Fostering and the Human-Animal Bond: A Guide for Companion Animal Foster Care Providers and Shelters delves into the profound connection between humans and animals in animal fostering. Faced with capacity challenges, shelters often struggle to maintain animal health and welfare, sometimes leading to euthanasia. By examining various facets of the fostering experience, it provides essential information to improve volunteer recruitment and retention, ultimately benefiting both the animals and those who care for them. This comprehensive guide, written by an animal welfare expert, integrates interdisciplinary research from animal behavior, welfare, volunteerism, social work, and psychology.The book explores methods to enhance the emotional well-being of foster volunteers, their coping mechanisms, and the overall welfare of the animals, making it an invaluable resource for shelter professionals, foster coordinators, researchers, and students in related fields with its practical advice and insights to support and improve the fostering experience. - Highlights the practical applications of research into the human-animal bond for shelter animal welfare - Improves accessibility of research findings and visual models for academic and professional audiences - Provides links to programs recommended for implementation by animal shelters and rescues
Autorentext
Dr. Laura A. Reese currently serves as the director of the Global Urban Studies Program and is a professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Political Science at Michigan State University, United States. She received her PhD in political science from Wayne State University, United States. She has written and contributed to hundreds of journal articles and publications, and has coauthored more than 10 books to date. Dr. Reese has been a board member of the Humane Society of Livingston County, has provided shelter services research support to the Humane Society of Huron Valley, the Detroit Department of Health, and the Detroit Animal Care and Control. Dr. Reese has provided training for local officials on economic development and for shelter and animal control professionals on dog bite prevention and shelter practice.