Want to Foster a Dog or Cat in New Zealand?

Would you foster a dog or a cat? At the start of the pandemic, many did. As lockdowns saw more workers temporarily stationed in home offices, fostering pets rose in popularity.

Many people wanted to have the loving companionship a pet cat or dog brings. Being a full-time pet parent isn’t always possible, so fostering allows the best of both worlds. And we now know that pet love helps us navigate COVID.

However, now that virus is slowly losing its grip, many of us have returned to normal out-of-home work and leisure routines. Yet animals still need fostering. In fact, the need may be greater than before which is why we’re penning this article.

What does it mean to foster a dog or cat?

Fostering a dog or cat means being their surrogate pet parent, either until their forever home is found or for a set amount of time. Shelters are overwhelmed with abandoned or neglected animals that must be fed, sheltered, cared for and rehomed.

Many shelters run animal fostering programs and partner with foster families. Here, the shelter will screen the family in advance to make sure there are no competing interests.

For example, a person wanting to foster a cat will need a secure home environment that’s free of aggressive dogs. Or if they would like to foster a large dog with high exercise needs, they’ll need a garden and time to spend playing.

Some foster parents are also involved in helping to rehome pets. In some cases, a foster parent might also decide to adopt a dog or cat they’ve bonded with.

Here are some reasons dogs and cats might be fostered:  

• Struggling in a shelter environment without human attention
• Behavioural issues that an experienced animal foster parent knows how to care for. (Read about separation anxiety in pets).
• Animals without adequate social skills or who are overly aggressive may not fare well in shelters. Especially when there are communal areas that need to be shared.
• Pets who’ve been unloved for an extended time sometimes have their chance of finding a fur-ever home improved after being fostered.
• Shelters are at capacity and turn to foster parents to help carry the responsibility

These aren’t the only reasons animals might end up with foster parents; there are a myriad of possible reasons. If you’re a foster parent and would like to share your story – send us a DM on Facebook.

Should I foster a dog or cat?

Foster pet parents can make a world of difference in the life of a dog or cat.

For an orphaned, neglected or abused pet, time spent in a safe and caring space massively improves their outcomes. They can learn to trust and be settled around others, which makes it much easier for someone to adopt them.

Sometimes foster families will care for pets who are too young or too old to be easily and safely rehomed. Or it could be a case of caring for animals who are recovering from medical issues or surgery.

One way or another, fostering a pet can be enormously rewarding. You get to nurture and develop a pet who needs it. And at the same time, there’s no lifelong commitment required.

Many foster families have the chance to take lots of cute pics of their foster cat or dog. These are the photos which could in fact spark the imagination of a future adoptive parent. This means your time spent together helps pave the way for that animal’s wellbeing.

If you’re considering fostering a pet, here are some pet photography skills for fun and for good.

Saying goodbye to a foster pet

While saying goodbye to a foster pet is probably the saddest part, it’s the only real drawback. Once you’ve spent quality time with a pet, you’ll always be an important part of their journey.

On the flipside, if you really do grow too fond to say goodbye, you can graduate from foster to full parent. Whether this is a drawback is something to decide upfront. Here’s what you need to adopt a cat and bringing home an adopted dog.

Alternatives to fostering or adopting

If you’re not able to adopt but would like to spend time helping animals in need, consider other options. There are a few ways some people find time to have an occasional bond with a fur kid, such as:

• Become a pet godparent
• Become a pet sitter (read this article on kennels vs pet sitters)
• Volunteer with a shelter like HUHA

There are many ways to spend time with pets and community outreach is a great option too. For example, you might have a neighbour whose dog you can take for their weekly walk. Or spend an a-meowsing afternoon indulging their cat.

Speaking of which, here are 10 ways to pamper your cat.

How to become a foster dog or cat parent

If you’re ready to share your love and your time, there are several possible ways to become a foster pet parent. Many organisations across New Zealand rely on the support of volunteer foster families.

Here are three options:

• Foster a detector dog puppy (Ministry for Primary Industries)
• New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue
• Foster a dog (Western Bay Council)

You can also do a quick Google search to find out more options as this list is by no means exhaustive.

Know that in most cases, food, bedding and other pet needs are paid for by the shelter. And you will also receive training on how to be the best foster parent you can be.

Pet insurance for pets in need

Although the organisation or shelter in most cases pays for the foster pet’s living costs, there’s usually no pet insurance – though they’ll usually cover vet bills with their preferred vet.

If you decide in the end that you’re ready to become a fur-ever parent yourself, be sure to get them pet insurance. Our a-furr-dable pet insurance covers a large range of medical needs from non-routine vet visits and medication to surgery and third party liability.

Did you know you’re eligible for one or more months of free cat insurance or dog insurance when you sign up with us online? Click below to get started.