For many associations, it's not easy to take care of their little protegees, as not all of them have premises or shelters. Fortunately, there is another alternative: foster families.

Foster families take in animals according to their capacity. Certain criteria are essential, such as a garden (for certain dogs), a plot of land or even an isolated room for animals that need to be quarantined.

The family or person who takes on this role must also be committed to caring for the animal, teaching it things it may not have learned in its previous home, and sometimes even feeding young animals too young to feed themselves.

But there's more to fostering than that: it's also about seeing the animal's evolution, congratulating yourself on its achievements, giving it a foretaste of the love it will receive in its next family, and offering it a bright future.

One of the many advantages of being a foster family is that the cost of the animal is covered by the association. So it's a way of being able to look after an animal if your financial means don't allow you to have one.

It's also a way to judge whether or not a particular type of animal is right for you, and to answer the questions that everyone asks before taking the plunge: can I take care of an animal? How much does it cost? How much attention or time do I have to give it?

The animal will stay with you for a limited time (even if it's not definite), but you may fall in love with it and want to keep it with you.

In addition to the financial benefits, you'll also be helping out a cause that's close to your heart. Associations are sadly overburdened with work, and adding a stone to the edifice isn't too much to ask.

Volunteering for this mission also means helping an animal to have a better chance of finding a family for life. The love and stability you'll give it will make it feel better in its paws, and therefore more attractive to a future adopter, and according to the testimonials of many foster families, the feeling of having helped a loulou blossom is wonderful.

Testimony of Vanessa, foster family since 2018:

"Initially, I became a foster family for a pregnant chattoune. A friend of mine who was a member of an association was having great difficulty finding a family to take her in, and this poor mother-to-be on the streets really needed a safe place to give birth.

Nothing complicated, I filled in a form, signed a contract committing me to take care of the animal and above all to return it when an adopter came along. Even though, in the end, I was the one who adopted him. A visit to my apartment was all it took, and I had a spare room which I had to convert into a cat flap, with the help of the association. The association took care of all the catoune's medical expenses when her babies were born. I took care of the food, even though the association wanted to pay for it, because it was my way of helping.

After 4 months, the kittens left and Kitty stayed with me under an association contract.

I then took in dogs, I now live in a house with a garden and I'm used to dogs (all my childhood pets came from adoptions) I took in some loulous who had had very complicated beginnings, but I fell in love with each of them in some way.

The hardest part of taking in animals you know are destined to go home is just that: seeing them go. But the families contact me after the adoption, give me news and hear them tell me how wonderful the new member of the family is, it's the best gift of all, because I know they've come a long way and I tell myself that, in a way, it's also thanks to me that they're doing well now!

Today, I regularly hear from the loulous who have stayed with me, and they're happy, warm and loved. They've stayed with me for a while, but they're still part of my life.

If you want to give it a try, don't hesitate! The associations are very helpful when you have the slightest doubt, and they will entrust you with animals that are compatible with your lifestyle or even your home. For my part, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I were approached again, I have nothing but good memories and wonderful encounters."

Associations and shelters do an extraordinary job every day, a colossal job, and despite their desire to do their best, they need help! They need foster families to enable them to help as many animals in need as possible.

The warmth of a home is much more beneficial to them than a cold cubicle. They'll learn to become perfect little companions and will give it back to you in the best possible way. And....you're not immune to having a crush either ❤️.