Research sheds light on motivations of foster caregivers

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With the increase in animals entering shelters in the United States, these shelters are filling to capacity.¹ In 2023, shelters and rescues received 6.5 million cats and dogs.¹ To combat the animal shelter crisis, many shelters have introduced foster care programs. With these programs, animals are placed in the homes of volunteers who offer temporary accommodation. Given the rise in foster care programs, Lauren Powell, PhD, researcher and lecturer of Animal Welfare and Behavior at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, led a study on the motivations of foster caregivers.²

The cross-sectional study, titled “Understanding the Motivations of Foster Caregivers at Animal Shelters,” researchers evaluated the motivations and expectations of 131 foster caregivers from 5 US shelters who filled out a pre-foster survey between March 2022 and March 2023. The study found that the primary motivations for fostering were often related to animals or community. This included wanting to offer love to animals or contribute positively to the community. Researchers used ordinal logistic regression models to examine the relationships between caregivers' motivations and factors such as their previous foster experience, history of pet ownership, age, gender, and species of the fostered animals.³

The study, sponsored by Purina, revealed that^2,3:

• 18- to 29-year-old caregivers were most likely to seek companionship, emotional support, and wish to meet other community members through fostering. This age group often viewed fostering as a step towards adoption.
• Those aged 30 to 39 years value the physical activity involved with fostering and has a desire to care for a pet without the long-term commitment of ownership. This age group also sought companionship and emotional support.
• Foster caregivers more than 50-years-old were less driven by personal benefits compared to younger groups. This age group primarily focused on the positive impact fostering has on shelter animals.
• Male caregivers were less likely to foster for emotional support than females
• Non-pet-owners had a higher likelihood of fostering for companionship, emotional support, or to avoid full-time responsibilities of pet ownership
• Pet owners might already get the companionship and emotional support they need from their existing pets, so they might not be looking for those benefits when they decide to foster
• Dog foster caregivers were more likely to foster for companionship and exercise. In contrast, cat foster caregivers did not have these expectations.

“This study provides a better understanding of the motivations and expectations of foster caregivers and hopes to aid shelters to recruit foster care volunteers more effectively in the future,” wrote the authors of the study.³

References

1. Bautista-Alejandre A. New report reveals shelter pet adoption data. dvm360. July 29, 2024. Accessed August 12, 2024.https://www.dvm360.com/view/new-report-reveals-shelter-pet-adoption-data
2. Purina-sponsored research unveils dual benefits of animal foster care programs. News release. August 6, 2024. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/purina-sponsored-research-unveils-dual-benefits-of-animal-foster-care-programs-302214893.html
3. Ackerman R, Watson B, Serpell J, Reinhard CL, Powell L. Understanding the motivations of foster caregivers at animal shelters. Animals. 2023;13(17):2694. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13172694