Foster a Furry Friend

Few things in life are as wonderful as having a furry friend. Animals make everything better, whether they already belong to someone or are fosters waiting for their forever homes. Fostering cats and dogs has spiked in recent years, and organizations across Sarasota and Manatee Counties invite everyone to share love with an animal by giving it a safe short-term home. Shelters like Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue and Cat Depot offer traditional foster programs. Applicants fill out an interest form and the foster teams evaluate them to see if the applicants are an ideal match for a specific animal or situation. The shelters provide everything from food and toys to veterinary care, facilitating the experience and allowing those who might lack monetary resources to care for an animal. “We’re so grateful for fosters because we wouldn’t be able to take in as many cats without them,” says Peyton Davis, the communications specialist at Cat Depot. Davis attributes the uptick in fostering to social media platforms, on which people document and share their experiences giving pets a temporary home. “It warms people’s hearts,” adds Davis, “and they think ‘I could do that.’” Many foster parents become foster failures, which is actually a positive term meaning that they end up adopting the animal themselves. “I think 100 percent of our participants have been foster failures at some point or another,” says Rob Oglesby, Nate’s director of development.  Dog lovers determined not to become foster failures are an excellent fit for the Southeastern Guide Dogs Puppy Raising Program. Puppy raisers apply for the program, attend puppy club meetings to learn about the expectations set for them and undergo an evaluation process that includes a home visit. Applicants can choose their own adventure, raising a puppy for three months, six months or a year. “We offer co-raising options for people who want to work as a team, maybe with a family member or coworker,” says Leslie Shepard, the director of Puppy Raising Services. “This allows them to share the love and makes the process more doable.” Participants are entrusted with socializing the young puppies, who arrive at the raiser’s home at eight to 10 weeks old, teaching them household manners and how to be great citizens and family members. “Across the industry, our need is at an all-time high,” Shepard adds. “Raising a puppy won’t take all of your time, but it will touch your heart and make such an impact on people who need these dogs.”