Save a Life, Foster a Dog!

Have you ever thought to yourself that you might like to foster a rescue dog but didn’t know where to get started? Well, Alison Eastwood, actress, director, daughter of Clint Eastwood, and founder of non-profit animal welfare organization Eastwood Ranch Foundation, is here to help. The accomplished animal lover has just launched FosterFurkids.com, a website that connects rescue groups and animal shelters with a U.S.-wide network of potential pet fosters and transporters like you!

Anyone interested in becoming a foster can sign up and connect with rescue groups and shelters that need temporary fosters. Fosters can set up their own profile and list their preferences, including the type of animal they want to foster, breed, age, temperament, energy level, and length of time they can commit to fostering. They can also select whether they want to be a volunteer or paid foster, and set their own rates. Rescues signed up with FosterFurkids.com supply food, beds, leashes, bowls, kitty litter, and veterinary care so it doesn’t cost fosters a thing. The website is completely free to use.

If you want to make a difference, this is a great way to do it—you’re helping save lives. Fostering helps shelters and rescue organizations save more homeless pets by keeping space open. A rescue or shelter that’s at capacity can’t take in more animals. By fostering, you open up space for another animal in need, thus saving not just one life, but two!

Alison has personally fostered about 20 dogs over the years and probably over 50 cats, mostly litters of kittens. Two of her own cats are foster failures. “It’s really hard not to get attached to them!” she laughs. “If you’re looking for a new pet, fostering is a great way to get to know an animal before you make the commitment of adopting.”

Is fostering right for you? “I think anyone that loves animals and has a safe, loving home would make a good foster parent,” Alison says. “And if you can’t foster, you could always sign up to help transport a shelter or rescue pet to wherever it needs to go.”

As Alison notes, it’s extremely rewarding to help an animal in need. Plus there’s no long-term commitment as a barrier for getting involved. The amount of time you foster for really just depends on the needs of the person and the pet. “We have a couple of fosters that have been fostering for a couple of months now and are indefinitely going to foster until the dogs find the perfect homes,” Alison explains, “but most common is several weeks to a month.”

FosterFurKids.com/Foster-A-Pet explains everything you are expected to do as a foster, which basically comes down to providing a nurturing and loving environment for the rescue animal you are caring for.

This includes:

• Spending time with your foster pets and treating them like your own animals while they’re in your care
• Bring your foster pet to the veterinarian should the need arise (the cost will be covered)
• Providing your foster pet with food, care, and shelter just as you would with your personal pet
• Providing behavioural feedback and evaluation to the rescue or shelter
• Providing your foster pet with adequate exercise and socialization
• Showing your foster pet to potential adopters or coordinating a meet and greet through the rescue/shelter

In short, fun stuff!

But the best part, according to Alison, is “knowing that you helped save an animal, gave them lots of love, and prepared it for an amazing forever home.” We couldn’t agree more!

Get started at FosterFurKids.com.