talk to some of the people who foster for the local shelters in your area. They could maybe really give you some firsthand information and information that related more to your area.