Foster a pet and save a life (or two or more).

Like many people these days, you’re probably spending a lot of time at home. This is a great time to foster a pet.

Opening your home to a foster pet saves lives, plus it frees up space for another pet to be rescued. Fostering a pet, whether for days, weeks or months may be short-term, but the results are long lasting — not only to the pet, but to you, too. Studies have shown that having a furry friend around can reduce anxiety and help relieve stress — not to mention brighten even the dreariest days.

Here are just a few ways fostering helps.

• A shelter can be a noisy, stressful place, especially for shy and frightened animals. Providing a loving, quiet, safe space goes a long way toward preparing an animal for adoption.
• Orphaned or newborn animals, as well as those with special medical needs or behavioral challenges, benefit greatly from the one-on-one attention they receive in foster care. 
• Fostering helps pets get accustomed to life in a home, smooths their way toward adoption and helps set them up for success in their forever homes.
• If you’re thinking about adopting a cat or dog, fostering is a great way to find out if an animal is a good fit for you and your family. In many organizations, people who foster a pet get first dibs on the animal they’re fostering.

Check out our resource page to learn more about the benefits of fostering and to access a list of fostering FAQs. 

Click here for foster care resources

Ready to start fostering?

Dogs and cats are the most common pets needing foster homes, but some organizations may also need help with rabbits, birds, guinea pigs or even farm animals. Check out these resources to learn how you can foster for Best Friends or a network partner near you.

In the end, caring for pets until they're ready for a forever home is not only enormously satisfying, it helps save lives. Knowing you played a crucial role in an animal's happily-ever-after is worth every minute.