New program provides guidance for fostering animals
There is something special about a person who is willing to open their home to an animal who needs somewhere to land. It might be a dog who has lost the only home they've ever known, a dog coming out of a shelter, or one who simply needs a safe place to stay while a rescue works to find the right permanent home.
Foster homes are one of the things animal shelters and rescues need most. Without them, there are animals who may never get the opportunity to leave a kennel, decompress, or show someone who they really are.
After many years working in animal welfare, including animal control, running my own rescue, training, and behavior-related work, I've learned how important foster caregivers are to the animals and organizations they support. I've also learned that there are many different ways to prepare people for that responsibility.
Not every shelter or rescue has the same resources, staffing, or capacity to develop and maintain a comprehensive foster education program. Some organizations are overwhelmed with the daily demands of animal intake, medical care, housing, and finding homes for the animals already in their care. Their staff and volunteers are stretched thin, and creating additional educational resources may simply not be possible with the time and people they have available.
The Until Someone Comes Back Foster Ready Program is being created with one specific goal in mind: to make fostering education and resources more accessible to anyone who wants to learn, while supporting the work shelters and rescues are already doing.
When people think about fostering, they often picture bringing a dog home, giving them a comfortable bed, offering some affection, and watching them blossom. Sometimes it happens that way. Other times, the dog who walks through the door is frightened, overwhelmed, unable to settle, or behaving in ways the foster family never expected.
Some dogs settle in quickly. Others need much more time, space, and patience. A dog who is quiet may not necessarily be comfortable. A dog who struggles with a new situation isn't necessarily a bad dog. Sometimes, we're simply seeing a dog who hasn't had the opportunity to feel safe enough to show us who they are.
Understand what you’re taking on
What I’m creating in the Until Someone Comes Back Foster Ready Program is a resource that focuses specifically on fostering. We want to help more animals get out of shelters and into safe, appropriate homes. We want foster caregivers to understand what they're taking on. And we want both the animal and the person caring for them to have the best possible opportunity to succeed.
The Until Someone Comes Back Foster Ready Program is free and open to anyone interested in learning about fostering. You don't have to work for a shelter. You don't have to volunteer for a rescue. You don't have to have fostered before, and you don't have to be certain that fostering is something you can do.
You might be someone who has been thinking about fostering for years but isn't sure what to expect. You might already be fostering and want to learn more about a particular part of the experience. You might work with a shelter or rescue that would like additional educational resources to share with its volunteers.
Or you might simply be curious about how fostering works and want to understand more before deciding whether it's right for you. The program is designed to give people somewhere to start.
I'm currently developing the main website, where the educational resources will be made available, with a target launch date of January 1, 2027. My goal is to make the information accessible so people can visit when they need it, learn at their own pace, and return to the resources as questions come up.
The program will include educational materials, practical resources, and how-to videos covering topics such as the transition into a home, decompression, routines, introductions, safety, and recognizing when to ask for help.
I also plan to offer group video discussions, opportunities for one-on-one conversations, and guest speakers with experience in specialized areas of animal welfare. These discussions will provide opportunities to ask questions, hear different perspectives, and learn from people with experience in particular areas.
The story behind the book
The idea for this program is closely connected to my book, "Until Someone Comes Back," available on Amazon.
The book was inspired by Jackson, a dog who helped me look at the experiences of shelter and foster dogs from a different perspective. Through his story, I wanted readers to think about what it means for a dog to leave the familiar surroundings of a shelter, enter a new home, and depend on people to understand what that transition requires.
Although I'm still working on the main website and its resources, people don't have to wait until January to learn more about the program. The Until Someone Comes Back Foster Ready Program has a Facebook page where anyone can follow along for updates and information: "Until Someone Comes Back Foster Ready Program" (https://www.facebook.com/share/1GgeGUoKtk/)
If you're interested in learning more, you can visit the page, send me a message, and let me know you'd like information about the program. You don't have to be affiliated with a shelter or rescue, and you don't have to commit to fostering to reach out.
We will always need people willing to open their doors. We can also help them understand what happens when those doors open. Because the goal isn't simply to get an animal into a foster home; it's to help set both the animal and the foster caregiver up for success.
And sometimes the most important first step isn't bringing an animal home – it’s learning what that animal might need once they get there.
About the author
Laura Adams has spent more than 35 years involved in animal welfare, with experience in animal control, sheltering, rescue, training, and advocacy. She founded Casa del Toro Pit Bull Education & Rescue and a co-founder of Indy Pit Crew. Throughout her years in the field, her work has been shaped by the dogs she has known and the lessons they have taught her about patience, understanding, and the importance of recognizing each dog as an individual.
Laura is the author of "Until Someone Comes Back," a heartfelt story told from a rescue dog's point of view, following Jackson as he navigates shelter life ,fostering and the journey toward finding a home. Through his eyes, readers discover the importance of patience , understanding , and seeing the individual dog behind the kennel door. Its a story about rescue, the people who open their homes , and the dogs who are still waiting for someone to come back.
Comments