This is a short summary of our Rescue Sh*t podcast episodes, parts 1 and 2. Check them out to find out much more about the process of fostering a pet in your home.
What to Expect When Fostering: A Motley Zoo Animal Rescue Guide
Fostering an animal is one of the most rewarding things you can do, but many people hesitate because they don’t know what to expect. Here we break down the realities of fostering, dispel common misconceptions, and explain how it can be a life-changing experience—for both you and the animals.
Getting Started: What Do You Need to Foster?
Most foster-based rescues, including Motley Zoo, provide essential supplies such as crates, food, collars, leashes, and veterinary care. Sometimes fosters may need to purchase food, but major expenses like medical treatment are covered by the organization. When an animal arrives, they come with the basics, and the rescue works to ensure the best match between foster families and animals.
For example, when a transport arrives, Motley Zoo checks each animal for immediate health concerns, administers vaccinations, dewormers and perhaps microchips (which may be done when the animal is being altered) them before they head to their pre-matched foster homes. This careful preparation helps ensure a smooth transition for both the foster and the animal.
The Importance of Quarantine
At Motley Zoo, new fosters must go through a two-week quarantine period to ensure they are not carrying contagious illnesses. This means keeping the animal isolated from other pets and limiting exposure to the outside world. While it may seem inconvenient, it’s crucial for preventing the spread of diseases like parvovirus or kennel cough.
Parvo, for instance, can survive in the environment for up to two years, making strict quarantine essential. Motley Zoo enforces these guidelines to protect both the foster animal and the existing pets in the home.
Not every rescue or shelter will have this policy, we we recommend exercising such a plan in your home before introducing a new dog or cat to your own pets.
What’s Expected of a Foster?
Providing Structure & Basic Training – Foster animals thrive on consistency. Simple commands, housebreaking, and leash manners go a long way in making them more adoptable. Training isn’t about dedicating hours to drills—it’s about incorporating structure into daily life, like having the dog sit before meals or before going outside. Motley Zoo provides guidance and resources for basic training to ensure animals are well-prepared for adoption.
Communication – Fosters must regularly update the rescue about the animal’s behavior, health, and progress. This includes taking high-quality photos and videos for adoption profiles. Social media promotion helps, but the final adoption process is handled by the organization to ensure the best fit.
Vet Visits & Scheduling – Motley Zoo coordinates with fosters to arrange vet appointments. Timely vaccinations and health checks are crucial, and fosters must adhere to schedules to keep animals healthy and adoption-ready.
Flexibility with Timeframes – While some fosters are adopted quickly, others may take months, depending on their age, health, and personality. Motley Zoo emphasizes that fostering is about the animal’s needs, not a rigid timeframe. While the average foster stay is about two months, some animals may need longer care due to medical or behavioral challenges.
Common Fostering Misconceptions
1. “I don’t have the space.” – Fostering doesn’t require a huge home. Even a spare bathroom can be enough for a cat. Dogs require more space, but structured routines can make fostering manageable even in smaller homes.
2. “My pets might get sick.” – If fosters follow quarantine guidelines and keep their own pets up to date on vaccinations, the risk of illness is minimal.
3. “I’ll get too attached and won’t be able to let go.” – Many fosters feel this way but come to realize that letting go is part of saving more lives. Some call it “foster failure” when they end up adopting, but every foster who helps an animal find a home makes space for another in need.
4. “I don’t have time to train an animal.” – Training isn’t about setting aside hours—it’s about integrating structure into daily life. Crate training, consistent feeding times, and regular potty breaks help create well-adjusted pets that are more adoptable.
Why Try Fostering?
Even if you foster just once, it can be a transformative experience. Like Mikey from the old Life cereal commercials (“He won’t eat it! He hates everything!”), many people assume fostering won’t work for them—until they try it and realize they love it.
Fostering changes lives—not just for the animals, but for the people involved. It provides purpose, connection, and the opportunity to make a real difference. Whether fostering a litter of kittens, a senior dog, or a special needs animal, every foster home saves a life.
Interested in fostering? Contact Motley Zoo or your local rescue and take the first step toward making a life-changing impact.
Check out more of our podcast, Rescue Sh*t to hear more about this and other exciting pet topics.
Rock on. Rescue on.
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