New Beginnings: How to Foster a Furry Friend

Here at The Park on Main we are committed to providing comprehensive services for every member of your family! Dogs of any size are welcome to stay with us and enjoy the scenic beauty of Highlands, North Carolina. While staying here, you might even want to learn about fostering a dog yourself! Our mission is to help you learn a little bit more about this process through these helpful tips.

The Importance of Fostering

Across the country, there are countless animals in need of a forever home that simply never get the chance to have one. The overwhelming increase of strays in shelters have left many without a place to go. By becoming a foster, you not only give an animal a second chance at a better life but help many others by freeing up space in shelters.

Animals may find themselves in foster care for a number of reasons including illness, need for socialization, intensive training or simply because they are too young to be adopted. Regardless of the reason, foster volunteers play a crucial role in preparing animals for long-term, more stable homes.

Things to Consider Before Fostering an Animal

Deciding to foster an animal is a huge step for both you and the animal you’re caring for. In some cases, animals may need to be in foster care for months at a time before they are ready to transition into the adoption phase. Before applying to be a foster parent, there are a few things to consider to ensure that it is the right decision for everyone involved. These include:

• Do you have existing pets at home? Is this pet ready to share attention and care with an outside animal?
• Are you prepared for any potential clean-up or damage around your home caused by the foster animal?
• Is everyone in your home willing to accept this animal into your household?
• Do you have access to a vet/humane society incase of an emergency?
• Are you capable of monitoring the animal’s health at all times?
• Are you emotionally prepared to return the animal once the foster program comes to an end?

These questions are crucial when deciding whether or not this process is for you. Be honest with yourself when answering these questions. Each location that organizes foster homes require different information and housing materials, such as crates, when vetting interested volunteers. Make sure to always do your research before applying and consider all the outcomes before taking this next step.

Making a Difference

If you or someone you know is interested in fostering an animal in North Carolina, there are a number of associations that can help you get there. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Humane Society of Eastern Carolina
• Northeastern North Carolina Animal Shelter
• Asheville Humane Society
• SPCA of Wake County

Fostering an animal will bring its challenges however it can also be one of the most rewarding things you can experience. The Park on Main encourages any interested guests to explore these options to help change the lives of loving animals in need.