What Does Fostering Mean and How Will It Impact Me?
What exactly does fostering mean? It means bringing a homeless Animal into your home, caring for them, providing them with affection and socialization, until a permanent family comes along who will love them forever.
1. FOSTERING SAVES LIVES
Because we don't yet have a central shelter facility, we rely on our fantastic foster homes before we can even consider bringing in animals under our care, whether that be via owner surrender, pounds, or dumped animals.
2. YOU HAVE A HAND IN HELPING MAKE THE ANIMAL MORE "ADOPTABLE"
Dogs and cats don't cope as well in a kennel or caged environment, and it can be hard to assess their 'true' personality. While fostering an Animal, you are able to provide exercise, stimulation and training, which in turn creates a more adoptable pet that can transition easily into a new home!
3. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE AN ANIMAL'S FUTURE
A lot of our animals may have endured a difficult past such as abuse, cruelty, neglect, under socialisation, etc. As a foster, you have the chance and opportunity to gain an animals trust, show them human touch and love, perhaps for the first time, provide an environment for them to feel safe, and watch them transform before your eyes. There's nothing more rewarding!
4. FOSTERING CAN BE GREAT FOR YOUR FAMILY
If you have existing pets, introducing an animal can be a great experience for them as an additional companion, additional socialisation, and a playmate! Children can benefit from fostering as a way to introduce responsibility, selflessness, a way to educate about animals, and is also a great way to "test" the idea of a permanent animal into the home in the future. Fosters always get first option to adopt!
5. YOU BECOME PART OF A WONDERFUL "COMMUNITY"
We have a fantastic group of volunteers and coordinators, who will help guide you through the experience, give ideas, answer any questions, and may even become your friends! We even have a Facebook Community group where you can share. There is nothing quite like sharing experiences with those who do the same and being part of a community of people who have like passions.
6. YOU WILL MAKE SOMEONE'S FAMILY COMPLETE
When the day comes, that your foster finds that perfect home, the rewarding feeling you will experience is something very special. You will feel a sense of pride, in knowing what you helped that animal accomplish. You will feel overjoyed, that they have found a forever family and a happy ending that all homeless animals so deserve. And while certainly, some goodbyes can be tough, knowing that an animal has found a happy ending and that another precious life awaits to be afforded your gifts, is as good of a feeling as there is!
DEAR FOSTER MUM:
"There I sat, alone and afraid. You got a call and came right to my aid. You bundled me up with blankets and love, and when I needed it most you gave me a hug.
I learned that the world was not all that scary and cold, that sometimes there is someone to have and to hold. You taught me what love is, you helped me to mend. You loved me and healed me and became my first friend.
And just when I thought you'd done all you could do, there came along not one new lesson, but two.
First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go. I've done all I can, and you've learned all I know." Then you bundled me up with a blanket and kiss, along came a new family, they even have kids!
They took me to their home, forever to stay, at first I thought you sent me away. Then that second lesson became perfectly clear, no matter how far, you will always be near.
And so, Foster Mum, you know I've moved on. I have a new home, with toys and a lawn. But I'll never forget what I learned that first day, you never really give your fosters away.
You gave me these thoughts to remember you by, we may never meet again, and now I know why. You'll remember I lived with you for a time, I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine."
