I had 4 recue greyhounds when I decided I would try my hand at fostering one. I failed miserably and ended up keeping him. I learned a few things along the way so I compiled some do's and don'ts for those of you out there considering fostering an animal so you can avoid the pitfalls I succumbed to:
1) Do not get laid off from your job 2 days after you pick up your foster. This will lead to bonding, which we know is bad and eventual ownership. Try to impress upon your company that letting you go will lead to your submitting an unemployment claim for the animal, which in turn, costs them money.
2) Do not consider the animal a family member. The IRS frowns on listing pets as dependants.
3) Keep cuddle time to a minimum. Excessive pampering and hugging will lead to no good so remain aloof. Impress upon your foster that he stay on his own side of the bed with his head on HIS pillow. If necessary and I know this is harsh, allow your spouse back in the bed and insist the foster sleep on the floor.
4) When writing his bio for the foster group’s website, avoid phrases such as “explosive diarrhea” and “virtuoso chewer.”
5) Get maximum exposure for your foster. But beware, when someone expresses an interest in him, avoid sobbing, clutching the animal by the neck and screaming, “Mine, mine, mine.”
6) Do not feed your foster. This will only increase his dependency on you. Instead, encourage him to open the pantry door, dial for takeout or introduce him to the stove.
7) Train your foster to be ready to leave your nest. Praising him for sobbing when you leave the room is sending the wrong message. He must be strong.
8) And last but not least, avoid staring at your foster while he is sleeping, especially in dim light. You will begin to see the round ring around his head.
No comments:
Post a Comment