Should I Foster?

Our facility at Kershaw County Humane Society is beautiful. We spend hours a day cleaning and maintaining the building, we give our furry residents clean bedding every morning and as-needed throughout the day. Our furry friends have toys, treats, and socialization as well as friendly volunteers to take them on walks and give individualized attention to each animal. However, as lovely as their stay is at KCHS, shelters were just not designed to house dogs for months at a time. This is why foster programs exist.

If the goal of shelters is to find homes for homeless animals, it makes sense to place the animals in a home environment and get them acclimated to a traditional life–rather than a life in a shelter. Animal shelters are wonderful places, but they are stressful for animals who are there for an extended period of time.

Animals who are transferred into foster homes tend to be less anxious, more socialized, and have a lower chance of getting sick than animals in shelters. Plus, they benefit from the individualized attention that they are able to receive from a foster family. Animals who come from a foster home are more likely to get adopted. Foster families are able to help their foster pet learn basic manners that they might not be able to learn within the walls of a shelter, making the animal more appealing to potential adopters. 

The benefits of fostering are not limited to benefits for the pet alone. Fostering is a fantastic alternative to adopting a new pet for many families simply because it is temporary. If you’re not ready for a permanent commitment, but can acknowledge the benefit of having a temporary companion, fostering might be right for you! Knowing that the foster pet will be with you for only a short period of time makes it easier to find time to work with them. 

The bottom line is that by participating in a foster program, you are able to increase the likelihood that the foster pet will get adopted and live a happy life, while you are freeing up a kennel in the shelter for another homeless pet. Essentially, you are saving two lives–while simultaneously benefitting from some temporary furry snuggles and sloppy kisses at home! It’s a win-win-win-win situation for the shelter, the foster pet, the future adopter, and you! To sign up to foster with Kershaw County Humane Society, click here!