Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Does your shelter or rescue organization send cats to short-term foster?

    Posted 11-02-2022 11:46 AM
    It may be worth considering, based on this new research: Cat Foster Program Outcomes: Behavior, Stress, and Cat-Human Interaction Cat Foster Program Outcomes: Behavior, Stress, and Cat-Human Interaction

    Top takeaways:

    • Foster cats did not display decreased social behavior, increased fear or aggression, or increased cortisol levels while in the foster home, even for as little as 1 night. Therefore, even short-term cat fostering does not appear to be more stressful for cats than staying in the shelter.
    • Short-term fostering may also be a viable option for improving adoption outcomes."

    #FosterPrograms

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    Kelly Duer
    Senior Outreach Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 2.  RE: Does your shelter or rescue organization send cats to short-term foster?

    Posted 11-03-2022 09:09 AM
    Hi Kelly,

    How does short term fostering improve adoption outcomes:  Foster fail, foster to adopt?  What?

    Always looking for new ways to improve adoption outcomes.  

    Thanks

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    Jean Silva
    Director
    Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter (BUNS)
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  • 3.  RE: Does your shelter or rescue organization send cats to short-term foster?

    Posted 11-03-2022 11:54 AM
    Yes! Short-term foster improves adoption outcomes in part because of foster caregivers adopting their foster pet, but here are some others:

    • You learn more about pets' personalities and behavior in a home (which can be different than in the shelter) so you can help them better connect with potential adopters
    • You often get good photos of the pet in a home environment 
    • The pet gets an advocate who often helps market them for adoption and continues to be involved in their life at the shelter (and sometimes even supports their adopter)
    • It increases pets' visibility in the community


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    Kelly Duer
    Senior Outreach Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
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    Original Message


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