Foster parents

[pennyonthefloor]

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Just wondering if there are any other foster parents (or people interested in fostering) out there for rescue organizations. I've been involved with fostering in the central Ohio area for over three years and am always looking to share stories, tips, tricks and resources.

For the 3 years I've fostered, I've not yet become a 'failed foster' but have adopted out 8 dogs and 1 cat. I'm interested in hearing others' stories (because there's rarely a dull moment when it comes to fostering...) and am willing to share mine.

 

[Marsala]

I have been a foster for a pug rescue, PM me if you have specific questions.

 

[sumstorm]

hmmm...when I read the title, I thought you meant actual human foster parents (which we do), not animal rescue fostering. I've fostered half a dozen kids, dozens of animals, and none of the animals brought in for fostering remained (nor did any of the kids, but we only dealt with 'distress' fosters in the human realm.) I do have lots of dog adoptees though.

 

[NStarz]

I've done a little bit of fostering. It's difficult, because I live at home, and so my parents have the ultimate say in all decisions. I haven't done any dogs (I have two that have a tenuous relationship already), but I have done a few sets of bottle baby kittens, and some baby mammals. I'm a sub-permitee under a wildlife rehabber, so I've done some squirrels, bunnies, and a few raccoons.

Fostering is such a great experience. I'd highly recommend it to everyone who is able.

 

[thedogisgreen]

I loved fostered, definitely want to do it again once I get through vet school. I did it for a few years during high school and then during all college breaks... 40-some successful dogs adopted out, 2 failed fosters, both Chihuahuas who insisted on staying. One of them, we actually adopted out 5 times but she's a smarty and realized that if she was bad and peed and bit people at her new home, she would get to come back to us, where she would turn into a happy little angel. She eventually won the battle. I'm glad <3

 

[laitmanvet]

I wanted to foster cats for a really long time. Currently, I have one cat and he seems to be very social with other cats. And I'm not home during the day so I'd love for him to have another cat around to interact with. Plus the shelters here are basically overrun with kittens/special needs cats/etc.
When I went to a nearby shelter to ask about the fostering program they said I should keep the foster animals separate from my cat as many of them are young and have ringworm and other infections that he can get. Since my apartment doesn't really have doors, except the closets and bathroom, it isn't possible to keep a foster animal in a separate room.
Its good to hear that other people have had such positive experiences though! Maybe I'll look into it again if I move to an apartment with doors.

 

[bunnity]

Actually a lot of people foster kittens in bathrooms. Very doable. Let me know if you want help getting set up with an organization in Philadelphia.

I am a foster parent. I started out with bunnies during college. When I moved out here I fostered two bunnies from the shelter, BB and Cookie. I was only intending to foster one, but ended up with two. Of course. BB was really sick so he lived in my bathroom to keep him isolated. Cookie lived in the living room and my own bunny lived in the hallway.

I got an awesome rescue to take BB and they had me take him to their vet and they paid his four-digit vet bill. I had him for about a month until they had space for him. He since fully recovered and was adopted out.

I had Cookie for the next six months because she was involved in a court case and couldn't be adopted out until it was resolved. When the case was up she went to the same rescue and was adopted from there.

Over the summer I fostered a crazy devil kitten Mica. She was four weeks when I got her and I had her until she was 9 weeks. She also lived in the bathroom because she was generally insane and also wanted to kill my bunnies (I rescued another permanent one in the meantime). She was a ton of fun but just a little feral I think. When she was big enough I took her back to the shelter and she was adopted a couple hours later.

About a month before vet school started I started fostering a pit bull Choco. He was originally a cruelty case from a fighting ring and then was adopted and returned 3 times. His 4th adopters lost him for 2 months and he ended up back at the shelter 15 lbs underweight and torn up by another dog. He was supposed to be adopted before I started vet school - yeah right. I still have him. He has had a ton of skin problems that we are still working. He is an absolute angel though and I love him. I am still looking for a home for him. After him I probably won't do any more dogs during the school year because it's hard time-wise and most other dogs aren't going to be ok with sitting around the house all day doing nothing like he is.

Anyway my advice to anyone considering fostering (other than please do it!) is to choose your organizations carefully and talk to them a lot before fostering. You want to know up front who pays for what, what happens if it doesn't work out, how long to expect the animal to be in foster, etc. In my personal experience I have preferred working with rescues over big shelters but it comes down to the particular organization.