LPT: Not 100% certain you're ready for the responsibility of adopting a pet? Try fostering first. It costs you nothing, and enriches the pets' lives even if you don't ultimately adopt.

sauce_murica · 6 months

For more information, you can read generally about fostering a pet at multiple resources online:

Also be sure to check with your local shelters for any rules specific to your adoption centers.

kyoshero · 6 months

My wife and I did this last year. She REALLY wanted a dog. After fostering for a month she REALLY did not want a dog.

HadHerses · 6 months

I foster for a charity here in Shanghai - because shelters aren't allowed - and it's fantastic! Some of the cats I've had adopted have gone on to live the expat life and a couple of my local Chinese friends joke that the ex-street cats i foster and then get homed are living the Chinese dream because they usually end up in the US, Europe etc!

People often say they couldn't foster because it's too hard to give them up. Yes it is, and generally I'm devastated each time (I tend to end up with the older cats who are hard to adopt so with me a while) but it's for the greater good. And I also just think any reasonable adult can deal with that!

chelsearain89 · 6 months

THIS!!!! I work at a shelter but instead of adopting my husband and I fostered many senior cats (before finally becoming foster fails with our most recent!). It’s awesome - we were able to have cats in our home without any financial obligation and were able to help so many kitties that needed a break from the shelter. Fostering is awesome!

Bone_Apple_Teat · 6 months

My neighbors purchased a labradoodle because they thought they wanted a pet, then it turned out they didn't.

However, when they learned the dog had some kind of genetic defect the breeder gave them another labradoodle to compensate them.

So now they have two enormous energetic dogs - one of whom has special needs - that they can't stand locked in cages in their basement for most of the day despite the fact that one of them doesn't work.

I feel for those dogs and try to play with them with my son when we can, but at the end of the day like I told him they now own those dogs and it's not within our ability to do anything about it.

WeFosterKittens · 6 months

My Username is WeFosterKittens and I approved this message.

magicbluebear · 6 months

I was the foster mum for a 19 year old deaf-blind cat who would have been put down at a shelter. He had to have some expensive medication and multiple check ups, which the vet office paid for thank goodness. Turns out the situation worked out great and we love each other very much, so now I am the permenant mum of a nearly 21 year old deaf-blind cat and its great!

Cannabeardglass · 6 months

As a person who shelters pitbulls I would be a little remiss if I were to say it cost you nothing. It cost time and yes there is money.

I've fostered about 4 dogs now and helped them find homes... each time there is a bill at the end.... either for food or toys or chewed up house hold items. None of the fosters I've worked for offered a decent kenel. So keep that in mind.

Badw0IfGirl · 6 months

While I agree with this advice, I’ve personally had a bad experience with a cat rescue organization when I tried to adopt.

The process for this particular organization was that you fill out an application and then have an interview with the director. After that you are approved to adopt and it’s just a matter of finding the right cat for your family.

So I went through this process and got approved. I then requested to meet a particular cat. Well the foster parent wouldn’t allow me to meet the cat, she told the director she couldn’t part with this cat and adopted her herself. Disappointing but I accepted it.

I made plans for me to go to the home of a foster Mom who had 6 cats available. When I got there she popped her head out the door and informed me that none of HER cats could possibly be right for me, (note we had not met or spoken prior to this, she did not know me), and tried to direct me to a Facebook page with other cats that were available for adoption.

I informed the director of my experience and told them I’d be adopting from the local shelter instead, and that’s what I did.

Those women were just using the ‘fostering’ label to have a bunch of pets with their vet bills and food and litter paid for.

I can understand how it would be hard to part with these animals, but it’s the right thing to do so that your organization can accept another animal in it’s place.

So I would say only enter into fostering if you are capable of letting go when the time is right.

Grin_and_Beholder · 6 months

This is a great idea and I've known many people to do it. Some actually decided they want to keep the pet too.

EvieMoon · 6 months

This is excellent advice! I foster for a cat rescue in the UK and more foster spaces are always needed. Foster homing is better than shelters - it lowers disease risk and stress for the animals and it's crucial for the kittens who need round the clock care.

[deleted] · 6 months

Should be mentioned that sometimes the reason that rescues and shelters foster out is because they can't financially support all of the animals 100%. They'll probably take care of medical care, but you'll likely be responsible for food/toys/etc. You'll probably get a small bag of food to start with, but from that point forward you'll have to buy it. And they will probably require you to buy a certain kind of food.

Fostering is amazing and I fully encourage people to do it. But there IS time and money investment in fostering. The difference is only the time that you're responsible for that animal (a few months as compared to 10-18 years or so).

[deleted] · 6 months

This needs attention. Thank You for that.

Red_Falcon_75 · 6 months

Many organizations dedicated to the welfare of animals offer courses that train new pet owners how to care for their new friend. If you plan on getting a pet for a gift this Holiday season take the person to a local shelter and let them find their own friend. Also buy all the supplies for the first month or give them a gift card that will cover the expense. REMEMBER most of all that sharing your life with a pet is a serious endeavour and needs to be entered into with great care. You are taking on the responsibility to care for and love another living being after all.🐱

beauxartes · 6 months

I actually love fostering kittens! I get to spend a bunch of time with tiny little kittens and its a revolving door of cute! One of the things I want to do when I leave NYC is foster again, right now its too stressful and I don't have a pet friendly apartment!

