Growing up I had childhood pets which I loved and cared for as much as possible. One of the most exciting parts of any day was coming home and see big goofy smiles on their faces as they jumped up and down with pure joy. Now, living on my own at 19, it seems like the most exciting part of my day is coming home to take a five-hour nap.

This is just one of the reasons that I began to ponder how much of a positive impact a pet could truly make on my life. While I recognized that there are endless expenses and long-term commitments, I still had a gut need for companionship. I believed there had to be a way that I could use my time to care for another individual rather than just sitting in my room binge-watching Netflix Originals.

A dog would not only provide me with the motivation to get up and walk around my neighborhood during the day, but also just keep my home from feeling so lonely. Adopting seemed like a very bad idea since I don't have any idea where life after college is going to take me, nor do I have any form of a steady income. Where could I turn from here?

*Foster Parenting*

Researching local shelters (which are all surprisingly active on Facebook), I was shocked to see just how packed they really are. Sad ABC Family movies don't truly put enough emphasis on how many pets are dropped off at doorsteps or found in dumpsters. In one week alone, 225 abandoned animals were brought into the care of one shelter in Tallahassee. I was shocked.

After reading a post from Cauzican Care on Facebook pleading for foster families to step up, the maternal instincts I never knew I had kicked into overdrive. I asked every question and filled out every form to discover that fostering a pet is free. This sounds completely ridiculous at first, being that just about everyone wants to spend their time with puppies, but it's true!

Shelters will provide food, crates, harnesses, collars, leashes, you name it! They also cover medical bills to ensure your foster pet is healthy through the whole process. This started to make sense once I began talking to foster parents and their dogs. Opening your home to a foster pet is really volunteering your living space and affection to a shelter one animal at a time. By providing the one-on-one care that friendly pups need, you are also opening up room for more animals to get off the streets and into loving arms.

The entirety of fostering an animal should be spent actively looking for a "forever home" on the part of the shelter and yourself. I would never consider taking a temporary companion only to prolong its stay for selfish reasons.

Please reach out to your local animal shelters and ask for details about opening up your home to a lonely dog! (If you're a cat person the same rules apply.) With costs covered and love needed, this is the perfect opportunity for college kids and full families alike. A cute house guest just might be the best thing that's happened in a while!