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When we decide to bring a pet into our homes, we should be willing to accept all the responsibilities and rewards that accompany it. Whether you’re a dog, cat, or exotic pet person, we all know the joys that come with having that other living soul in our house. I have had pets for most of my adult life. Having Fido or Frisky purring or wagging their pleasure at seeing you makes your worst afternoons seem golden. Before you take on the responsibilities of a pet, however, you need to consider your situation. Pets cost money! After the initial fee for adoption or purchase, there are costs for food, regular veterinary care, toys, collars, leashes, and those rhinestone studded sweaters if you are so inclined. Inevitably, your pet will get sick, hurt, or just do something plain stupid, like eat a box of Godiva chocolates, and you will have emergency vet bills. I have easily spent more on vet bills for my dogs than I have for my own health care over the last five years. If you have room in your heart for a pet, but no room in your wallet, there is another alternative. You can make a huge difference in a pet’s life by opening your heart and home by becoming a foster parent.
I have been on the board of our local humane society for nine years. One of the greatest needs for most animal welfare organizations is temporary homes for animals who need socialization or who are awaiting adoption. If you are on the fence and not sure if you have what it takes to own a pet or if you are not in a financial place to be able to afford one, fostering is a wonderful option. It is also a great way to try out a particular breed if you are interested in a certain type of dog or cat. Most breed rescue groups allow fostering if you qualify. If you think you’d love one of those cute Jack Russell Terriers that seem so smart on TV, you may be able to foster one. If you can keep up, this might be the dog for you. If he runs you ragged, maybe a nice, fat cat would work better. Are you ready to sign up yet?
The first step is to contact your local humane society or animal shelter. Even if they don’t offer a foster program, they can point you to other organizations that do. There are always more pets awaiting homes than there are homes available. Once you are in contact with an organization, you will have to qualify. Basically, they need to know that you have a safe place for the pet. The organization will also have to get approval from your landlord if you are renting. If the foster is a large or active dog, you may be required to have a fenced yard. If you have small children, you most likely won’t get a new puppy or breed that might be aggressive. This is also a time for you to let the organization know what works for you. Some foster opportunities are only for short term emergency situations. Others are with the agreement that you will keep the pet until it gets adopted. If you live in a 750 sq foot apartment, you most likely won’t get a Great Dane. You also need to commit to taking care of the pet’s basic needs by providing food, water, shelter, exercise, and socialization. You might have to agree to transport your foster to adoptathons or meet and greets if a potential adopter is available.
Are there monetary costs to becoming a foster pet parent? Absolutely not! The organization placing the pet covers all expenses. That being said, you don’t get carte blanche. Generally have to take the pet to approved veterinarians and coordinate appointments with the organization. You can’t take FiFi in for grooming without approval and then tell the groomer to put it on the humane society’s tab. Generally, when the pet is placed, the organization brings food or litter to get you started, and you buy supplies to replenish, and then submit receipts for reimbursement. Foster organizations are so happy to have good foster families, they are usually very generous with reimbursement for unexpected expenses. The group I am involved with has paid for several episodes of collateral damage, including chewed up shoes, trashed window screens, and carpet cleaning.
So what’s the catch? If this all sounds like a pet owners dream, remember the cons of becoming a foster parent. This animal that you have taken in, cared for, or nursed back to health, is looking to find a forever home. Eventually, someone will want to adopt him. If you can view it as providing a temporary oasis for this poor soul until someone can adopt him, you’ll do fine. If you get easily attached and will need therapy when the pet leaves, this might not be for you. I am personally a terrible foster parent. if you have four legs and make it past my front door, you probably won’t ever leave! I’ve gotten my last two dogs from trying to foster. It takes about two weeks before no one on the planet is good enough to adopt this pet.
Fostering a pet is a wonderful way to test the waters of ownership before you take the plunge. You can potentially “try it before you buy adopt it” and see if you have what it takes to be a forever parent. Fostering also gives those on a budget a way to get the benefits of pet ownership without the costs. For the pet, any time spent in a loving home, even if temporary, is much better than being in a cage with a cement floor. Fostering may not make you rich monetarily, but it does promote your good karma to the millionaire level! If you have other specific questions, I have seen or experienced almost every foster situation, and would love to help get you started.
Author Bio: Kim is an optometrist who blogs at Eyes On The Dollar about saving money, investing and making money through rental properties. Please leave a comment below or contact me at http://eyesonthedollar.com/
I did not realize that there was something like this. I can understand the reasoning behind it though as it can help the animal in question socialize and make it easier for the family that would adopt it in the future. Pets can be expensive, the bills can seem to add up…I am with you in that I think we’ve spent more on our cats medical care than my own the last few years.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..6 Frugal Ways to Remove the Pain From Investing
Giving a pet a temporary home with people and even other pets is so much healthier than having it in a shelter for a long period of time.
