By Maddie Aicher, Volunteer Coordinator

Fostering provides many of our animals with the opportunity to heal, decompress and relax away from the shelter environment. While we do our best to provide them with a stress-free experience as they wait to be adopted, we know that our residents are much happier when provided with an opportunity to live in a foster home during this time. Whether we’re working on resolving a medical or behavioral issue, raising young babies, helping animals from humane cases or simply providing them with a safe place to stay for a while, fostering truly saves lives. But don’t just take our word for it – read what our fosters have to say! To become an Animal Friends Foster, email Volunteering@ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org.

	“This guy, Skittles, lived with me for a few months to learn how to eat the right food in a structured environment for lifesaving medical reasons. He protested regularly, but happy to say he is doing well today!” – Marsha K.
“Fostering not only helps to keep our residents out of the kennel long-term, but also increases their chance for adoption by helping us learn more about them! Plus, we get to expand their worldview and provide unique enrichment experiences by taking them on our incredible local adventures … and snuggling up at the end of each night is the BEST!” – Peyton W.
	“Having foster kittens and cats at home helps them socialize and prepare to be part of their future adoptive families. Fostering allows our family to enjoy the ‘cuteness overload’ of these little fluffy friends.” – Alejandra B.
“Fostering not only allows us to save more lives … it lets you raise kitten after kitten after kitten.” – Erin B.
	“Fostering provides valuable information for shelter staff as well as potential adopters. How does this animal do in a home? Eating and sleeping habits? Play style? Any issues? Fostering is an incredibly selfless thing to do yet absolutely lifesaving.” – Debbie V.
“Fostering helps in medical situations and allows the foster to really get to know the dog so they can successfully be placed in their happy ever after!” – Marcy F.
	“I love fostering because you get to have the sweetest little faces greet you at the door when you come home from work! I also love fostering because bringing home a younger pup helped bring a new energized level to my old man puppy! They became besties!” – Emilee A.
“I love to foster because I like to talk to potential adopters about my foster specifically and why they are so special. I also enjoy helping a tough animal calm down and find their forever home.” – Erin G.
	“Now he is living the life with his amazing adopter. Fostering saves lives.” – Natalie S.