The Short-Term Foster Formula: Why a Temporary Home Changes Everything

Right now, countless dogs and cats in the Houston area are sitting in overcrowded shelters, facing an uncertain future. Fostering is one of the most direct and powerful ways you can make a difference. By opening your home for a short time, you become a lifesaving link in the chain of rescue. When you foster an animal, you are giving them far more than just a place to sleep. You are teaching them how to thrive when they are adopted by their forever family.

The Impact of Short-Term Fostering:

• Creating Life-Saving Space: Space is the deciding factor between life and death for many animals. Every one you foster creates space in a shelter, allowing RPM to rescue another pet from the euthanasia list. By fostering, you are saving two lives: the one you take home and the one that takes its place in our boarding facility.
• Healing and Decompression: Shelter life is noisy, stressful, and often frightening. In a home environment, animals can finally decompress, and recover from illnesses and trauma more quickly. Even a “sleepover” provides immense relief for an animal that has been confined to a crate.
• Building Skills and Confidence: Fosters are key to an animal’s social development. You teach them socialization, establish a routine, and help them build trust and confidence. These are the skills that make a pet an ideal companion.
• Gathering Key Information: Your daily observations, such as how the pet interacts with children, other animals, their favorite toys, and their energy level, provide vital details that RPM’s transport partners use to match them with the perfect adoptive family faster.

Can A Week Really Make A Difference?

The key word in the RPM foster program is temporary. All of the animals entering our program have a committed rescue partner in another state waiting for them, and many even have forever homes lined up! Every single day, hour, or night a pet spends in your care is a day they are safe, loved, and off the streets or out of an overcrowded shelter.

Benefits for YOU: The Foster Parent

While the impact on the animal is undeniable, fostering is a deeply rewarding experience for you, too!

• Flexible and Low Commitment: RPM is unique because of its short-term foster model. We work hard to match a pet to your schedule, with many stays lasting just days or a few weeks until transport day. If things are not working out with your foster, RPM has guaranteed flexibility. Unlike traditional models, we do not require open-ended commitments.
• Boost Your Well-Being: Studies show that interacting with pets can lower your stress, reduce blood pressure, and improve your overal health and mood. Fostering can also provide a sense of meaning and purpose.
• The Joy of Companionship: If you love animals but cannot have a pet due to travel or work restrictions, fostering is the perfect solution. You get all the joys of pet ownership without the commitment.

Myth-Busting: What’s Holding You Back?

Let’s look at some common concerns about fostering!

• “I don’t have time.” Even a weekend matters. RPM needs fosters for all timeframes. Hosting a dog or cat for one night gives them a break from the shelter. 
• “I’ll get too attached.” Getting attached is part of the beauty of fostering. That intense love is the measure of your success, proof you gave the animal everything they needed to heal and thrive! The sadness you feel when they leave is combined with the joy of knowing you saved their life and created space for the next pet in need. 
• “My home isn’t big enough.” Your home is bigger than a crate in a shelter. Animals only need a safe, secure space. A spare room, a large bathroom, or a corner of your living room is all it takes. The only requirements are safety, care, and love.
• “I don’t have pet supplies/can’t afford vet bills.” Fostering is free for you! RPM provides essential supplies for fosters, including food, crates, and bedding. We also cover all authorized medical expenses.

Take the Next Step: Join the RPM Foster Family!

Are you ready to be a hero for a deserving dog or cat? RPM is always seeking short-term fosters in the Houston area. 

How to Foster with RPM: 

Apply Online: Visit the RPM website and fill out the foster application under the “Foster” tab. 

Get Approved: Once your application is approved, you will be assigned a foster mentor. 

Meet Your Match: We will work with you to match a foster pet to your preferences (dog/cata, puppy/kitten, etc.) and your availability, keeping in mind their planned transport date. 

Save a Life: Provide love, care, and a safe place for a short time until it’s “Transport Day,” the day they head to their forever family!

One important thing to remember is that once you are in our foster program, you are not alone. We are all in this together! Your heart is filled with love for animals and our mission is to help you succeed! We need you and the animals need you!

Not Ready to Foster? You Can Still Help!

Volunteer: RPM always needs dedicated volunteers to help with animal care, transport coordination, and events. 

Donate: Monetary donations help cover the critical vetting, food, and transport costs for every pet we save.

Why I Foster…

Rescued Pets Movement

The Jack C. Alexander Building
2317 W 34th Street
Houston, TX 77018