FOSTERERS PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES

[jennyc]

People often like to know what they're getting into so if you're fostering now or have fostered in the past please let us know.

[Pebs]

Hi :-)

I've been fostering for nearly 2 years for a wonderful charity called four paws animal rescue (south Wales), we came across these whilst looking to adopt, we had been to RSPCA, dogs trust etc and had never heard of fostering. I spotted four paws on the Internet and instantly lovedthe fact that they use foster homes, all dog are neutered/spayed before rehoming, they only use reward based training and they save dogs from being put to sleep from the local Pounds. We instantly became drawn to fostering so after a family
Meeting decided to give it a go, we had our interview and said that because I had a 7 year old I wanted hand ins only, no bull breeds and no puppies, well 2 years on we've had every kind of dog and age u can think of, we started becoming rescue midwives last April, Sinead was rescued and 10 days later gave birth to 6 beautiful pup, then came Mimi a staffie cross who was handed in with her litter of 7, 1 day old pups and then in December we had Bonnie, a beagle girl that had been handed in to the pound, she was about 7 years old and very pregnant, 3 weeks later she gave birth to 10 pups, 8 survived and now have wonderful homes x in just 2 years we have rescued, rehomed, cared for over 60 unwanted dogs and in the process found our own 2 permanent family members :-) x fostering completes me, it s hard work but the most rewarding thing I and my family have ever done, being with the rescue has introduced me to lots of People and I have made some Lovely friends, fostering has taught my children that life is Precious no Matter if it's human or Animal. Please consider fostering, the love and joy a rescue dog can give u is priceless an seeing them trot off to that wonderful new home u have found for them is magical.

[raggiedoll]

Mar 14, 2012 11:08:33 GMT @Pebs said:

Hi :-)

I've been fostering for nearly 2 years for a wonderful charity called four paws animal rescue (south Wales), we came across these whilst looking to adopt, we had been to RSPCA, dogs trust etc and had never heard of fostering. I spotted four paws on the Internet and instantly lovedthe fact that they use foster homes, all dog are neutered/spayed before rehoming, they only use reward based training and they save dogs from being put to sleep from the local Pounds. We instantly became drawn to fostering so after a family
Meeting decided to give it a go, we had our interview and said that because I had a 7 year old I wanted hand ins only, no bull breeds and no puppies, well 2 years on we've had every kind of dog and age u can think of, we started becoming rescue midwives last April, Sinead was rescued and 10 days later gave birth to 6 beautiful pup, then came Mimi a staffie cross who was handed in with her litter of 7, 1 day old pups and then in December we had Bonnie, a beagle girl that had been handed in to the pound, she was about 7 years old and very pregnant, 3 weeks later she gave birth to 10 pups, 8 survived and now have wonderful homes x in just 2 years we have rescued, rehomed, cared for over 60 unwanted dogs and in the process found our own 2 permanent family members :-) x fostering completes me, it s hard work but the most rewarding thing I and my family have ever done, being with the rescue has introduced me to lots of People and I have made some Lovely friends, fostering has taught my children that life is Precious no Matter if it's human or Animal. Please consider fostering, the love and joy a rescue dog can give u is priceless an seeing them trot off to that wonderful new home u have found for them is magical.

THnak you so much for sharing ;D

[penny2449]

Mar 14, 2012 11:08:33 GMT @Pebs said:

Hi :-)

I've been fostering for nearly 2 years for a wonderful charity called four paws animal rescue (south Wales), we came across these whilst looking to adopt, we had been to RSPCA, dogs trust etc and had never heard of fostering. I spotted four paws on the Internet and instantly lovedthe fact that they use foster homes, all dog are neutered/spayed before rehoming, they only use reward based training and they save dogs from being put to sleep from the local Pounds. We instantly became drawn to fostering so after a family
Meeting decided to give it a go, we had our interview and said that because I had a 7 year old I wanted hand ins only, no bull breeds and no puppies, well 2 years on we've had every kind of dog and age u can think of, we started becoming rescue midwives last April, Sinead was rescued and 10 days later gave birth to 6 beautiful pup, then came Mimi a staffie cross who was handed in with her litter of 7, 1 day old pups and then in December we had Bonnie, a beagle girl that had been handed in to the pound, she was about 7 years old and very pregnant, 3 weeks later she gave birth to 10 pups, 8 survived and now have wonderful homes x in just 2 years we have rescued, rehomed, cared for over 60 unwanted dogs and in the process found our own 2 permanent family members :-) x fostering completes me, it s hard work but the most rewarding thing I and my family have ever done, being with the rescue has introduced me to lots of People and I have made some Lovely friends, fostering has taught my children that life is Precious no Matter if it's human or Animal. Please consider fostering, the love and joy a rescue dog can give u is priceless an seeing them trot off to that wonderful new home u have found for them is magical.

