Local Leash: Fostered Pets -- A Perfect Adoption Alternative

While cages are lined with homeless dogs and cats at places like Pawsibilities Humane Society of Greater Akron and Summit County Animal Control, there are hundreds of other local pets waiting for homes who are actually already in homes.

These pets are being fostered temporarily until their perfect family finds them. You just have to start looking!

Many people prefer to adopt from the pound only, for good reason. Those animals are on death row. Animal control picks up stray animals accepts surrenders, and needs to have a quick turnover. Those who don't find homes quickly, are euthanized to make way for the new dogs and cats coming in every single day.

Adopting from a no time limit shelter, like Pawsibilities, is also a great option. It supports shelters that are up to their elbows in cats, dogs, rabbits and birds, vowing to care for those animals for as long as it takes.

The downside? Taking a pet from cage to home is sometimes a process.

When adopting from the pound, little is known about the pet's personality and often nothing is known about its history. The adoption is a leap of faith, and can take thick skin if problems arise after bringing the animal home.

When adopting from a no time limit shelter, more is known about the pet's personality, but how the animal behaves in a shelter setting might not shed enough light on how it may behave in a home with a family.

Adopting a fostered animal could be the perfect alternative to plucking an animal from a cage:

You're still saving a pet

All shelters get their pets in a variety of ways. No matter what the animal's past, you're still helping to save homeless pets when you adopt. But many rescue organizations that foster out pets, rescued the animals from the pound.

So, you get the joy of knowing a dog or cat's life was spared with the added benefit of knowing a little bit more about them before you blindly bring them home. Recycling at its best!

You can visit the animal at its temporary home

If you are looking for a pet with a certain type of personality to fit into your lifestyle, seeing a pet in a home setting can tell you more about them.

You can see first-hand how the pet lives day to day once settled into a home. You also might see how the pet interacts with children or other pets, and how he reacts to you--a stranger--when you come to the door.

Sometimes, meetings can happen at the organization offices or possibly even your own home, if appropriate.

Ask all the questions you want

The foster parent likely knows the answer. Does he know any tricks? Does she cry at night? Will she claw the furniture? Is he obedient?

The foster parent has the potential to know much more than a shelter representative.

Potentially less mysterious health status

Yes, all shelters treat their pets for the most part. But if an animal is just sitting in a cage, any changes that might hint at a health concern might be less noticeable. The pet might even be unintentionally overlooked at times if the shelter is very busy.

In a home setting, it will likely be more apparent if an animal isn't feeling well. The foster parent is then free to take the pet to the vet, because the foster organization pays for all health care.

Potentially better training

In a foster situation, the foster parent loves their fosters, but they still want them to find a permanent, loving homes. That means, if there are any issues keeping the pet from being seen as highly adoptable, the foster parent works on that issue every day. This might include separation anxiety or socialization issues.

Sometimes, animals that are now in cages at a shelter like Pawsibilities were previously fostered, so more is known about the pet's personality and how it gets along with others. If you are looking at a caged pet, inquire on whether or not it was ever fostered and see if you can talk to the former foster parent.

If you're looking to adopt and think a fostered pet might be the best option for you, consider these organizations:

• Northeast Ohio Rottweiler Rescue -- Fairlawn
• Golden Treasures, Golden Retriever Rescue -- Bath 

• Humane Society of Greater Akron - Twinsburg.

•  - Cuyahoga Falls.

• One of a Kind Pet Rescue - Akron.

• Rose's Rescue - No physical address, fosters only.

• Forever Friends Foundation - Fosters only.                                                                                                                             

In next week's column, we'll look into the life of a local foster parent. We'll learn how she got into fostering, what it's been like to have over 55 different pets in her home in just four years, and how some of her fosters turned into family when she just had to adopt them herself.