Anyone who has ever had a pet knows the responsibility that goes along with it — after all, you are taking care of another living creature.

As we learned in the Thursday, Oct. 31, edition of the Butler Eagle, there are ways to help care for an animal without the long-term commitment of adoption.

As Cari Ciancio, executive director of the Butler County Humane Society, explained, the foster program the shelter runs helps both the animals and the shelter itself.

Fosters can take a dog or cat home, which helps animal escape the stress of being in a kennel, and it offers more space for other animals.

Laurel Macher is part of the foster program and she explained why she took part.

“I've always wanted to help the shelter, but I have my own dog. I feel wrong leaving my dog to go give other dogs attention,” she said. “At least with fostering, I can still give them attention and have my dog.”

Fostering an animal can also help it find a permanent home. A dog or cat will act differently in the shelter than in a home, so fostering can be a test-run.

In addition to helping see how an animal behaves in a home and reducing the stress of being in a kennel, a foster home can help the humane society with other information.

If the foster parent already has another animal, for example, a meet-and-greet can help see how well the two will get along.

“It gives us more information to provide to the adoptive family for that animal,” Ciancio explained.

Fostering an animal can be rewarding for both the human and the animal, and it also takes the burden off a nonprofit.

For more information about fostering an animal, contact the Butler County Humane Society at 724-789-1150.

— JK