5 Reasons to Foster a Pet During the Holidays
Check With Your Local Shelter About Their Fostering Needs Interested in fostering an animal? Contact the shelters near you to find out what their policies are for fostering a pet. Be aware that each shelter might be different. Some may foster dogs and cats. Some may even foster exotic pets. Some provide the supplies needed to care for the pet, while others require you to purchase them. Regardless of how you choose to give back to a shelter pet, you’re making a difference in their lives, especially during the holiday season.,WRITTEN BYSandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP Veterinarian Sandra Mitchell is a 1995 graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Since graduation, she has worked in many fields…, As the holiday season nears, it brings with it the excitement and chaos of parties, family get-togethers, shopping, and cooking. It also stirs up in us the spirit of giving and helping others. By now, you are likely thinking about what gifts to buy a loved one, or how to help your local charity or animal shelter. Donating money to an animal shelter or buying items on their wish list is always a good idea, but have you thought about giving the ultimate gift—fostering a pet to give them a break from the shelter during the holidays? When you foster a shelter animal—for a night, weekend, or the long term—you are helping them get away from the hustle and bustle of a crowded shelter environment to have some one-on-one time with human companions. Fosters Help Clear Capacity at Shelters By taking home a foster animal, you are helping the pet as well as the shelter. Especially during the holidays, shelters are usually overwhelmed and in need of extra help and space. The shelter benefits when it has fewer dogs to walk and litter boxes to clean. Fostering a pet also reduces labor and supply costs for the shelter and frees up a space that can be filled by another needy animal.









