About 6.5 million pets enter animal shelters in the United States each year. Unfortunately, due to overpopulation and lack of resources, nearly 5,500 animals die in shelters every day. But, here at the SPCA’s Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare, we strive to find better homes for our protected animals. We are not a kill shelter so whether through adoption or even fostering; we want to provide them with the best possible family combination. And at its core, raising pets is not just a beautiful experience, it’s also keeping pets alive.
When you choose to become a foster parent to a pet, you’re taking home an animal that would otherwise stay at a shelter. By becoming their temporary home, he can provide them with a safe environment until they find their forever home.
The difference between fostering and rescuing
Before discussing the importance and benefits of raising pets, it is essential to explain the differences between rescuing and fostering.
Foster homes provide a temporary transition for pets hoping to find them a forever home. Foster homes help with socialization, behavior problems, and help get pets ready for adoption. Someone who fosters a pet can help with feeding, grooming, health checks, vaccinations, and taking the pet to medical appointments.
Rescue homes provide a permanent home for pets. When someone rescues a pet, they are adopting it and taking full responsibility for the pet’s overall well-being and health. They are the forever homes of the pet.
The importance of fostering
Adoption is the most effective way to reduce shelter overcrowding and helps open up space to save more animals. Because some pets in foster homes have behavioral and socialization problems, a foster environment can provide them with the opportunity to be prepared for adoption. Here, animals feel the love and support of their adoptive parents and are able to overcome fears, recover from trauma, and fully express their personalities—all critical factors in increasing adoption rates. Because some pets are not used to living at home, they may not know how to behave in this environment. When this happens, many pets keep going in and out of shelters because people don’t know how to handle untrained pets.
Parenting Benefits
Pet adoption is a win-win situation that benefits everyone involved. First, it helps local shelters maintain animal levels and accept more animals. Second, it allows pets to live in a real home while they wait for adoption. Third, foster parents can enjoy the joy and pleasure of helping a pet in need. Increases a pet’s chances of being adopted: Since foster families are able to learn more about the pet’s personality, they can teach them house manners and other behavior tricks to help them get adopted faster. Improves a pet’s social skills – Many abandoned pets have been without a human family for months or even years. Fear that manifests as aggressiveness is very common. But being in contact with humans and strangers will help your foster pet learn to socialize. Saves a Pet’s Life – With thousands of pets dying in shelters across the country, raising a pet can save their lives and give them a second chance at life.
How to become a foster pet parent
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, you will also gain many benefits. First, fostering gives you a temporary opportunity to enjoy the company of a pet. This can also give you an idea if you’re ready to get another pet or to welcome a pet into your home if you’re worried.
Fortunately, becoming a foster parent to a pet is relatively simple.
First, visit our website: letlovelive.org/how-to-help/foster. Review the requirements and fill out the application. Second, contact Kami Vogel, our foster coordinator, at [email protected] or call 803-648-6863 ext. 2 Third, attend one of our parenting orientations. Lastly, schedule a visit to our shelter at 199 Willow Run Road to see which foster animal would be a best fit, get supplies, and bring them home. We are open from 11 am to 5 pm
Having a foster pet in your home can save a life and bring you the joy of helping a loving pet. The levels of gratitude and satisfaction you’ll gain from helping a pet in need are impossible to undermine. If you are considering fostering a pet, we will be having a CRIANZA 101 community event on January 21 from 10:30am to 11:00am. protected animals.
Please RSVP on our Facebook Events page linked here: https://www.facebook.com/events/493939766182618.
Thank you to everyone who makes our mission possible through efforts, donations, and your love!