Many people have heard of halfway houses for stray dogs. Whether it's a halfway house or a foster home, they can both be referred to as "halfway". So, what do these halfway houses do? Simply put, they are temporary residences or transit stations for stray dogs and cats before they are adopted. In these halfway houses, unlike shelters, a family typically cares for only one or two stray dogs, providing them with better living space and environment. Additionally, the dogs can receive socialization training in these halfway houses, which effectively increases their chances of being adopted.
Most people might think that only shelters, restaurants (like "Lang Lang Don't Cry"), or organizations like "Love Dad, Love Mom" can become halfway houses. However, as long as you have the willingness and a kind heart, you can apply to become a volunteer for a halfway house through relevant organizations. Below, we will introduce organizations that offer applications for halfway volunteers and discuss the conditions and preparations needed to apply for a stray dog halfway house.
TCASA: Supporting Companion Animals in Taiwan
Taiwan Companion Animal Support Association (TCASA) has a sanctuary called "Inu-Sanju" on the hills of Taichung's Shalu area, where over 200 stray dogs are cared for. Unlike other animal welfare groups or shelters for stray dogs, TCASA focuses on providing care for many elderly and even paralyzed strays, making their care particularly challenging.
While the general public can support TCASA through donations or purchasing charity products, they can also apply to become foster caregivers to contribute to the well-being of these dogs. For those unable to volunteer at shelters or foster dogs, purchasing charity calendars is another way to help these strays.
TSPCA: Taiwan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Taiwan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA) primarily focuses on investigating animal cruelty cases and promoting animal welfare education. However, another crucial aspect of their work is animal adoption. In addition to rescuing animals from cruelty cases and finding suitable adoptive families, the TSPCA also works with public shelters and private kennels to adopt out animals. Therefore, they greatly need foster families to help in this process.
Since many of the rescued animals may have experienced improper care or abuse, the role of foster families is vital. They help these animals understand that humans are not harmful and assist them in becoming accustomed to family life. This preparation is essential for their future adoption and integration into a new home. Alongside rescuing and investigating animal cruelty cases, adoption is a significant part of the TSPCA's mission.
PACK Sanctuary Taiwan: A Haven for Stray Dogs
Established in 2016 in Sanjhih, New Taipei City, PACK Sanctuary Taiwan, also known as "PACK - Home for Stray Dogs", has not only provided care and shelter for numerous stray dogs but has also developed an innovative system called "PACK Preparatory School". This program assesses, trains, socializes, and matches stray dogs with suitable families through a comprehensive process that includes mid-term internships and adoption pairing.
Since some stray dogs have never experienced family life, the mid-term foster homes play a crucial role in the training curriculum of the PACK Preparatory School. PACK requires two types of foster families:
- Behavior Observation: Foster families observe and assess the behavior of stray dogs in their homes for 2-4 weeks, reporting the dog's status weekly.
- Waiting for Adoption: Once trained and ready for adoption, dogs are placed in foster homes until a suitable adoptive family is found.
Beyond local adoptions, PACK also facilitates international adoptions, helping stray dogs find warm homes abroad.
Stray Animal Garden: A Haven for Forgotten Pets
The Stray Animal Garden is a well-established animal welfare organization that has been around even longer than some other groups like Zhang Mama's Stray Animal Home. Over the years, they have successfully rehomed many stray dogs and cats. However, they greatly need volunteers to help with their mission. Unlike other animal welfare groups or shelters, the Stray Animal Garden Association does not have a physical shelter. Therefore, they rely heavily on foster families to provide temporary care for the animals until they find their forever homes. In addition to offering a temporary resting place, foster homes also help socialize the animals, making them more adaptable to family life.
The Stray Animal Garden's Facebook page often features many adorable strays waiting to be adopted. Their efforts focus on giving these animals a chance at a happy life, and they continue to seek support from the community to achieve this goal.
Requirements for Becoming a Foster Home
To become a foster home for animals, the most important qualities you need are a love for animals and patience. Many of the animals you will care for may have never experienced family life before, so they require a long adjustment period. This means foster homes need to provide love and patience to help these animals socialize. Additionally, you should have a certain level of financial capability, sufficient space, and a good environment to accommodate and care for these animals.
Having experience in pet care or previous volunteer work is beneficial, but not necessary. If you lack experience, some organizations offer foster care courses to teach you how to care for these animals. Alternatively, you can start by volunteering at an animal shelter to learn about caring for stray animals.
Conclusion
If you want to help stray dogs beyond donating, consider applying for a foster home if you have the capability. This provides substantial support to both stray dogs and animal shelters. Apart from the animal welfare groups and dog shelters mentioned, there are certainly other organizations actively recruiting foster homes. Each organization has different application conditions and offers varying levels of assistance. It's advisable to review these details carefully and assess your situation before applying to be a foster home volunteer. If you're capable, you're welcome to become a foster home and contribute to helping stray animals.