Kim@EyesontheDollar recently posted..Does LASIK Surgery Make Financial Sense?
One of our old neighbors in Chicago worked for a rescue and they would always be fostering dogs. Personally I would think it would be extremely hard to do. Both my wife and I get very attached to animals so I think once the animal arrived it probably wouldn’t leave again.
Sean @ One Smart Dollar recently posted..Common Banking Fees and How to Avoid Them
That’s why I’m not allowed to foster anymore!
I agree! Bless the people who do it and are able to give their new loves up, but I wouldn’t be able to handle it.
femmefrugality recently posted..How to Be Happy
Everyone I know who has fostered has ended up adopting at least one or two of their foster pets. We’ve been asked to foster, but I just don’t think we could devote the time and energy right now that a foster would need.
Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies recently posted..An Open Letter To Susan Cain, Author of Quiet
About 40% of our fosters end up staying with their foster parents. It does take a special person who can love them and give them up.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..Does LASIK Surgery Make Financial Sense?
I had no idea that you could foster a pet. I guess I always assumed that you had to adopt these pets. Is this widely available?
Greg@ClubThrifty recently posted..Voluntary Torture: A Trip to Our Local Shopping Mall
Yes, call the local shelter or humane society if you are interested. If they have a pet that has been at the shelter for a while, it gets a little crazy and doesn’t show well. Keeping it in a home makes it more relaxed and more likely to get adopted.
Kim@EyesontheDollar recently posted..Does LASIK Surgery Make Financial Sense?
Fostering pets is always a great idea! Sadly, my city does not allow for it. It’s against the law! Makes no sense.
I’ve never heard of not allowing fosters. That’s just a silly law!
Kim@EyesontheDollar recently posted..Does LASIK Surgery Make Financial Sense?
I was just go to say that I’d never heard of fostering a pet, but I live in the same city as Michelle. That stinks because that would actually be something we’d be interested in, if it were allowed.
Michelle recently posted..Homemade Halloween Costumes – My Cheap New Tradition
Well it’s legal if you get the pet and have it fully registered as yours. You’re not allowed to just have it at your house. I don’t get it.
Michelle recently posted..My Pets and Their Costs
I am like you and any animal that comes to my door with fur and four legs never leaves! The last two cats that joined my family were strays that I was able to tame and bring indoors. I just hate the thought of them ending up at the pound. In my city we have an abundance of feral/stray cats who are often put down due to lack of foster homes and interest.
This is an excellent idea and I hope people consider this as an alternative to full-time pet ownership if they aren’t quite ready to take the plunge
Feral cats are really hard. They can’t help it that they were abandoned at some point, and are certainly the red headed step child of rescue animals. Our humane society started a trap/spay/neuter/release program for ferals about two years ago and we have fixed over 2000 cats with no end in sight. It seems overwhelming, but we have to think about the tens of thousands of litters of kittens we have prevented.
Sadly, stray/feral cats will continue to be an issue as long as people refuse to spay/neuter their pets and just toss them out the door like they are disposable.
While a feral/stray requires much patience and effort in the beginning, they can come around and become the best pet ever. I lost my first rescue cat in March and I still miss him daily. 1 year of patience and acceptance on my part provided me with 10 more years of joy. I find that it’s an extra special bond when you have to work to gain the acceptance and trust from them
That is truly wonderful, and especially rewarding. So sorry about your loss.
Pets can definitely be expensive. We just spent $430 this weekend on allergy testing because our dog is having such a bad reaction this season. Hopefully they find something!
Lance @ Money Life and More recently posted..4 Times When Cheapest Isn’t Always the Best Deal
Ouch, my Jack Russell Terrier always had skin allergies. Her hair would fall out in clumps and she would scratch all the time. Hope they find out what is causing the problem.
Nice post Kim! Both our cat and dog were strays, so I can agree that taking in an animal has its rewards! I don’t think the fostering thing would ever work for us – we get too attached!
My Money Design recently posted..My Cash Flow Plan – September 2012 Update
If it were up to me, I’d probably have way to many pets. It’s good my husband is the voice of reason.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..Does LASIK Surgery Make Financial Sense?
My cousin recently fostered a pet and ended up adopting it! It’s definitely a great thing for the human societies (assuming they have good foster programs/families) and it’s certainly wonderful for the pet!
