Published July 2, 2014 at 1:00 a.m.
If you and your family love animals and want to help care for one in a time of need, consider being a foster family.
Dogs and cats sometimes need a temporary home while awaiting adoption — so do hamsters, guinea pigs and ferrets. The reasons are varied: some are too young to be adopted; some need socialization; others may be recovering from surgery or illness. Some animals are simply not suited to live in a shelter, around lots of other animals.
Foster care can last anywhere from a week to several months. Some agencies provide food and supplies, others cover only veterinary expenses. Families gather valuable information about their foster pets' personalities, which helps the shelter find them a compatible "forever" home. In return, families receive the love of a pet and the satisfaction of making a difference.
Robyn Santor, animal care supervisor at the Humane Society of Chittenden County, and Sam Punchar, owner of Random Rescue in Williamstown, offer the following advice:
This article was originally published in Seven Days' monthly parenting magazine, Kids VT.
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