Fostering Animals: What's In It For You?

One day in early November, I was taking a shower and Randy cracked the door, quickly saying, “We don’t have to talk about it now but what would you think about us fostering dogs?” The suggestion was almost as surprising as the manner in which it was suggested, but, if you know my husband, you know he rarely does anything he hasn’t already thought about at length. By the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we were picking up a very cute 5 month old puppy. As busy as we can be with church, homeschooling, sports, choir and co-op commitments, it might seem like this was a rash decision that we would soon come to regret. However, it is now mid-January and we are seeing the many fruits of this choice still unfolding.

A little history…

We are animal people to begin with. Less than a year after we got married in 2006, we had gotten 2 dogs that we loved until they died at ages 10 and 14. The 14 year old passed away last February and I’ve been mourning not having an animal in the house, but also not sure I was ready to commit to another one. They bring me a lot of comfort and the 10 year old, Grace. was my dog that had such an emotional temperament. All I really want is another one like her, which Randy knows and he quickly warmed up to fostering as a way to have animals in the house while still looking for the dog I want.

Benefit #1: You get time to shop around for what kind of animal would work best in your house. With any official fostering programs, you always have a choice to say no to any animal, have choices as to gender, age and breed, to limit the time you can foster the animal, to go on a vacation, or take a break from fostering. If you are unsure about fostering or unsure about what animal your family really needs or wants, this is an ideal trial program.

Why would we add this to our already full plate?

It is true that we lead a full and busy life, but one of the bigger frustrations that I have is that I am a mom with ADHD to kids that share a variety of ADHD symptoms. Discipline and structure doesn’t always come naturally to any of us and it has grown more and more apparent that they needed to be more independently disciplined with their chores and schoolwork. The busier we are, the less of me there is to go around and it grew clear that everyone was waiting for me to push them. A little tip for dealing with anyone with ADHD is that they like things that are new or novel. New supplies, new setup, new obsession, new DOG, anything new increases the dopamine they are inherently low in and helps the internal motivation to increase. Fostering animals with the idea that our house is a temporary spot for them to recover, put on weight, gain some training and prepare them for finding a good permanent fit teaches kids (and adults) a lot of compassion, patience, dog training and commitment to something outside of themselves.

Benefit #2: Fostering an animal gives your family an opportunity to learn skills of service through the novelty of a new animal. As a homeschooling family, it’s my job to give my kids a well-rounded education. Besides our Christian values imploring us to serve, I feel like it is important for them to be willing and able to serve others regularly and not just be satisfied to receive. This is a small way that they are learning that the world is bigger than themselves and when given resources, they should use it to help others whenever possible.

But what if I don’t want an animal?

Not everyone is setup for animals, that’s true. Allergies might be holding you back and that can be really disappointing. Still, some people think they don’t want an animal, but have never really given it a chance. If that is you, I think you don’t know what you are missing. Animals can be work, they require a little bit of money, and most need some training, but they give you more than they take most of the time. The comfort of an animal that sits at your feet, begs to play or simply follows you around to clean up the crumbs your kids drop is simply one of the comforts of home to me. Do you know what I missed the most after my dogs died? Having a good cry in my closet with a too-big-for-my-lap dog in my lap. Trust me, I’ll be the first person to say not all dogs are created equal. Finding one that suits you can take time, but once you do, it will quickly feel like they’ve always been there.

Benefit #3: Animals, while not the same as humans, provide comfort, purpose and joy to the family who owns them. If you have children in your house, they deserve an animal to care for at some point. If you struggle with loneliness, you deserve the comfort of a constant companion. Need a good listener that won’t interrupt or give bad advice? Animals are notorious for not talking very much!

How can you handle giving up an animal after a short time?

I think it’s all in your mindset from the start. In a very real sense, you are doing this animal a big favor by keeping it out of the elements, providing a safe space without 50 others competing for attention and teaching it some manners. Fostering usually happens when animals are about to be put down due to lack of space. You are saving it’s life. So in a sense, you have already done so much for this animal. By eventually sending it to a permanent home, you are providing that same salvation to another animal. We are enjoying our current foster dog, but we are also looking forward to whoever we might get next. Female puppies are our preference and always bring a level of cuteness in the beginning. So, whatever attachment we feel for a foster we find a home for will be replaced be the exciting newness of the next one.

Just like every kid is different, animals come in all sizes and personalities, but if we let them, they always teach us lessons about the world that are worth learning. And if we aren’t willing to learn and grow, how are we living the life God intends for us? If you are wanting more information about fostering in your area, look up your local animal shelter and they will get you in touch with the right people. We have adopted from and are now fostering through Pets and People Humane Society. They are also a great place to donate in supplies or financially because of all the work they do.