Foster a Pet

Pet keeping can be expensive. Would you like to take a pet into your home - free? I have some questions and answers about fostering pets.

Where can I get pets to foster?  Animal shelters or Humane Societies will probably have pets to foster.

What pets can I foster? The animals that are usually fostered are dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits, ferrets, or birds.

You may be able to foster puppies to young to be adopted, like these puppies, along with the litter's mother.

What are some problems with fostering? Eventually you will have to give the pet to someone else. This can be sad, especially if you have had the animal for several months.You will probably also have to pay for some pet keeping costs.

What will the shelter pay for? The shelter will probably cover the following: food, vet bills, and litter (if needed.) If you go on vacation, you can often just return the animal to the shelter, saving you the cost of a pet sitter.

What will I pay for? You will probably have to pay for a cage or kennel, bed (for a dog or cat), and toys.

How can I foster a pet? Anywhere from days to months.Some animals never get adopted. Sometimes the shelter will take the animal back after a while, but you might be able to foster it again later. If someone decides to adopt the pet you are fostering, you will have to, of course, give it to them. then you can foster another pet!

Fostering a pet is a great idea. A house is a much better place for a pet then a shelter. (If you haven't already done so, check out my post A Trip to the Humane Society) I personally would like to foster small birds and small mammals.

A Home For Bandit: Chapter One

I wrote A Home for Bandit for my mother's birthday. This is ironic considering what the story is about, but Mom loved it! So here is the first chapter of the story:

                            Chapter 1: The Pet Store

Bandit at the Pet Store

   Bandit’s story begins in a cage with five other kits at the Top Dog Pet Supply. From his favorite hammock the small ferret surveyed his surroundings. He saw a cage full of canaries. He saw a hamster running in a wheel. Suddenly, Bandit was hungry.
  The ferret crawled out of the hammock and walked over to the food dish that all the ferrets shared. He jumped into the air with joy as he saw that one of the workers had added a treat to his pellets. It was a paste that had vitamins in it. He instantly began to lick it.
  Bandit had almost every thing that a ferret would want. He had food, water, and a hammock. But there was one thing the ferret lacked: a loving home.
  One of the workers came up to the cage. Her name was Susie. She wanted a ferret of her own, but she was only 16 and still lived with her parents, who hated ferrets. She had given Bandit his name. She opened the lid and took Bandit out. Of all the kits Bandit was her favorite. She often would hold him with one hand and use the cash register with her other. The people waiting in line didn’t like this, but Bandit enjoyed it immensely.
  “I wish that you were mine!” Susie would say, “Wouldn’t that be great if you could live with me, Bandit?”
This was the only time that Bandit got any human affection. Sure, humans fed and watered him, and clipped his nails (Bandit hated having his nails clipped), but there was no playing out side of his cage, unless Susie took him out.
 He was sad when he had to be returned to the ferret cage. Susie had to clean out the budgie cage, and for obvious reasons, this was no place for a ferret.
  Bandit ran through the tunnels. He drank some water. Then he lay down on top of another ferret and took a nap.
  That afternoon a boy walked in with his mother. “See, Mom!” said the child; “These are ferrets!” “They sure are cute!” The mother replied. When a worker walked by, she asked him if they could hold one of the ferrets. He lifted Bandit out.
  “Can I get him, Mom?” pleaded the boy. Then the mother did something no one should ever do. Not knowing anything about ferrets, she bought Bandit, right then and there.

Keep reading my blog to read more of Bandit's story.

Does Anyone Want Rudy?

   I volunteer once a week at All Paws Rescue. (http://www.allpawsrescue.info/) I take care of rescued cats at a pet store. Rudy has been with the  rescue for a long time. Probably no one wants Rudy because of how he looks. People also want kittens, not cats. Rudy is only four years old, which is still quite young for a cat.

  But Rudy is much more friendly than he looks. He will come right up to us and rub his head on us. He doesn't like to be picked up or held and petted. He hates being returned to his cage. He loves catnip, cat trees, and being out of his cage. He would love to have a house to run around!

You can see Rudy's Petfinder page here: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/19270864.