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Tag: Best Friends Animal Society

Why Fostering a Pet Is Good For You and Them

 

 

Fostering a pet can be a lot of work, but the rewards are worth the effort for many homeless pets that have been vetted and rescued, needing a cozy and warm home to rest before they arrive at their forever home. Of course, fostering can place an emotional toll on those who get especially attached to those they foster, but you’ll never regret saving a life or two. When you foster, you’re helping another pet get a chance at life, and you are helping the pet you’re fostering learn valuable social skills to easily be adopted.

“The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals makes more than 1,000 foster placements a year,” said Gail Buchwald, the ASPCA’s senior vice president of adoptions.

There are times when a foster will adopt the pet their fostering, although shelters have to begin locating new fosters. Of course, saying goodbye is the hardest part, but here are some tips that may help with carrying a lighter burden:

  • You are saving not only one, but several lives. Pets are euthanized less the more fosters there are.
  • Remind yourself that your helping pets find loving, permanent homes.
  • Encourage a successful adoption and be happy!
  • Never feel saddened or guilty that you’re giving your foster pet to another home. As long as they’re treated with love and kindness, they will continue to adapt to their new family.
  • Join a foster network or community.
  • Don’t constantly foster; take a breather every now and again.
  • You have great memories of saving lives; never forget them.

There are no statistics about how much nationwide data there is available referencing fosters in shelters. Even high kill shelters have foster programs. Be resourceful and do some research on the shelters in your community to inquire how you can be involved in your wanting to foster a pet.With the economic decline, there are more and more pets without homes, ending up in shelters. Sadly, many of them are euthanized, but with incredible foster individuals and families, some of them get a second chance at life.

Do you foster a pet? What do you love the most about it?

Source: http://www.abqjournal.com/279210/living/foster-pet-care-has-many-rewards.html

Volunteer with the No More Homeless Pets National Conference

Since this week is national volunteer week and this amazing animal rescue and charity organization are needing volunteers, we wanted to post about the annual No More Homeless Pets National Conference. They are needing volunteers from all over. The conference began in 2001, and has continued a successful run since then. This year the conference will take place between October 10-13 in Jacksonville, Florida. As listed by the conference’s website, these are reasons why volunteers should get involved:

  • Rescue group staff and board members
  • Private and public shelter and animal welfare staff
  • Veterinarians, vet techs and clinic managers
  • Spay/neuter and TNR staff and other animal advocates
  • Volunteers
  • Animal lovers who want to get involved.

Volunteers can also participate varied sessions and workshops of their choice, as well as learn from nationally trained leaders, and connect with fellow animal lovers and enthusiasts. Below are a few ways to volunteer:

  • Volunteers are needed for setup (on Wednesday, October 9, before the conference begins), throughout the conference and for tear-down after the conference ends on Sunday, October 13. There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, so you’re encouraged to work in positions that interest you.
  •  All conference volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and able to commit to working at least one full shift lasting four to four-and-a-half hours. Non-local volunteers are asked to commit to a full day (generally two shifts). Volunteers who work more than one shift a day will have ample break time.
  • Snack foods and lunches will be provided, but all other meals, transportation and lodging expenses are the responsibility of the volunteer. Volunteers can book their hotel rooms at the discounted conference rate as long as the hotel has availability.
  • You do not have to register for the conference to attend a session or partial session on the days you are volunteering. For example, if you are working a noon to 4 pm shift on Friday, you could sit in on a session before your shift starts, or catch one after your shift ends on that day. But if you’d like to attend sessions on days when you are not volunteering, you’ll need to register for the conference.

Check out more information by copying and pasting the link below in your browser:

http://conference.bestfriends.org/events/2013-no-more-homeless-pets-national-conference/event-summary-56293e7b36e9433992ba1fdca6154216.aspx