We are putting together a little database of our current foster carers and wonder if anyone who fosters for us or who would like to would send their details…phone number and what you would be available for eg. long/short term, dogs/cats, where you live and if you have pets already.
We generally look for a foster where a dog or cat isn’t quite able for the shelter due to health reasons, being nervous, needing extra tlc, older dogs, young kittens etc. When we know in advance who might be available in that area, it can be a great help to get a dog or cat sorted straight away.
What exactly fostering entails:
You would be taking a cat or dog into your home and caring for them until they find their forever home. Sometimes a foster home suits an animal better than the shelter. This might be because they aren’t in the best of health and need some extra TLC and home comforts. It might because the volunteers in the shelter would like to find out about the animal’s needs before advertising for a home, or in the case of puppies or kittens, it could be to nurture them and get them used to household and family life until they are ready to be rehomed.
Sometimes it could be an emergency. A dog or cat has been found in your area and needs shelter and this might be short term until other arrangements are made or until their owner is found.
When you foster an animal, the shelter will provide anything you need and arrange all vet appointments for the animal. If you are in a position to bring the animal to their appointments (if there are any) that’s great.
On the form on the Contact Us page of our website, we ask if people have experience of fostering but it’s not essential to have prior fostering experience. We also ask if people have experience of newborn or very young animals in need of bottle feeding because this experience can be invaluable to us when a baby animal needs urgent help.
Fostering is a really rewarding experience. You are directly helping an animal to be ready to live in a permanent home and showing them that humans can be trusted.
Thank you very much in advance!