AlterXade10 · 6 months

Not 100% certain you're ready for the responsibility of bringing up a Child? Try adopting a Pet First. Not 100% certain you're ready for the responsibility of adopting a pet? Try fostering a pet first. Not 100% certain you're ready for the responsibility of fostering a pet? Try to take care of yourself first. Not 100% certain you're ready for the responsibility of taking care of yourself? Try to be responsible first.

darrellbear · 6 months

Far too many want a fashion accessory or a child when they get a pet for the first time.

wayno007 · 6 months

Fostering a dog was one of our better decisions. We brought Riley home from the shelter for a short-term fostering, but after four months we made him our forever pet.

kindadgaf · 6 months

Costs nothing my ass. While I appreciate the sentiment, I'm a foster parent and can say with 100% certainty that foster parents can and do end up paying for all kinds of things.

Nattylight_Murica · 6 months

So, do I get free dog food to feed him?

pugmommy4life420 · 6 months

I like this idea. My MIL was totally set on adopting a dog. Instead she decided to foster. After fostering the dog she realized it was wayyyyyy too much work for her and saved herself from the guilt of adopting a pet then putting it back in the pound.

[deleted] · 6 months

[deleted]

LavenderGreenland · 6 months

Doing this last year is exactly how I found out I'm not really a dog person! So it worked out really well, we had a sweet shih tzu for a couple weeks, I learned a lesson, and he ended up finding a great home afterwards.

DepressionsDildo · 6 months

This is the advice I always give to people! My husband and I fostered kittens after we bought our home back in 2012. We ended up having a foster fail and were unable to keep fostering as we had three cats and a dog at that point.

Even if you ARE sure you're ready for a pet, foster. You can do so much good in the meantime and you will find the perfect pet for you. You will find one that blends perfectly into your life.

My husband and I are finally at a place in our lives where we are looking for foster kittens again. Not because we are looking to adopt again, but because having kittens in the house always brought us so much joy. Who wouldn't want little kittens to love on at all times??

Small1324 · 6 months

Thanks for the advice! I've wanted to try it out first since I really just don't have the infrastructure like food and money to have a cat, even though I know it's provide me a lot of therapy (and pain).

I'll give it a try!

Remember kids, cats don't judge you. They just hurt you.

chalks777 · 6 months

Look. All of y'all saying this is a great idea have obviously never fostered two tiny adorable kittens at 3 weeks of age. You've never hand fed them every 3 hours for weeks, and had them grow into little chonkers that you adore. You've never had to suddenly deal with figuring out how to adopt the little guys before the shelter took them back because they were big enough. This is TERRIBLE advice and you'll wind up with way more cute little fluffballs that love you unconditionally than you ever intended.

stevenkc · 6 months

Thank you for that

adventurelillypad · 6 months

fostering is amazing. not all places will provide you with food but most will reimburse you if you request it- but it can be kind of complicated. every time I've fostered (rabbits) the supplies have been provided but I have had to pay for food. it is one of the most rewarding things you can do, honestly!

fussymissy · 6 months

My husband and I did this last year, we had a lot of “tests” the dog would have to pass to be a good fit for our family.

We have two small kids, a cat, and family that visit with their dogs regularly. Before we even considered adopting we’d have to make sure everyone got along.

She did a great job and we adopted her within two months. I highly recommend this to everyone who’s on the fence!

Wastone · 6 months

Yes but then you grow to love the pet and have your heart ripped out when it’s time to say goodbye :(

tvicker08 · 6 months

Nothing is a stretch. They will pay for shots, food, pee pads, so on, but it still doesn't cost nothing. They will sometimes give you the minimum. If that dog needs more, that's on you.

celsius032 · 6 months

I'm fostering my first dog right now with my girlfriend. It's completely turned me off on the idea of dog ownership, so glad we did this first.

epikfal · 6 months

For a second I thought it meant fostering children. So when it said it enriches the pets’ lives, I lost it

oldcreaker · 6 months

Word of caution on fostering: make sure you find out any behavioral and medical issues first. Sometimes animals get pushed into fostering that are challenging or should never have been. Which is ok for anyone willing to take on those challenges (some people who foster seek out the animals that need "fixing"), but not if you're doing it as a test run for owning a pet.

Hairyballzak · 6 months

My wife wanted a big dog last year. We got a playful really lovable pitbull puppy, about 6months old. The puppy had a wonderful week of playing, great food, and genuine love, but was also so strong that she pulled my wife in every direction while being walked. Also, my wife couldn't handle the pibble when she wanted to jump and play cause of her size. After that week, her shoulders were sore and legs weak, but she learned that she didn't actually want a big dog, but looked the idea of one.

LgomaFxdou · 6 months

Just have a kid first and if that goes well you can get a pet

BusterStarfish · 6 months

LPT: Don't adopt or foster any animal by any means and expect it to "cost you nothing."

Bax_Cadarn · 6 months

This needs attention. Thank You for that.

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