Fostering: how it works and why we need it
Every summer we take in kittens who are far too small for a shelter. They need feeding every three hours, warmth and quiet – and in a building full of barking and changing faces we simply cannot provide that. That is why we have a network of foster carers. This year there are nineteen of them, and without them we could not have saved many of these animals.
What fostering means
A foster carer takes an animal home for a limited time, usually from two weeks to three months. The animal stays registered with the shelter, and we cover vet care, food and any equipment needed. You provide the most valuable part: a home, time and attention.
Who we place in foster care
Orphaned kittens who cannot yet eat on their own.
Dogs and cats recovering from surgery.
Animals who are stressed in a kennel and need a calmer environment.
Seniors for whom a winter in the kennel block is needlessly hard.
How it works
First we meet and talk about your situation – whether you have other pets or children, and how much time you spend at home. Based on that we choose a suitable animal. You get food, a bed, a carrier if needed and the number of a keeper you can call even at weekends. Every so often the animal comes back for a check-up with our vet.
Foster carers also help us get to know the animal. We learn whether a cat uses a scratching post, how a dog copes with being alone, or whether it gets on with children. That kind of information is priceless for future owners.
What we need from you
You don’t need a house with a garden. For kittens one quiet room is enough; for a dog after surgery, a flat without lots of stairs. What matters more is time – especially in the first days while the animal settles in – and a willingness to keep us posted on how it is doing. A short message and a photo every few days is plenty.
Won’t you miss them?
You will. Saying goodbye is part of fostering, and none of us pretends it is easy. But most carers tell us that a photo from the new home makes it worth it. And if you fall in love with your foster, you get first refusal on adoption.
Interested? Get in touch through the form in the How to help section, or drop by during opening hours.
Photo: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons