Paws for Thought: Fostering with Pets
Miley, ready for walkies!
Tim here, meet Miley (my family’s pet) – a supposed ‘labradoodle’ but we think she was genetically engineered from a child’s drawing of a dog?
She’s looking rather disappointed as we’ve just bypassed going to her favourite place - but more of that later.
I was chatting to someone recently who was interested in fostering, but wondered whether having a dog would be problematic.
I firstly shared that it often feels that the majority of fostering households have a pooch, and went on to explain dogs can have a hugely positive impact on fostered children for several reasons, namely:
Dogs provide unconditional love and companionship, which can be comforting for children who have experienced trauma or instability.
Their presence can really help fostered children feel more secure and less lonely.
Furthermore, interacting with dogs can lower stress and anxiety levels. Petting a dog can be calming and help reduce the emotional burden children in foster care may carry.
Fostered children often struggle with trust due to past experiences. A dog’s consistent affection and non-judgmental nature can help rebuild their ability to form trusting relationships, and taking part in the care of a dog gives children a sense of responsibility and accomplishment, which can boost self-esteem and provide a structured routine.
The natural affection dogs show can also be a genuine source of comfort during difficult times, offering physical warmth and emotional closeness, which is particularly beneficial for children who may missed out on such bonds.
Of course, much does depend on the dog’s personality and breed traits. That’s why fostering agencies will undertake a thorough assessment of any pet, to ensure a child can be successfully matched to the family. For example, some larger dogs may be wonderfully friendly but just not suited for small children simply because of their clumsiness, but for an older child a larger dog could be perfect.
So, whilst assessing any potential risk is an important task, having a dog is certainly no bar to fostering.
Remember I mentioned how Miley liked her pond?
Well, this is what happens…
Never mind ‘labradoodle’ – more ‘otter-doodle!’
not today Miley – not today…
Whilst we’ve mainly discussed the potential benefits of dogs within a fostering setting, the same can be said for other pets; contact us to discuss further!