Community cats, or cats who are avoidant of people and do not want to be indoor pets, live in their outdoor homes year-round, often with one or more caregivers looking out for them. Community cats are savvy and know their outdoor homes well, but there are still things caregivers can do to make them more comfortable in the hot summer months.

Hot Tip #1: Provide Fresh, Clean Water in a Shaded Location

Keep the bowl clean and refill it with fresh water daily, placing it in a shaded, out-of-the-way location where the cats can remain unobtrusive. This is a simple, easy way to ensure community cats have access to water during hot weather.

Hot Tip #2: Practice Good Colony Care Techniques

Hot Tip #3: Spay/Neuter and Vaccinate!

Community cats are individually healthier and better neighbors once they are spayed/neutered and vaccinated! No more roaming around looking for mates, nuisance behaviors like fighting and yowling are reduced/eliminated and female cats no longer have litters of kittens which can be draining!

Do you want to get involved in helping community cats through our Trap, Neuter, Return Program? Email us at animalshelter@fairfaxcounty.gov to learn how!

When it comes to foster programs at animal shelters, large dogs are generally more difficult to find fosters for than smaller dogs—including here at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. In this article, we are going to debunk some common misconceptions about fostering large dogs, which we hope will encourage you to consider fostering one!

Misconception 1: Large Dogs Need a Yard

While large dogs are, well, large, they do not necessarily need a yard in their foster (or adoptive) home! Every dog, regardless of size, is an individual, with individual activity preferences and needs. A yard of any size is a nice option, but taking a foster dog for walks is just as enjoyable! Walks are not only fun, they also provide mental stimulation and physical exercise. It is not about the size of space you have, it is about the quality of bonding time and the care you provide for a foster dog!

Misconception 2: Training a Large Dog is Difficult

Sometimes dogs come to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter with good leash skills, house training and basic obedience. And sometimes those skills could use some extra work! Training any dog, regardless of size, requires time, patience and consistency. We provide foster volunteers with information on what their foster dog may already know, and some tips to help build up other important skills if needed. The good thing about fostering is there is no pressure to complete a rigorous training regimen—foster dogs really just need a comfortable home with someone to care for them before they find a new adoptive family.

Misconception 3: Fostering a Large Dog is More Expensive

We make fostering easy and affordable! Our foster volunteers give a pet a temporary home, provide all the daily care they need, learn more about their behavior and personality, take lots of cute pictures, and we provide all their food, supplies and medical care.

Misconception 4: Large Dogs Are Harder to Care For

The kind of daily care required by any dog varies, regardless of size. At the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, dogs need a foster home for a variety of reasons. A dog may be recovering from a medical issue like a repair of a broken bone, on medication for an upper respiratory infection or waiting for their dental cleaning appointment. They may be pregnant, or nursing puppies. We also have dogs who are just a little overwhelmed and stressed by the shelter environment, who really benefit from a few days or weeks in a more relaxing home environment. Their care and daily routine will all be different depending on their individual needs, and we provide information up front as well as support along the way for our foster volunteers.

Misconception 5: Large Dogs Stay in Foster Homes for a Long Time

Some dogs do need longer stays in a foster home. This depends on their individual needs. At the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, we have long-term and short-term foster opportunities—even daytime dog foster opportunities through our Power Hour Program! Studies show that any time a dog is outside of the shelter is beneficial, and we offer daily opportunities from both our shelter campuses for foster volunteers to come pick up a shelter dog, to take them on a long walk.

Misconception 6: Large Dogs Are Harder to Find Homes For

This is not entirely a misconception—it can be harder for to find adoptive homes for large dogs. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as size or breed restrictions in apartments and rental properties, or because larger dogs can be stronger on leash. However, this is one reason why fostering large dogs is so important! The information gathered from a foster home can help us showcase a dog’s individual personality in a home setting to potential adopters—and cute pictures help, too!

Why Fostering Large Dogs Matters

Fostering large dogs, whether it is for a couple hours or a few weeks, gives them a break from the shelter environment and helps us learn more about them. And, it is fun! It is so rewarding to know that by going on a long walk, or taking a shelter dog into your home for a little while, you are helping them get ready for the rest of their life with their new adoptive family.

Are you interested in becoming a foster? Click here to learn more, and sign up for a New Foster Information Session to join our incredible team of foster volunteers!