The fostering program at the MSPCA in the Boston area is thriving. Hundreds of homes have been open to pets, which is why the cages at the facility are empty at times.
The program not only allows the person fostering to decide if they want a pet, but puts them first in line to adopt if they find their forever pet.
It also allows the animals to be in a loving home where their personalities can show. Pets who are nervous, or have trouble socializing, also get he chance to become more social before being placed in a home.
The MSPCA has used foster homes less and less because their spay and neuter program has the homeless animal population largely under control. Animals that come in are adopted out rather quickly, leaving lots of space for new animals to come in. This allows the MSPCA to use foster homes for more specialized care for their animals.
Rebecca Innis of Boston has been fostering kittens and and cats since 2011. Hundreds have strutted in and out of her home. It was through the fostering program that she found her forever pet. She even has allowed several pregnant foster cats to have their babies inside her cozy studio apartment.
"It's probably as close to childbirth as I ever need to be," said Innis.
Her cat, Roo, was in the litter of a cat who gave birth a few months ago in her apartment.
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Roo is not the only cat she gave a serious commitment to.
"I ended up adopting a cat previously that had leukemia," Innis said. "I knew she wasn't going to have a long life and I wanted her to have as much of an enjoyable time as she could, so I kept her for about a year until she passed."
If you'd like more information on how to foster an animal, visit MSPCA.org.
