7 Reasons Why You Should Foster a Pet Over the Holidays
It’s one of the best ways you can spend your time this season.
It’s the time of year when every movie, holiday song, and friend is telling you to be “merry and bright.” But that can be easier said than done. That said, if you’re looking to cure the holiday blues and stop yourself from from playing Joni Mitchell on repeat like you’re Emma Thompson in Love Actually, we have a little-known tip: foster a dog. Just imagine cozying up beside the fireplace, sipping hot chocolate, and snuggling with an adorable companion by your side.
As it can be for many humans, the holidays are often the hardest time of year for shelters and rescues — and the animals they care for. Kinship spoke with Maria Reask at Badass Animal Rescueopens in new tab in Brooklyn about why this time of year is an ideal time to foster. Here are seven reasons to consider it.
It provides relief to shelters and foster-based rescues.
For rescues and animal shelters, the holiday season is complete chaos, to put it lightly. Shelters are overcrowded and foster-based rescues, like Badass Animal Rescue, get hit especially hard because many of their go-to foster parents are out of town. Volunteering as a foster provides much-needed relief to these organizations that work endlessly to give animals a second chance.
“We’re a foster-based rescue — meaning we don’t have a physical shelter, so we depend on foster families to give our dogs in rescue a home until they are adopted,” Reask explains. “Many of our ‘full-time’ fosters travel out of town during the holidays, so we need ‘temp fosters’ to fill those gaps. This is the most difficult time of year for rescues, so if you’re staying in town and have the space and capacity to foster a rescue dog, we highly recommend doing so.”
How much do you spend on your pet per year?
You get to experience the joy of pet parenting.
Whether you already have a pet of your own or are thinking about becoming a pet parent, fostering is a great way to experience the joys of caring for an animal. Plus, who wouldn’t benefit from a special companion during the holidays? If you’re not sure you’d be a good fit, Badass Animal Rescue’s Foster FAQopens in new tab is a great place to start.
“If you can offer a rescue dog a safe environment to live in and understand the responsibilities that come along with fostering, chances are you are a good foster candidate,” Reask says.
If you’re ready to reap the rewards of pet parenting, fill out a foster applicationopens in new tab: That is typically the first official step in any fostering process.
You give a quiet, safe place to a pet in need.
Being in a crowded shelter can be hectic and uncomfortable — it’s not the calm environment every dog deserves. In a foster home, pups get a break from the hustle and bustle, finding solace in a quiet, safe haven that’s tailor-made for their happiness. Shelters, despite the best intentions of dedicated volunteers, can sometimes be a bit like a revolving door, with different faces showing up throughout the day. But in your home, it’s a consistent dose of love and attention, creating the perfect space for a pet to blossom into their best, most adoptable self.
You save lives.
Being a foster parent gives these animals a chance at life. Become the unsung hero in a heartwarming holiday story this year and create memories that will forever echo with the joyful barks of gratitude.
“We can only rescue as many dogs as we have fosters for,” Reask says. “Our foster parents directly help save the lives of deserving dogs by providing housing, lots of TLC, and training to prepare them for adoption.”
It increases a dog’s chances of adoption.
Research showsopens in new tab that dogs who live in foster homes are more likely to be adopted. These homes provide them with socialization opportunities that are crucial for their wellbeing, helping them become more confident, adaptable, and ready to embark on a lifelong journey of companionship.
“It’s amazing and rewarding to see how dogs can grow from being timid and shy because of their past to being comfortable, relaxed, and thriving dogs because of their amazing foster parents,” Reask says.
One recent studyopens in new tab shows that fostered animals have decreased stress and improved cardiovascular and mental health due to increased physical and emotional activity provided in their foster home.
You get to really know a dog’s personality and behavior.
Spending quality time with a dog during this festive season becomes the ultimate gift to shelters and rescues. It’s like unwrapping a box full of insights into their quirks, preferences, and lovable habits that may have remained hidden in the shelter setting.
“As a foster-based rescue, we depend on foster families to give our rescue dogs the environment and structure they need to truly thrive and be the best dogs they can be,” Reask explains.
Your cozy holiday home provides the perfect backdrop for a dog to showcase their best behavior and charm potential adopters. You might just be the magic ingredient that helps them find their family.
You encourage others to foster, too.
Forget about another ugly holiday sweater — fostering lets you be the ultimate trendsetter in compassion. Plus, who needs knitted snowmen when you can have a canine sidekick rocking around the Christmas tree with you?
“Fostering a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences, so why not do it when rescues and shelters need it most?” Reask asks.
As we wrap up this heartwarming holiday tale (again, please watch how much you listen to “River” this holiday season), consider the joyous impact you can make by fostering a pet this holiday season. You’re not just creating a cozy haven for an animal in need; you’re contributing to a story of love, second chances, and wagging tails.
