Did you know, May is National Pet Forster Month? Fostering pets literally save lives in most cases. Shelters and rescues rely on fosters to help pets not only adapt to life in a home and become more 'adoptable' but also provide space for other pets to enter into their organizations. There are so many benefits for pets when you foster, but there are also some great benefits for you too!
1. Fostering can increase the chance of them being adopted.
Fostering a pet can teach them how to live in a home. From basic 'rules' like not going to the bathroom inside to other basic commands, you will also learn more about the pet, like their personality and quirks which may make them more adoptable to some adopters.
2. Fostering an aminal can keep them out of the shelter.
Shelters are high-stress environments and can cause a lot of harm to pets looking for their furever homes. Despite how great shelters can be and how beneficial the work they do is to homeless pets, keeping animals out of that type of environment can be very beneficial to animals, especially ones with anxiety issues. Pets who are fostered instead of placed in a shelter tend to be more socialized, less stressed, and are less likely to get sick.
3. Fostering can help prepare you for your own pet, or another addition to your family.
Fostering is a great way to test the waters in either getting your first ever pet or adding another one to the family. Shelters and rescue groups give you all the tools you need to be a successful foster parent, but you also learn skills that would benefit you with your own pets. If you already have a furbaby, but are interested in seeing how they would react to a new addition, foster can you give you a trial run, giving you more time and info before actually rescuing or buying a new pet. And who knows! maybe you'll end up keeping your foster, and be lovingly called a 'foster fail'.
4. Fostering is pretty simple.
Cats tend to be very low maintenance and if you already own a dog, adding one more to your pet's current routine may not be that much extra work. And as stated above, you are set up for success through the shelters and rescue groups. Fostering is temporary and knowing that may make it easier for you to care for them, and ultimately give them up to their furever families when it's time.
5. You are making a world of difference for that one pet.
Fostering takes a very special type of person. One who wants to help unwanted animals find their furever homes by opening theirs. Fostering can change that one pet's world and be a great stepping stone to finding their perfect family.
Interested in fostering and are in the Greater Gwinnett Area? Check out these local shelters that have foster programs today!
Furkids: Furkids, headquartered in Atlanta, GA, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that operates the largest cage-free, no-kill shelter in the Southeast for rescued cats and Sadie’s Place, a no-kill shelter for dogs. Furkids also operates one of the only facilities in the Southeast dedicated to the care of FIV positive cats. The Furkids mission is to rescue homeless animals, provide them with the best medical care and nurturing environment while working to find them a forever home. Furkids heals the whole animal, physically and emotionally, restoring its health and its spirit.
Gwinnett Humane Society: The Gwinnett Humane Society was founded in 1979 to promote animal welfare. GHS is a volunteer supported, 501c3 non-profit organization supported entirely by private donations. We receive no government funds and rely solely on donations and volunteers who donate their time and energy to improve the lives of pets and animals in our local community through education, support, resource referral and adoption services.
Gwinnett County Animal Shelter: The Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center is an open-admissions shelter, meaning most lost, stray, or surrendered animals are accepted. We strive to find appropriate adoptive families, foster homes, or rescue groups for all the animals in our care.
Love a certain breed? Many breeds have specific resources that are always looking for breed knowledgeable fosters!
Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta: Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta (GRRA) is an all-volunteer, tax-deductible IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization. We are dedicated to providing veterinary care, comprehensive evaluation, and foster and adoptive homes to Golden and Labrador Retrievers who are abandoned, mistreated, neglected, or left in shelters throughout Georgia.
Georgia Akita Rescue Division (GARD): Georgia Akita Rescue Division's mission to assist in the placement, rescue and rehabilitation of Akitas within in the state of Georgia. When space allows, we will occasionally be able to assist in assisting Akitas from surrounding states. GARD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, so donations are essential to our process! Please browse the website, and feel free to email with any questions or suggestions!
Chow Chow Rescue Society: Chow Chow Rescue Society was started in 2016. We are an organization developed to help Chow Chow’s needing attention now, whether in shelters, owner surrenders or homeless. We are a small but very dedicated group whose passion is to find the perfect, loving forever family for each of our fosters. Each of our founding members has a deep and abiding love for dogs/puppies but Chow Chows have stolen our hearts.
Releashed Rescue: Releashed Rescue is a licensed 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing huskies and other working dogs from high-kill shelters, rehabilitating those that need training and rehoming them into permanent loving homes.
Releashed Rescue will provide food, shelter, basic necessities, medical treatment including shots and spay or neuter, and work to train any animal going through our program. Our goal is to find the right family to love and care for the animals for their lifetime.
Interested in fostering for a different breed? Contact us and we may be able to help!