Foster an Animal
Do you care about animals?Help save lives by becoming a foster carer for the Macintyre Animal and Pet Rescue (MAP Rescue)
Maybe you'd love a pet, but due to work, travel or lifestyle you aren't able to make the 10-15 year commitment. Maybe you've got your heart set on a particular breed but you're not sure what they'd actually be like to live with? Are you a person who loves animals but have no idea whether pet ownership is for you?
Foster caring is a great way to help animals AND get the joy of a pet around the house, without committing for a lifetime!
What is foster caring?
Every week MAP Rescue takes in helpless dogs, puppies, cats and kittens that have been surrendered or abandoned and need temporary care. To get the second chance they deserve, these animals desperately need foster care.
A foster carer is someone who provides a safe, nurturing environment for a shelter animal until a permanent home can be found. As we do not have the resource of a permanent shelter location, MAP Rescue relies on volunteers to provide a temporary home to the animals that they would not be able to save otherwise due to limited space.
Foster caring also allows a much smoother transition when the animal is placed into his/her new home. As you can imagine, being kept in a shelter can be very stressful and traumatic for many animals. In your home they have a chance to feel safe and secure, to be nurtured and get exercised and socialised. It also allows MAP Rescue group to evaluate the pet in a "normal" environment and discover details crucial to placing the animal in an appropriate home. For example, is this cat litter trained, good with kids, or a counter-surfer? Many of these questions and others can't be answered when an animal is living in a shelter thus having a foster based system has its advantages
By taking in a foster animal you're giving that animal a second chance at life.
What kinds of animals need foster care?
Along with all the healthy companion animals that would be not be able to be saved without the help of foster carers, there are also special needs pets that would not survive without someone to foster them.
Sometimes it's young animals that need to be placed until they are old enough for adoption. Small puppies and kittens are able to be given love, time to “grow up” and the chance to live a long and happy life.
Sick or injured animals need somewhere to recover, mothers need somewhere safe to give birth – you don't need to be a veterinarian to care for pets like these, you just need be able to provide tender care under the direction and expense of MAP Rescue.
Whether you have time for a special needs pet, or would just like to save a great pet from destruction, MAP Rescue can match you with animals based on your experience, lifestyle and home environment.
What do you need to be a foster carer?
To be considered as a foster carer you will have:
- a love of animals, compassion and the patience to provide a positive environment.
- time to spend with the foster pet.
- your existing pets' vaccinated and able to live with a newcomer. MAP Rescue can provide cages to house foster animals upon request.
- approval from other family members or your landlord if required.
- finances to purchase food for the foster animal, MAP Rescue will cover the cost of additional care such as worming and flea treatment and will provide food when available.
- a willingness to introduce the pet to new experiences, other animals and to teach good house manners.
- the ability to keep the rescue group up to date of the animals' behaviour and personality to assist with matching with adopters.
- the patience to assist the animal to overcome problems or undesirable behaviours should they arise. A member of the MAP Rescue team will be available to provide advice and guidance 24hours a day should any problems arise.
How long will I have the foster pet?
The time you have your foster animal varies from anything as short as a few days, up to a few weeks depending on how long it takes to find the perfect forever home. MAP Rescue tries to move animals onto a different shelter if not adopted within a month.
Should your circumstances change or you feel that your foster animal isn’t suitable for your needs, you are able to return the pet to the rescue, but you will need to give the group plenty of time to find another foster carer to take the animal.
MAP Rescue tries to place its foster carers on a roster so that each will have a break between animals. It's a big commitment and definitely not a job for everyone, but knowing you helped save a pet from destruction is an incredibly rewarding experience.
Will I be sad when I have to hand the pet back?
There are always a few tears shed when you wave goodbye to a foster pet. But knowing that you saved its life and that now it's found the perfect forever family make up for the small amount of loss you will feel. Please be assured that MAP Rescue looks only to provide the most suitable and loving homes for its rescued animals
Besides, there's always another pet who needs you!
If you have any questions feel free to contact MAP Rescue or complete this online application form to become a foster carer today!
