June is National Pet Adoption Month, a time when local animal shelters and rescue groups highlight the importance and need for adoption in their communities.
Unlike adopting a pet, fostering is temporary ownership, caring for an animal until a suitable long-term home is found. Not only do foster parents provide a safe, stable and loving environment for a pet, they also help introduce the animal to potential owners.
Sometimes shelters and rescues list animals as “foster only” or “adopt-from-home” pets because they are recovering from an illness or surgery. These animals require more care while they recover and are not permanently available for adoption at that time. In most cases, however, these animals become available for adoption once they have fully recovered.
New homes are needed in Springfield now more than ever. Marcie Bowling, executive director and founder of Watching Over Whiskers, said the cat shelter typically needs 35 to 40 homes to handle the volume of requests for kittens and injured cats. As of June 15, the shelter had about 28 homes.
“Since COVID-19, the number of foster parents has dropped off rapidly and has not increased significantly since then,” Bowling told the News-Leader.
The cat shelter’s capacity is determined by the number of foster parents it works with, funding and available adoption requests, and Bowling said Watching Over Whiskers tries to keep the shelter from housing more than 250 cats at a time, with fewer than 100 of those being kittens.
To encourage new adoptions, the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri will enter all new adoptions into a drawing during the month of June to win a $25 gift card to the shelter. All currently adopted animals will also be entered into a separate drawing to win a $25 gift card to the shelter.
From start to finish: How to keep a pet
The process of finding a pet to adopt is pretty similar from shelter to shelter.
- Fill out an adoption application. Applications may be available on the shelter’s website or in person. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
- If your application is approved, the shelter may request a home visit or video call to learn more about you and ensure your space is adequate for your animals.
- The shelter will work with new foster parents to understand what type of animal would be best suited.
- When an animal is ready for adoption, families will be notified and can begin the adoption process.
Shelters and rescue groups provide foster parents with the supplies they need to care for the animals, such as food, litter boxes, medicines, kennels, and leashes.
How long does foster care take?
Foster care lengths vary by pet. Short-term foster care lasts two to three weeks, while long-term foster care lasts three weeks to three months, according to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri’s website. Foster care lengths should be clearly explained by the shelter prior to adoption.
What makes a foster home a good fit?
Bowling said a good foster parent will make an effort to learn how to properly care for the animal while it’s in their home. Even better would be a foster parent who can provide a separate room for the new animal to get used to, especially if it shares space with other pets.
But most importantly, show your love to animals.
“A big part of the job is literally giving them love,” Bowling said. “We encourage them to hug and kiss every day. It’s very important for them to develop a trusting relationship with humans and to love humans.”
Can I foster and keep another pet at the same time?
Yes, most shelters and rescues accept fosters who already have pets, this information and all the necessary details must be included in your adoption application.
However, some shelters require that foster pets be kept in a separate area from other household pets, especially if the foster pet is sick or recovering from surgery.
Can I foster if I live in an apartment?
This depends on the rules stated in your rental agreement. If your apartment allows animals, most shelters and rescue groups will approve your application.
Want to adopt a pet? Check out these 7 shelters and rescues near Springfield
Greta Cross is a trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. She has over five years of journalism experience covering everything from Ozark history to Springfield’s LGBTQIA+ community. Follow her on X and on Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Have a story idea? Email her at gretacrossphoto.gcross@news-leader.com.
