Benefits of Foster-to-Adopt Process for Pets

A graduate of George Washington University with a master’s degree in computer science, Brian Kezer has held various professional positions. Outside of his career, Brian Kezer’s personal interests include video games, cooking, and dogs.

After a steep increase in pet adoptions in 2020, animal shelters across the United States experienced a dramatic increase in pet surrenders toward the end of 2021, likely due in part to remote workers returning to the office. Because adopting a pet is a long-term commitment, a foster-to-adopt situation may be a better choice for many people.

In a foster-to-adopt arrangement, a potential adopter agrees to care for a pet temporarily, during which time the animal shelter typically provides food and pays for the pet’s medical care. In a foster environment, an animal can relax and show its personally much more fully than during a brief visit in the shelter. This allows adopters to gauge whether the pet is a good match for the family and their lifestyle, as well as whether the animal gets along with other household pets. Even if a foster chooses not to adopt, they have given the pet a loving temporary home and freed up space in the animal shelter for animals with more immediate needs.