7 Ways to Know if You Are Ready to Foster a Dog
Fostering a dog can be a rewarding and exhilarating experience. If you love dogs and have the time, energy, and means, fostering a furry friend might be the right choice for you. The following will explore the things you need to think about to determine whether you’re ready to foster a dog right now.
Remember, fostering a dog is a big responsibility. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that now isn’t the right time for you to take that on. There will be dogs who need fostering in the future too.
Everyone In Your Household Is Open To The Idea
You must make sure that everyone in your household is on board with the idea of fostering a dog. No matter how much you promise to be the only one taking care of the dog, responsibilities inevitably link. What if you’re in the shower and the dog needs to be let outside? What if the dog chews someone else’s shoes? What if he gets into the garbage while you’re at work? They’re not going to wait for you to come home to clean everything up. Make sure your entire household is open to the idea.
Do You Have The Time?
Dogs require a lot of loving attention. Dogs need to go outside to use the bathroom, they need to go for walks, play, eat, and have adequate social interaction (they are pack animals, just like us). If you’re someone who works ten-hour days or is called into work at random for unpredictable periods, now might not work for fostering a dog.
Do You Have The Financial Means?
Dogs can cost you a fair bit of money. There are things like food, grooming, pet toys, and other expenses associated with caring for a dog. Besides this, there’s always the chance of unexpected costs like veterinary visits or boarding in the event you need to leave town for an emergency or surprising reason.
Do You Have The Energy?
Dogs need more than basic sustenance, they need someone who can devote time and emotional energy towards them. They are social creatures and need to be interacting with you to feel their best. Dogs have a complicated set of emotional and energetic experiences and needs. If you come home from work and fall into bed every night because you’re exhausted and don’t even have the energy to change your clothing, you might want to wait until some of your other demands are lifted before you consider fostering a dog.
Are You Willing To Follow The Steps Required To Foster?
Of course, all fostering situations are going to be a little different, but many places that foster dogs have requirements or regulations in place to make sure that you’re fit to care for the dog before you bring him or her home. You may be asked for a criminal record check or about your living situation. You might have to fill out lengthy forms. You might need to have check-in calls or visits. Are you willing to follow all the steps as they’re laid out? Take a moment to read more about the fostering process from the organization nearest you before you agree. Each organization will have slightly different expectations.
Do You Know Enough About Dogs To Handle The Job?
Do you understand what the care of a dog entails? They are very cyclical animals and require regular feeding, walking, brushing, and cleaning. You might need to see to it that the dog you foster gets regular haircuts so he or she can see where they’re going. When a person learns about these things and the proper execution of these tasks, the dog they’re taking care of will certainly learn to trust their owner.
Do You Love Dogs?
Beyond all of the above points, dogs need someone they can rely on. Someone who isn’t going to take them back when the laptop charging cord is chewed for the third time this week. Someone who is going to be patient with them as they learn about their new environment and caretakers. Someone who is going to offer them the unconditional love that they deserve. Dogs and humans have a long and symbiotic history together. A big part of that history is love and when that is continued on your part, you can expect to have a wonderful relationship with your dog.
With the above seven questions answered, you might well have discovered you’re ready to foster a dog. Make sure to be as honest as possible throughout the process so that you can be placed with the right dog for you and your household. Be prepared for a little bit of an adjustment period as your furry friend gets used to his new caretaker and abode