Fostering Animals: From Tribulation to Triumph

Turn on the television and you might see a commercial from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) or American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) showing images of animals that have been cruelly treated and asking for your donations to save them. On Animal Planet there are shows about animal cruelty investigators seizing animals from cruel living conditions. These shows may have a happier conclusion of showing the animal being adopted into a loving home. This is just one story.

Another story is when animals may come from an unwanted situation, a stray, or the original owner’s situation has changed and they can no longer keep or care for the animal and they are voluntarily giving up their pet. In other cases, the animal may have been abandoned and left to fend for itself.

How do animals go from these situations to be being adopted? Ideally, they may go up directly for adoption; however, some of these animals cannot easily and quickly move into a loving home since they may require medical attention or learn to trust humans, either again or for the first time.

This is where an animal foster comes into the picture. Animal fosters provide their home, time and love to helping these animals.

The Animal Foster Home

Animal foster provides a home where love and care are provided under different circumstances.

• Healthy adoptable – Animals that have been in shelters for a long period of time and need a break from being in the shelter.
• Unhealthy foster – Animals that may have upper respiratory issues, intestinal parasites, hair loss, wounds, etc., that need treatment before being adopted, but are better off out of the shelter to recover.
• Orthopedic foster – Animals with injuries to legs, such as FHO (hip replacement), amputees, and splints. Care varies from complete rest to walking, depending upon the situation.
• Immature, pregnant or lactating/nursing foster – Puppies and kittens that are too young or too small to be adopted, or mothers (or soon to be mothers) that need a quiet place.
• Behavioral foster – these are animals that need socialization, but are otherwise healthy. This may include an animal that came from a cruelty seizure in which it had very little human contact or physically abused.

An animal foster might only assist with one of these areas, while others may deal with any or all types of issues. In all cases, the animal needs love and attention.

Becoming an Animal Foster

There are many animal welfare organizations that need foster homes. Simple searches on the internet will provide results for organizations that have foster programs. In large cities, there may be a number of animal welfare organizations that need fosters.

These organizations will typically list what is required, how to apply, and other information for prospective fosters. Many will even provide a contact person, an email address, or online form to submit. It is important to understand what the organization will provide or if expenses, such as food and vet care, will need to be handled by the foster and then expensed back to the organization. Do not be afraid to ask questions.

The real “cost” for the foster, which is priceless, is giving lots of love and care. This is an emotional journey that leads both the foster and the animal from “tribulation to triumph”.

The Tribulation

Tribulation - distress or suffering resulting from oppression or persecution; also: a trying experience (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tribulation)

The initial tribulation is the condition and situation in which the animal has come from. This is beyond the animal’s control, and has to be taken under consideration by the foster, possibly creating a “trying experience”.

If the animal bears an obvious medical condition or physical issue, a lot of time and effort is spent with medication and nursing back to full health. In cases of abuse and neglect, earning the animal’s trust and teaching them that “not all humans are bad” may have a large emotional toll since there are days of highs and lows.

Animal fosters should understand and be prepared to deal with any situation that may come up. While this may cause additional tribulation for both animal and foster, the ability to adapt and overcome will lead to triumph. Animals give unconditional love, and it is important that the foster gives unconditional love back to the animal, as well as patience and understanding.

While it may seem easy to think that all of this is giving the animal a second chance, the truth is that this is preparing the animal to have their second chance.

The journey from tribulation to triumph may sometimes be short, sweet and simple, and other times may be long and difficult. In all situations, there is always the same goal of giving the animal a second chance and be adopted into a living home. Knowing that the goal has been met, and the animal is available to be adopted, however is just one more victory along the journey.

The Triumph

For the foster, taking the animal back for adoption can be a very emotional experience. Having spent time, effort, love, and the proverbial blood, sweat and tears with the animal, parting becomes sweet sorrow. It is very easy to want to keep each and every animal.

Depending upon the animal, whether a puppy or kitten as opposed to an adult animal, the adoption process can either be short or long. For an older animal, or an animal that may have visible physical scars, there is an uneasy anticipation in waiting for the adoption to occur. Sometimes, potential adopters may not see the potential in these animals.

Knowing that the animal is waiting for a home, yet not being adopted can be agonizing. The foster may feel like something was missed. However the reality is that the right family is still waiting to come in. Just as is the case when fostering, patience in waiting for the animal to be adopted must be exercised.

The triumph for both the animal and the foster is when it is adopted and goes to a loving home. The animal is now getting a second chance at life, and from people that want it and are prepared to give it unconditional love.