Fostering Hope

In May 2016, Laura Bushnell was leaving work she heard the unmistakable distressed meow coming from an alleyway. Ordinarily, she would not have thought too much of the cry as there are lots of stray cats that live in the area. However, the urgency in the cry and the fact that it had been raining heavily all day with more heavy rains predicted piqued her concerns. She followed the cries to a small hole in the wall where, sure enough, a tiny kitten had wedged himself to escape the rains. A phone call to animal control led to a rescue effort that ironically included a team of firefighters. The firefighters freed the tiny kitten from the wall and he was quickly wrapped up and transported to Laura’s house for his first night inside. Laura and her husband named the kitten "Wall-E" and were determined to help him. Wall-E was swarming with fleas, starving, and terrified. Laura sent out a distress message on social media asking for help. Cue the Waco Humane Society.

I had heard of Wall-E harrowing tale, so I offered to foster Wall-E through the Waco Humane Society’s Foster program. With a foster home secured, Wall-E entered the fostering system and was immediately placed into my home. This is not always the case for animals entering the Humane society; most cases involve their tireless foster coordinator, Emily Keil, recruiting from a list of other foster homes in the area (more on that later).

My family had fostered several animals before and was familiar with some of the challenges that come from bringing a new animal into the household. We already had our own dog and cat, so making sure Wall-E had a quiet place for himself was crucial. We set up a litter box and food in our

guest bedroom to let him have some peace. By utilizing social media, we were able to find a “furever” home for Wall-E.

Today Wall-E is a happy and beloved house cat. He is also a successful case for the Humane Society Foster Program. Animal shelters are meant to be a temporary location for homeless animals, the assiduous workers of our central Texas shelters see a constant stream of animals in truly desperate situations. Foster families not only provide individual attention and a safe home but also open space at the shelter. Fostering has provided opportunities for my family to volunteer in the community one animal (or sometimes litter) at a time.

Like people, each animal has a unique personality and each presents its own challenges and rewards. Some experiences have been as simple as providing a dog a place to crash for a few weeks, to keeping litters of kittens, to housing a persnickety mother cat recovering from feline mastitis. Some of our most rewarding experiences have come from the more challenging cases. Like, watching a deaf albino kitten gain his confidence, or seeing the relief in a pair of tuxedo cats after multiple days of lime sulfur dunks to treat ringworm. Each case has been supported by animal organizations like the Central Texas Humane Society.

My husband and I have fostered 18 animals through various organizations over the years. Each one has held a special place in our hearts. Of all the animals we have fostered, we have only kept one (our now 7-year-old cat, “Mama Kitty”). Here in Central Texas, we have enjoyed partnering with the Humane Society of Central Texas. Their staff serve both the human and animal population with grace and compassion. Emily Keil, Foster Coordinator, has always been great in helping us to find an animal that will best fit with our family.

WHEN CONSIDERING ANIMAL FOSTERING, HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

Separate, quite space: This is especially important if you have other pets. Mostly, it gives them a familiar place to get acclimated. Space can range from a spare bedroom to a bathroom.

Patience: Not all animals will go home with you ready to cuddle. You never really know what their phobias are and how they will manifest themselves. Be patient and give them time to adjust to their new environment.

Time: Your time is essential. You are helping them to develop into a loving pet for another family, so any time you have to sit with them, take them for walks, or brush out their fur will help get them ready for healthy habits with their future family.

Transportation: You will need to be able to take them to medical appointments and checkups at the Humane Society as well as adoption events. This frequency likely depends on the age of your charge and any underlying medical issues.

Advocate: You and your family will know your foster the best and can therefore help your furry friend to find a home. You are their best advocate for the pet getting adopted.

Misconceptions: There are many misconceptions when it comes to fostering. Medical expenses like vaccinations are taken care of by the Humane Society as well as spaying and neutering.

Ability to Let Go: It is a pleasure to open our home to these animals and help them to learn to trust and love. Parting with them is always a challenge as you know they have grown accustomed to you, too, but helping them transition to their forever home is so rewarding. Maybe the forever home ends up being your home, but if the goal is to provide a happy place of transition, you must be willing to say goodbye and do what is best for the animal.

by Jessica Morrow