Have you ever considered fostering a pet before? Maybe you are unsure if adoption is right for you at this time. Maybe your living situation could be changing frequently. Here are a couple of my top considerations to think about when applying to be a foster parent:

The biggest thing to consider would be the species and size you want to foster. Are you looking for a cat or a dog or even an exotic species? Are you looking for a puppy/kitten, an adult or an older dog? What size pet are you looking for – small, medium or large? What personality or breed types would fit into your home and lifestyle so that you could care for them the best? These are all super important because a foster who lives in a third floor one bedroom apartment would have very different answers from someone with a huge fenced backyard and house.

Another big consideration is who attached you might get to this foster – does that mean you are looking to adopt? What does that look like financially? Are you willing to take on healthcare costs, food, toys, and other financial obligations? Are you prepared to have them for the next 5, 10, even 15 years? It is very possible that you will foster and create an amazing bond with the animal who is sharing your home, but if you decide to adopt them, make sure you are prepared to do so.

Th next consideration is lifestyle impacts of having a foster pet. Now, some pets like cats and some reptiles are pretty low-maintenance, unless they’re very young, but dogs require more of a time requirement. Are you looking to foster a small dog who can walk with you to get coffee in the mornings and is easy to transport? Or are you looking for a bigger dog that you would be able to go on hikes with you and takes up more space?

Another consideration is immune status and existing animals in the home. If you are fostering an animal being rescued from overseas, it could be potentially risky for those animals to have diseases that humans can get. That being said, usually only immunocompromised individuals would be affected, but also very young children, elderly, or pregnant women should also proceed with caution. Usually most shelters have a lot of local animals as well who are more likely to have less risk, and shelters in both circumstances do their best to mitigate disease risk and treat the pets, but it is still a risk.

Fostering animals is truly a rewarding experience, even though you don’t become their forever home, you have the change to positively impact their lives and provide a loving home until they find their person. As with any animal decision, it is a huge responsibility to care for a life other than your own, so make sure that inviting an animal into your home is right for you and the animal.