In February 2021, Maddie’s® Fund conducted an online survey that collected information regarding foster care programs at animal shelters. The report primarily focused on brick-and-mortar shelters and asked about shelters’ intake and polices, pets sent to foster care, foster caregivers and their selection process, and opinions about foster care.
![Average number of pets that went to foster care in 2018 vs. 2020](https://blogs.cornell.edu/cornellsheltermedicine/files/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-16-at-7.14.11-PM-300x262.png)
The results focused on 2020 vs. the data that was collected in 2018. Key results include
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- Overall, the average number of pets who went to foster care was higher in 2020 versus 2018. There was a 20% increase for cats and a 7% increase for dogs.
- The number of active foster caregivers increased 108%. The average number of active foster caregivers for cats and dogs combined in 2018 was 57 and average total in 2020 was 119.
- Fewer shelters reported having a foster care program in 2020. In 2018, 875 (88.2%) of the 991 physical shelters reported having a foster program where homeless cats and/or dogs stay in volunteers’ homes for a day or longer. In 2020, 858 (78.7%) of the 1,090 organizations with physical shelters reported having a foster program.
There is a positive trend when it comes to shelters utilizing foster care in 2020, as well as the availability of foster caregivers. A repeat study is planned for 2022.
To read the survey report in its entirety go to: https://www.maddiesfund.org/assets/research/dog-and-cat-foster-survey2020.pdf
For more foster care resources visit: https://www.maddiesfund.org/foster-care-resources.htm