Making the choice to become a pet foster is a big decision, but it can also be one of the best decisions your family ever makes.
At Angels Among Us, we rely on the time, generosity, and love of hundreds of foster families to care for rescued dogs and cats until they can find their forever homes. Not only is fostering a way to save lives and help pets in need, it’s a great way to bring your family together – and as an added bonus, it might even help your kid get into college!
It’s something to do together
Fostering can be quite a bit of work, in the best possible way! Caring for a pet, especially a rescue, means caring for basic needs, working with the pet on social skills, and attending adoption events. While it does take some time, all of this offers an opportunity for families to spend time together doing something wonderful and rewarding.
It can teach kids about responsibility
Many children are eager to have a pet, but they might not realize the responsibility that being a pet owner really entails. By fostering as a family, children and parents have the opportunity to engage in some lessons about responsibility. It’s a shorter-term commitment than an actual pet adoption, but it still gives kids (and their parents) a chance to test the waters. Who knows – it just might inspire families to become a forever home in the future!
It’s a lot of fun
Yes, fostering can be a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun! Having a new pet in the house and getting to enjoy their company is one of the most joyful things in the world. When families foster, they get to spend time with a whole variety of pets, each with their own winning personalities and quirks. Knowing that you’re doing something good while getting to hang out with adorable, goofy pets – sounds like a win-win to us!
It fulfills volunteer hours
For many kids and teens, volunteering is a required part of certain clubs, school projects, and college applications. Fostering can be a great way to learn many of the lessons that volunteering focuses on, while doing some real good for vulnerable animals. It’s a positive all around: your children get to learn important lessons and help animals in need, and they also get the potential benefits of adding this volunteer work to their college applications.
It teaches lessons about selflessness
Having to say goodbye to a foster pet is always a bittersweet moment. It’s a happy time, because it means that they’ve found a forever home and are headed to a long and happy life. But it’s also a little sad for the foster family that has grown to love them. Going through this process is a great way for kids to learn about selflessness: it’s tough to say goodbye, but you’re left with wonderful memories and the knowledge that you helped a dog or cat have a better life.