Hi I'm looking at fostering in the future so your post has helped. I have seen tweets from rescue homes saying foster time up don't want to send back to kennels, does this mean you can only foster for a certain amount of time or is this probably due to foster family circumstances? Thanks Penny

[raggiedoll]

Hi Penny in general for the rescues we can never give set durations for fosters, it depends on whether they need socialisation, sometimes it is a short period sometimes it can be rather long term. That does sound more like individual foster family issues, normally a home check is reliable enough to see whether the animal will be suited to such a foster home but sometimes people have their own problems and the animals suffer for it

[jerry]

Having fostered both cats and dogs i must agree with Pebs there is nothing nicer than taking these little ones in and helping.
It started with Jess a 12 mnth welsh x border collie for RACR 2 yrs ago, she had no manners what so ever pulled to the point of choking herself, make a long story short she left us to go and live with a mad sprollie and has turned into a lovely little dog, since then numerous cats and dogs have come through our door, and my latest fosters are a mummy cat Tilly, and her deaf little friend Eira and 3 little ones born here a week ago, i too said no babies please but how can you not help them.

[penny2449]

Mar 16, 2012 9:56:18 GMT raggiedoll said:

Hi Penny in general for the rescues we can never give set durations for fosters, it depends on whether they need socialisation, sometimes it is a short period sometimes it can be rather long term. That does sound more like individual foster family issues, normally a home check is reliable enough to see whether the animal will be suited to such a foster home but sometimes people have their own problems and the animals suffer for it

Thanks for your help, just like to understand how things work so when circumstances allow i hopefully know what I'm doing.

[jennyc]

Thanks for sharing everyone!!

[Spencer]

I have been fostering cats and kittens for Debbie (Feline Network) since July last year, and it really is such a rewarding experience. Apart from 3, all the cats/kittens have been very frightened on arrival and went into hiding, 3 feral or semi-feral, and it is just so rewarding seeing them start to relax and trust you as the days and weeks go by. A lot of work goes into caring for them, especially the feral ones who need that much more patience and one on one in order to win their trust, but the first time they come out of hiding when you are in the room, the first time they approach you, the first contact, the first cuddle etc, is so so worth it.

I have 3 cats of my own, but the fosters always amaze me in always being keen and ready to play or cuddle; at one point, I had 5 older kittens sleeping ON me when I slept in their room at night, so warm and snuggly

It's hard when it's time to say goodbye and they have found their perfect forever home, but with one exception, all the new forever Mum's and Dad's have stayed in touch, updating me on how well they have settled into their new homes with pictures, and it's just the greatest feeling! I have rehomed 8 cats/kittens now, and every single one has settled in so quickly into their new lives, better than I could have hoped for.

My first two fosters, Yogi and Booboo had been having inappropriate toileting issues in their previous home (stress related as best I can figure), and on arrival here seemed to hate each other despite being sisters and both hid in opposite corners of the room, but over the 8 weeks they were here with me, they became such loving girls to both myself and each other. Being my first fosters, I had no prior experience and was worried that they might go back to square one when rehomed; I delivered them to their lovely new owners, and neither of them even hid up when let out of their carriers! Yogi was exploring her new home within hours and Booboo the next day, and neither of them had any of the same issues they had when they first arrived here.

My only failure, if you can call it that, is Robbie; he spent months with Debbie in Devon, and seemed terrified of everyone, so he came here last October and got his own room and as it turns out, his main issue is his dislike of women. Within a week he was coming to me for fuss and even letting me tickle his belly, but still ran and hid if I moved from laying down on the sofa in his room and it took weeks for him to feel confident to stay out in his room and not live behind the sofa when I was not with him, only coming out to eat and use his tray after dark. Over the weeks and months, he trusted me more a little each day, and became the most affectionate little boy, but during his socialisation, I got just as attached to him as he has to me! He could have had his forever home last month, but decided to hide up when his potential forever Mum and Dad came to meet him, and no amount of coaxing would get him unglued from behind the dresser! Was he frightened? Well, considering he had come downstairs and was wailing at the door for me by the time I had let his potential forever Mum and Dad out of the front door, I would say not so much! He will stay here as a permanent foster; he is so happy and content here, and such a loving little boy I just can't bare to part with him!

[jennyc]

Thanks for sharing Spence and I dont blame you for not letting Robbie go. He has definatly made his home there.