Fostering an animal is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have (next to adopting, of course). Here are just a few reasons welcoming an animal in need into your home (temporarily or long-term fosters) is so impactful:
Increasing that animal's chance of being adopted. By fostering an animal, you are providing a way for that animal to integrate into a family. Many animals have never been inside and do not know basic manners and by committing to teaching the animal you will make the animal more adoptable by potential families.
Helping Back Roads Animal Rescue (BRAR) learn about the animal's personality. You will interact with your foster every day, learning about his/her unique personality and any behavioral issues. It’s hard to know much about an animal when he/she is has lived as a stray or in substandard living conditions (like a chain or in a small pen). Placing an animal in foster homes helps us learn if a he/she likes children, likes other dogs/cats/livestock/etc, begs at the table, chases prey, barks when crated, knows basic commands, has high or low energy, etc. The possibilities of what a foster family will learn about an animal are unlimited and priceless.
You will appreciate your own animal's good behavior. Or maybe you will realize the foster animal is better behaved than your own! Your animal(s) can be an amazing teacher for your foster animal, teaching him/her how to acclimate to life in a home.
You are saving an animal's life. BRAR is almost always at capacity and we cannot take in more animals until additional foster homes open up. By taking a foster into your home, you actually save two lives: the life of your foster and the life of the animal who is waiting for our help.
BRAR would cease to exist without foster homes. We depend entirely on foster homes because we do not have a shelter. If it weren’t for all of our generous foster families, our rescue would cease to exist.
The animal gets to live with your family rather than at a shelter or on their own, surviving as a stray. If we cannot take dogs then animal control will take them to a neighboring county shelter. Animals get stressed in shelter conditions. Shelters are noisy with limited one-on-one interaction. The dogs don’t get enough exercise, training, or socialization. With time, many dogs develop psychological issues as pent-up energy, frustration, aggression, or boredom builds. Stress can also lead to exacerbated medical conditions as the immune system becomes suppressed.
Volunteering makes a person feel good. Fostering an animal is a way to give back to our community. If you love animals, there is nothing more rewarding than helping a homeless animal!
It’s a way to help without spending much money. If you don’t have the money to donate to animal rescues and shelters, you can donate your time by fostering. The only things you are required to provide to your foster animal are safety and love. We can provide all necessary supplies and will pay for veterinary care, but you will need to help us get the animal to the vet. Many fosters who are able provide their own supplies, but we will meet all needs including reimbursement for gas. Talk to your tax professional as some supplies and gas can be deducted if you do not seek reimbursement. We also ask for as much input as you can offer, including photos and videos to show potential adopters.
With the help of our amazing foster families, BRAR has saved nearly 2,000 animals since 2015! But we can’t do it without you. Fostering an animal is not a lifetime commitment, it is a commitment to saving a life.