Every year Hounslow Animal Welfare Society takes care of hundreds of animals prior to their rehoming. Fostering is one reason we can do this so successfully for such a large number of pets. Caring temporarily for an animal is both challenging and rewarding. We hope that the following information may help answer some of your questions. Q. How do I benefit? A. Practically. We provide food, bedding and equipment and all vets bills are paid for the animal that you are fostering. You also gain the chance to help an animal in need - to care for and socialise them for perhaps the first time in their lives - without the worries of permanent ownership. For example, walking a foster dog in the park each day gives YOU exercise and the chance to meet new friends. Q. How does HAWS benefit? A. Fostering is much cheaper than using kennels or a cattery, so more animals can be helped. It is also easier for us to assess animals in a home environment and find the right placement for them. Our cats and dogs are much less stressed if they don't go into professional boarding, where they can lose the 'personal touch'. Q. What do I have to provide? A. For dog-fostering you need be around for most of the day as dogs like lots of company and ideally you need a well-fenced in garden. Some of our dogs have never socialised, or been taught how to be a social dog. All this takes time, energy, patience, common sense and commitment. We can support you and provide advice on training, if you are willing to listen and work with us. Cats may not need quite so much company, but will benefit enormously from being socialised. You also need a good sense of humour! Q. What if the animal doesn't fit into my home? A. A wide variety of foster homes are required, especially as some animals need to be placed without pets or children for social or medical reasons. We do make every effort to match the animal with the foster home, but as we rely on information that may not be accurate, or take in strays with no knowledge of their needs, things do occasionally go wrong. If this happens please let us know as soon as possible, as we can offer support and advice to help you cope until other arrangements can be made for your foster animal. Q. Don't you get attached to the pets you foster? A. This is a very natural reaction, considering the time and effort you have put in. The animal may be with you a while whilst the right home for them is found and they have become another member of the family. However, seeing an animal develop and grow into a pet that can lead a happy fulfilled life with someone else is worth all the heartache when they leave. If we kept all the animals we fostered, a much smaller number of them could be helped. Remember, there are so many unwanted and unloved pets just crying out for the opportunity to be fostered that could benefit from your time and home. Fostering is not easy as many of our animals, particularly the younger dogs and feral cats, may come with hang-ups and bad habits. Fostering helps us to find the right home, and prepare that animal to move on to a new rewarding life. You can feel proud that you have been a major factor in this. If you would like to know more, and are willing for someone to come to see you in your home, return to the main Foster page for contact details.