Foster networks remove animals from stressful shelter environments and dramatically improve welfare outcomes for many animals.
Foster care is one of the most impactful welfare interventions available to shelter systems. The shelter environment — however well-managed — causes chronic stress in most animals through noise, confinement and social disruption. Foster homes provide the calm, social, home environment that dogs and cats evolved for, allowing animals to recover from previous trauma and show their true personalities to adopters. Foster programs save lives and improve welfare simultaneously.