Foster Parent
Becoming A Foster Parent
By Christy Tuller
When most people hear the words Foster Parent, they think of temporary homes for children. But what about all those dogs in animals shelters looking for homes? Many shelters are overcrowded and unfortunately they have to make the decision to euthanize some of the dogs who have been there a long time. There is a way you can help though. If you have enough room in your home and in your heart you can become a foster parent for dogs. Being placed in a foster home can be better for dogs than being in a shelter because they are being exposed to other dogs, children, and in general a normal home life.
Photo: hugpug.com
Foster parents play a big role in helping make a dog adoptable to a good home as well as finding the right home. They can spend time training their foster dogs not to dig, bark, and generally to have good manners. They also get to know a dogs personality and can be very instrumental in choosing the right home based on the dogs personality, whether or not they are good with kids and other dogs, and if they prefer to be indoors, outdoors, or both. Living in a shelter, even temporarily, can be very hard on a dog. They can go, what is known as, kennel crazy and can develop habits that are unwanted in a home. Dogs are social animals that thrive on human contact and attention. As hard as kennels try, they don’t have the time or resources to give every dog the attention they might need. As a foster parent, you have that time. The dog is in your home, learning to follow the rules and get along with everyone else in the house.
The hardest part of fostering a dog, is letting them go when a new home is found for them. This time can be heart wrenching as well as heart warming. Have the time, the room, and the heart to take care of a dog or two in your home? Talk to your local animal shelter about fostering. They might just be able to get you started.
Christy Tuller is an expert on several topics and loves dogs. For more tips and ideas and to see listings of adoptable dogs, check out my blog, Dogs Are Family Too! at http://dogs-are-family.blogspot.com
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