That excitement turns to joy every time your foster finds a forever-family!
You get to know them.. and realize just how different every animal is. Cats have fears and interests, just like people do. Dogs aren't all slobbery, ball-catching dummies. Their personalities are just as unique as you or me. Just ask any foster home and they'll be able to tell you which of their past animals liked playing, or loved the quiet, or enjoyed the company of others and which were loners.
There was Steve, the neighborhood stray that everyone knew existed but no one ever bothered to try to pet. When we moved in our neighbors said "Oh he belongs to someone. He has been here for years." When we asked who actually claimed him the answer was always the same, "I don't know. Someone." He was missing most of the hair on his legs, had scars all over his face (some new and some old) and wouldn't get within 20 feet of you. We were pretty sure one of his back legs had most of the hair burned off. Whether it was from warming himself under the hood of someone's car or caused by a cruel person, we'll never know. He was certainly not loved by anyone - until we came along.
Now he lives in Texas with my wonderful parents. Yep. He hated all other cats, was ridiculously unhappy in our rented homes, didn't like moving (which we do every year) so we had to think of something else for him. That's when we decided to drive all the way from Salt Lake City, UT down to Southeast Texas to deliver him. That was over 3 years ago and he's now a happy, healthy, country boy!
From alley cat to couch potato:
There were 4 ringworm-infested siblings (three of them black!)
They were adopted-out in pairs to indoor-only, loving homes. We love it when our kittens/cats are adopted-out in pairs!
Then there was Fang, an aging, semi-blind, mostly-deaf spaniel mix. She was so anemic when we picked her up on the side of the road that her gums were white. We took her home and put her straight into the bathtub. After hand-picking off a few hundred fleas, she fell asleep in my lap while she was still in the tub.
She slept for about two days straight - recovering in a warm home and gaining strength. What a sweetie. She was one of the best foster dogs we ever had.
Of course, foster homes sometimes become permanent homes, too. We adopted T'Oni a few years ago because he was completely blind and toothless. Yep. I just couldn't resist that face. His story is one of the worst I've heard in years. He and another cat (presumably his brother) were picked-up by animal control. Nobody even noticed that T'Oni couldn't see. That is, until his brother was euthanized - either by accident or for a reason that no one wanted to admit to after the fact. Then, suddenly T'Oni started freaking out in his cage, hitting his face against the wall, acting confused. That's when they realized something was very wrong: T'Oni's best friend and guide had been killed!
That's how he ended up with us. Special-needs cats require an attentive family, one that knows vet expenses are expected and you never know what your special kitty will end up needing. He gave us three wonderful years. Last June he died from complications caused by his diabetes and leukemia.
So, you see.. being a foster home doesn't mean you never adopt. But you have to keep in mind that the more animals you adopt, the less room you'll have to foster!
Right now we have two cats of our own (Normal and Hermes) and foster whatever we have room for. Depending on where we live, that could be one cat, two dogs or even more if we have foster cages. So, no matter what your situation is, you can foster. You don't have to foster many - even fostering one at a time saves lives. And lots of them! I honestly can't remember most of them. But knowing we've helped so many 'unwanted' animals gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling all over. Give it a try!
More stories to come. I hope you enjoy them and it inspires you. If we can foster in a 1-bedroom apartment, so can you!
Our furries, Normal (tuxedo) and Hermes (tabby and white):
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