[Munccoughe]

And don't forget the monetary commitment of fostering either! Even when going through a rescue to foster, many don't have the funds to provide food, toys, and little things like that even if the big things like vet care and parasite prevention are covered.

I recently fostered a little stray on my own for six months. He has found a wonderful home that paid a decent adoption fee. He is healthy as a horse, so only required bare bones vet care like neuter and shots, which I did through a clinic and aside from that only had to get a collar/leash, tug toy, cone of shame, and good food. I still lost a lot of money despite the adoption fee, which is fine because you don't do stuff like that for the money and I was well aware going into it. I did not factor in my opportunity cost for all the training I did either, spent hours on that little booger head. He wasn't even potty trained when I took him in and he left with all the basic groundwork he needed for his new home to pick right up and be able to start agility foundation work once he's all settled. Just thought it'd be worth telling since that might be something not considered when faced with a cute dog (or three) in need of a foster home.

And keep in mind that my foster was a highly adoptable young mini Aussie.... it still took six months to find the right home. A pit bull often takes MUCH longer to find the right home for. Some are in foster for YEARS.

My second dog Scout started out as a foster too. It was me or the shelter and I knew they'd euth her, which is sad because she's very sweet and no threat. You don't even want to know the ridiculous amounts of time and money that have gone into that damn dog since I've had her. A big reason I finally gave up and admitted that she's going to stay mine forever is well we're both very bonded to each other, but mainly all the interested people I screened gave answers to my basic questions that showed me I can't trust anyone but myself to do right by her. So she stays.