4) Prepare your home for fostering animals
If not supplied, you will need to stock up on basic pet supplies such as:-
- Bed
- Bowls
- Food
- Collars, harnesses, and leads
- Toys
- Toileting Space
- Fencing and gates
Ensure you have everything you need to welcome a new pet into your home before signing up for the first foster. Choose your supplies based on the type of pet you have decided to foster.
Removing and securing home hazards
Don’t forget to pet-proof your home, especially for pets with behavioural issues. Set poisonous plants up high, lock away your cleaning chemicals, and put away any fragile breakables. Secure your bins with lock-on lids (or in cabinets).
Check your gates and fencing for possible escape points. If you are fostering a large dog or one that can jump, check your fences are high enough to prevent them from escaping.
If you leave your foster pet outside, ensure they have a safe, protected place to escape from the sun, rain and wind.
5) Prepare yourself to bring home a foster animal
Ask yourself, are you personally ready for a foster pet? Before each foster, it helps to get yourself into the right headspace and double check your skills to ensure you’re prepared for what the pet will bring to your home.
Get ready to spend the first full day or two with your foster pet, making them feel safe and keeping them occupied. This may require a weekend or a week working from home.
If you have time, polish up your knowledge of animal behaviour, such as identifying and understanding body language and signs of stress. You can also become versed in general pet care to ensure you can confidently care for an animal.
One of the ways you can learn this essential knowledge is by completing an animal care qualification, such as an entry-level ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care qualification. This course provides the tools to help care for animals, especially companion animals like dogs and cats. If you want to expand your knowledge, you can learn more here.
6) Be prepared for a foster ‘fail’
Last but not least, be prepared for a foster “fail”.
Many foster parents find their forever pet whilst foster caring and end up with a lifetime companion pet. We fondly refer to this as a very successful foster “fail”. When this happens (as it likely will) be prepared to go through the rescue organisation’s usual adoption process for forever homing.
On the other hand, not all foster experiences will be golden. You may come across troubled pets who may have seen abuse or neglect. It’s OK to burn out, take breaks, and send a specific pet to another foster carer if they have more experience. It’s OK to ask for help. It’s also OK to move on when your life changes, having helped many pets and leaving others for future fosterers to care for.
Most people don’t foster animals forever. Some people use a time in their lives to provide foster care until their circumstances change. Some foster in their family home for many years.
Are you ready to become a pet fosterer?
If your heart and home are in the right place but you need a few background skills to confidently handle foster pets, reach out to begin your animal care course today! We love helping new animal lovers become confident and capable animal rescuers.
