Children are not the only ones who need foster care. The Animal Rescue Coalition recognizes the great need and benefits a foster program can provide in a community to injured, displaced and post partum (a mother with puppies or kittens) animals. Currently, foster care programs exist at Sarasota County Animal Services and Animal Rescue Coalition. Other agencies have this program built in.

How can you help? We need volunteer foster families. You will be committing your home environment and emotional reinforcement for a needy pet. The term of your commitment would vary based on the need of the pet.

Decisions you would have to make could include: the foster of dogs or cats or both, injured recuperating animals or well animals only, a mom with puppies or kittens, just puppies or kittens or both.

It is important that you consider the current dynamics in your own home. How will this decision affect your family and your own pets? A well established relationship with your veterinarian will be important in this process. Keeping your own animals up to date on their vaccinations will be crucial to your success as a foster family.

The goal of being a foster family is to achieve a balance for all involved. The human animal bond has been proven to be life sustaining. All animals deserve a loving home. How special would it be for you to be part of a process that ultimately supports animal life and wellness and protects the human animal bond? These animals that you help will go on to be adopted by loving homes. You will touch three lives in the process – your own, the foster animal, and the adoptive family. How often can one participate in something that can benefit so many lives?

Laurie A Walmsley, DVM
Medical Director
Animal Rescue Coalition