Do good.
paws for a cause
Foster a Pet for
the Holidays
R
by Jackie Brown
eflecting upon the past year as it is about to come to
a close is a December tradition. But something that’s
even more meaningful during this time of year is giving
thanks for all of life’s blessings, as well as giving back to
those in need — including lonely shelter pets.
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Many shelters hold special adoption
events, hoping to place lots of pets in
homes by Christmas. (Read more about
some of our favorite events on page 28.)
But not all pets will be adopted, and temporary fostering can brighten the holidays
for those pets. It’s a win-win for everyone.
People experiencing holiday blues can
snuggle with a loving pet. Pets who are
still waiting for their forever homes can
get a quiet break from the hectic shelter
environment.
Plus, if you’ve been thinking about fostering pets but aren’t sure if it’s right for
you, temporary fostering is a great way to
get your feet wet. You might be home for a
week or two thanks to school breaks and
vacation time from work, so it’s a great time
of year to try out fostering. Best of all, many
pets who are temporarily fostered for the
holidays go on to find homes — either with
the person who took them in or a friend,
family member, or neighbor.
If the thought of fostering a pet for
holidays fills your heart with joy, contact
your local shelter. Even if they don’t have a
special program in place, almost any shelter
will be thrilled to hear from a potential
new fosterer.
When you bring your temporary charge
home for the specified time period, shower
him with treats, praise, and snuggles (and
maybe even a gift or two under the tree!).
Bonus points if you teach him to sit, stay,
or to walk nicely on a leash. You can even
teach him a cute trick like giving a paw or
waving. These simple behaviors can make a
shelter pet more adoptable.
Spread the word to everyone you know
that you’re fostering a pet who needs a
new home. You could even put it in your
annual holiday letter to family and friends!
The more people who see your foster pet,
the better his chances of finding a forever
family. Who knows, you might grow so
attached to your furry visitor that you
come to realize he is already home.
Jackie Brown is Editor-at-Large of Lucky Puppy.
She is also a freelance writer specializing in
the pet industry. Visit her website at
jackiebrownwriter.wordpress.com
dk tazunoki/shutterstock
Let’s face it — a shelter, no
matter how well run, is not the
jolliest place to spend the holidays.
luckypuppymag.com
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