Did you know that June is Foster A Pet Month? This is a wonderful cause in any year. However, this year there are more pets in need of fostering than usual. Fostering a pet is a great way to help animals in need! If you love animals, but aren’t ready to sign on for a decade—or more—of pet parenting, fostering may be a great option for you. The commitment to fostering is much shorter than with adoption. And, if you’re working from home this summer, it’s a great way to make the most of it. A Bucks County, PA vet discusses fostering pets in this article.

A Helping Hand

Pets may need fostering for a variety of reasons. Some are still very young, and need overnight care. Others may be recuperating from illness or injury. In some cases, pets that have been rescued from bad situations need to be nurtured back to health and/or properly trained. Fostering is also needed in cases where pets’ owners are sick, traveling, or deployed. Regardless of the cause, fostering is a wonderful act of kindness, and a great way to help pets in your local community.

Things To Consider

While fostering truly is a wonderful thing, it isn’t going to be right for everyone. There’s definitely a lot to think about! Your household, schedule, and budget are the most important factors. If you have other pets, you’ll need to consider them as well. Also, make sure that you will be able to let go when the time comes. It isn’t easy to say goodbye to a furry face you’ve grown attached to. That’s where the term ‘foster fail’ originated. People sometimes do end up adopting their fosters. This isn’t exactly a bad thing: it’s always nice to see pets finding great forever homes. However, it’s a big decision.

Getting Started 

If you’ve thought long and hard, and decided to go for it, the next stage is to reach out to local charities and shelters. Many military organizations also work with foster parents. You may need a bit of training, but mostly, you need love and patience. Good luck! You may find fostering a very rewarding and beautiful experience. It’s also a great way to help your community.

Please contact us, your Bucks County, PA vet clinic, for all of your pet’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!