1. My family is particular about dogs

Maybe your own pets only like certain pups or your kid is afraid of big dogs.As long as you've got a loving environment for a shelter pet, rescues can work with you to find the perfect match so you can foster a dog anyway. They don't want you to end up with a dog that won't work out any more than you do! Whether that means placing you with a hypoallergenic dog, a toddler-friendly one, a puppy or a senior, there's truly a foster dog for nearly any home situation.

2. Somebody else will take them on

Ever heard of the bystander effect? It refers to a phenomenon in which someone is in an emergency situation alongside other people, and they assume that someone else will help, so they choose to do nothing.The bigger the crowd, the less likely that each individual is willing to personally help. Although there are already lots of great people fostering dogs, there are never really enough because every single person has the ability to help another dog! Even if you foster a dog that someone else may have been willing to take, you've just freed up that person to save yet another animal!

3.I don't have the spaceor the money to foster a dog

Short on space – Have you even seen a chihuahua before?! They're one of the most popular breeds in animal shelters, and some can be as small as 3 pounds full-grown! If you can offer a dog anything from a corner of the kitchen to a guest bathroom to hang out in, you can save a life! Short on cash– Most animal shelters and rescues will cover medical costs for their foster dogs, and some are also able to provide supplies like food, crates, dog beds, and more!Plus, you can involve your family, friends and neighbors, too! Once you tell people you're fostering a cute dog, many will be happy to donate supplies to your cause.

4.It's too hard to say goodbye

Yes, it's hard to say goodbye. There's a good chance that on your foster dog's adoption day, you'll cry all morning so you'll have time to get it together before he gets picked up to go home. But, you know what? When you've found the perfect adoptive family, the sadness you'll feel for losing your foster dog from your life is overcome by the happiness you'll feel knowing that it's the first day of the rest of his life in a FOREVER home.

5.I don't know where to start

Well, why didn't you say so? If you live in Austin, Texas, you can foster for the city shelter (Austin Animal Center), the main rescue (Austin Pets Alive) or any of the smaller private rescues like Austin Dog Rescue or breed-specific ones. Otherwise, check out pet finder's list of rescue organization's across the country and contact a few close to where you live. You could start saving dog lives in no time!