A Few Words of Advice about Fostering a Pet

As a foster parent we need to teach our foster pets about love and manners! To be a successful foster parent you will need to have much compassion, patience and understanding for the pet. If you are a foster parent, you will need to make sure that the pets are always leashed or in a travel carrier when they are taken outdoors. When transporting a pet some become scared by noises and new surroundings. You don’t want them to run away from you or worse yet to get hit by a car.

When you first introduce them to your household be sure to have a quiet place set up for them.

The shelter staff can assist you by giving you his favorite blankets and bedding to take home if possible. Having a crate available to your cat/dog at home can prove to be a “safe place” for him or her to go into when they feel unsure of their new surroundings or want to be alone.

If you are fostering a pet during the busy holiday season you may want to provide a quiet space for the pet. Too much noise and activity will be going on in the home and the both of you may need a quiet space to retreat to. Don’t forget to have extra blankets and/or outdoor gear for your foster pet during the colder months when taking them outside.

Socializing the foster pet is also very important and can be fun. But remember to keep your introductions short, as not to stress out the pet too much. Socializing is one goal that will be very helpful to achieve as it will be easier when the pet moves on to his/her forever family. Ask shelter staff to assist in the best way to socialize the pet in your care.

Even if you cannot achieve every goal you set for yourself and your foster, he/she is still going to benefit from being in a loving home while waiting for a forever family to adopt him/her.

Eventually you may find that you have become attached to the pet and end up adopting him/her. They call this “foster fail”, but it most certainly is never failure when a pet is assured of a happy, loving life.

Our mission:

Fostering a pet is a big commitment and takes a dedicated person to follow through until that pet is adopted into the perfect home. Please continue to foster if you can, it is a true gift to be able to do so and much needed!

By Tina Novak

Stop by the shop or call Tina to pick up a copy of her latest book!

“To Love and Be Loved”

Do you wish you could adopt but the situation is not right to competely take it on yourself? If that is the case perhaps you may consider “Pet Sharing” with someone you trust to be an equally great pet parent as yourself. This makes going away on vacation, vet expenses & grooming more affordable as it shared by both parties. Please consider this option as it can allow you to adopt that foster pet you fell in love with and thought you could not afford to keep. Of course, adopting a pet still must always be approved by shelter staff.

By:TinaNovak

MEET ADOPTABLE DAISY...

Daisy is a 2 yr. old, 95 lb. Great Dane. If we could choose Daisy’s dream home, it would be with a couple that does not have children or other pets, lives in a rural setting, and is just looking for a companion to show them all the love. People can make Daisy nervous from her past trauma, so she prefers a quiet home. Daisy is so dedicated to her people - once she warms up to you she is such a love bug! Daisy loves to snuggle but can also keep herself occupied with toys or a bone. She is spayed, vaccinated, housebroken and crate trained. If you live within a 90 mile radius of Mechanicville, New York, please contact us!