Jason @ WorkSaveLive recently posted..Stop Buying the Hype: The Average Rate of Return isn’t What You Really Earn
It’s really hard to let someone else take them when you get attached, but if it’s not a good fit, you can try again until you find the right one.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..Does LASIK Surgery Make Financial Sense?
I’ve been thinking about adopting and went down to the local shelter. Through the rescue I learned about fostering. Like you said there are no fees. I wish there were no fees for adopting too. Right now they said on average for a Lab it’s about $400 to 600 to cover the expenses of shots, neutering, etc… Still a great price and you get to rescue a life!
John recently posted..George Washington | History’s Fearless Men
Good for you for looking at the shelter first. There are just too many that need a good home.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..Does LASIK Surgery Make Financial Sense?
What a very cool thing to do! it might be a great way to curb my wife’s desire for another dog, lol. Though i’d be a little wary of brining in a dog who has some stability issues with a 9-month-old at home…
Jacob @ iheartbudgets recently posted..How To Save Money: New Dishwasher
Yes, good idea. So many people get a puppy when they have a baby. Usually someone gets hurt. You need an old, lazy dog!
I considered fostering a cat rather than adopting one, but I felt like I wouldn’t have enough time to socialize and give extra care to animals that were potentially neglected or have health problems. I think it’s a great program though. There are definitely lots of Vancouver organizations that facilitate fostering.
CF recently posted..Access over ownership
Some fosters are needy, but our last foster, Mo, was so laid back, she was almost asleep. She came from a good home, but they had puppies and couldn’t keep all the dogs. Of course, we kept her. That’s why I can’t foster.
I did not know they reimbursed expenses when you foster. We are planning on getting a dog in a couple months (people keep asking us what breed we are looking for and we answer: A Dog from the humane society) and we have also discussed fostering another dog as well. We will have to look into it considering the fact we can be reimbursed!
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..5 Great Real Estate and Home Renovation Shows
You should not be out anything but time if you take on a foster. Of course, you might end up keeping it!
Great Post Kim! I love the picture at the top of the article… cracks me up.
Jason Clayton | frugal habits recently posted..Don’t Neglect what is Truly Important in Life
Thanks, Jason. I can’t take credit for the photo. That’s all Jeremy. Not sure how he comes up with those.
Hi Kim, what a great idea the fostering of a pet. Since I just wrote about the costs of a pet and whether they are affordable in the budget the same day this post would be great to share with my Facebook fans. This will show the flip side of my post as owning a pet is costly and then some. Some pet owners fail to think long term and all the other costs that are involved or potentially involved. A pet is worth taking the time to budget in and love after all they are part of the family. Fostering would be a great way to test the waters… smart! Cheers Mr.CBB
Canadianbudgetbinder recently posted..Costs Of Owning A Pet…Can You Really Afford One?
It’s like telepathy! Your post was great. Fostering is a good alternative if you can’t afford one of your own. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Jeremy for letting me guest post and feel like a rock star blogger for a day!
No problem at all Kim. Thanks for doing an awesome job with the post and responding to comments. Much appreciated.
Great article. One of my closest friends fostered a small puppy and end up adopting. It worked out well for both humane society and my friend. It’s a win-win for all involved.
Shilpan recently posted..6 Must Decisions for Your Financial Success
I would think a puppy would be especially tough to give up. You’d end up forming such a strong bond and would just want to keep him.
Hmm interesting, I didn’t know about fostering a pet. This might be a good idea for me since we’ve been looking into getting a dog. I’m just worried about what the dog will do during the day while I’m gone for 8-10 hours..
Harry @ PF Pro recently posted..September 2012 Favorite Posts
It would be a good test if you are considering getting a dog. If you are gone that long each day a cat might be a more suitable option. At least be careful about what breed you get as some get more anxious being left alone for long stretches.
We have discussed fostering numerous times. We were going to do it but just ran out of time. We would still like to look into it but we really question if we can be home enough to be fair to the animal. Our lives seem so busy these days. If we do decide to foster, it will be after thoroughly examining our situation.
Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter recently posted..Identify Your Money Motivations
Don’t feel too obligated to take on that responsibility if you are very busy. Not being able to give the pet enough attention may backfire despite your good intentions.
I’m not sure we have the ability to foster pets in the UK. This is definitely something that I will look into though! If not, maybe I can start a movement!
Savvy Scot recently posted..Starting a Blog in the UK – Pt. 2 Domain Names, Hosting and More
I’d think it’s probably available in the UK. I’ve never heard of people doing it here other than with rescue organizations, but it’s not something I’ve ever really looked into. I’d just have too tough a time giving up the pet afterwards.