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Quarantine Mental Health – Animal Fostering

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I hope the isolation isn’t getting to you too much. I know that for people like me, the lack of social interaction and to some degree, the loss of a sense of purpose is particularly difficult to cope with.

Which is why I’ve been stepping up my volunteering. We work in shifts and take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus while still helping the animals that need to be helped. While I do enjoy doing helping them and the community, it would be better if there were fewer animals to take care of. Fewer animals in our shelter means more volunteers can stay home to further prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

That’s where you come in – the bored/lonely/sad person browsing the internet searching for mental health help.

Your time and willingness to take an animal into your home could mean one less volunteer needed to run the shelter. It could mean one less person being infected. It could save someone’s life.

But you searched for information on mental health during isolation. How does fostering an animal help you?

  • You’ll have company from a grateful doggo or cat
  • A sense of purpose – looking after an animal, especially one without a home, is very rewarding
    • trust me you’ll feel good about it 🙂
  • No need to feel guilty if you end up returning the animal once things calm down
  • You might end up loving your new pet so much that you adopt!

Contact local shelters and volunteer to foster a dog or cat. We would love the help. Your commitment keeps us safer and the animals looked after.

If you are unsure of your desire to keep the pet I really must stress fostering and not adopting. The last thing we want is a huge influx of returned adoptees or abandoned dogs and cats. The burden of ownership is lifted when you foster.

If you do end up fostering or adopting, check out our new puppy guide. Although it’s titled for puppies, most of the products listed would still be required for an older dog.

Thanks for reading. Look after yourself, look after your animals, and stay safe.

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