How to foster cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils & more for FREE

If you're an animal lover without an animal to love... there is a solution. Many people don't feel they're ready to commit to a pet for its lifetime, whether for financial reasons or uncertainty about the future. But fostering a pet can help you find a (temporary) furry friend, as well as help out a charity. Even better, in most cases you won't need to pay a penny, as vet bills plus equipment and even food costs are covered.


Read the full blog: How to foster cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils & more for FREE
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Comments

  • tiz
    tiz Posts: 107 Forumite
    Any chance you could edit to include all the other assistance dog charities? They all have different catchments and slightly different requirements for their fosterers so if Guide Dogs doesn't work for you there is also Hearing Dogs, Dogs for Good, Medical Detection Dogs, Dog AID, Canine Partners and Support Dogs that work very similarly: https://www.assistancedogs.org.uk/members/


    I have a foster puppy at the moment for Hearing Dogs :) We choose them because they use some smaller breeds like spaniels and cockerpoos that fit our family better :)
  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 35,508 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I temporarily fostered a dog. The one I swore I wasn't keeping because he was such hard work. Six years on and he's still here.
    The failed fosters club is alive and well and something all potential fosters should be aware of.
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • BelovedRabbits charity in the central belt of Scotland are a great charity who need more foster carers (especially indoor foster carers) for rabbits waiting to be adopted. The charity supply equipment and pay for vet bills, you only pay for their food / bedding and transport.

    They're a great bunch of really supportive people :)
  • I never knew! I would love to have a rabbit which is all I am probably up to now, my Dad says the lawns getting too much work for him and I could do with some hugs. Such a shame there isn't any at the moment I will keep my eye out thank you XXXXX
  • KxMx
    KxMx Posts: 10,971 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 12 August 2020 at 1:04PM
    I did enquire about fostering kittens last year with most local organisation but unfortunately all local organisations require you to have a car and a spare room no matter the animal. After my sound rejection with one I didn't even enquire with the others as they all have the same criteria and are further away from me. 

    No negotiation and they wouldn't even visit to assess what I was offering. The space admittedly isn't ideal but I'd have had the kittens out daily for hours and hours in living room (carpet/furniture all old & worn) but was firmly rejected before I could even discuss a plan or send photos /measurements. 

    Blue Cross was looking locally for doggie bed & breakfast placements which I would love to do but again no car no consideration. 

    Of course they all still advertise about how desperately they need foster carers! 
  • donnac2558
    donnac2558 Posts: 3,634 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I never knew! I would love to have a rabbit which is all I am probably up to now, my Dad says the lawns getting too much work for him and I could do with some hugs. Such a shame there isn't any at the moment I will keep my eye out thank you XXXXX
    You do know that rabbits are prey animals and hate being on their own?  No guarantee you will get one that likes being handled.
    Oh, yes they do eat grass and will dig holes all over the lawn.

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