Anyone foster animals?

527 Views 7 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Megananderson, Aug 10, 2015

Blacksheep

Discussion Starter · May 6, 2012

I'd like to get back into fostering...after a pretty traumatic experience.

I fostered four kittens, one being a runt. Well I found the runt lifeless on the floor one morning and tried to call my foster coordinator. No answer so I called the shelter. They finally sent her a text (guess she didn't answer their calls either) and FINALLY an hour later she showed up to my house (we agreed they'd transit.) I was told she died of malnutrition and hadn't eaten in days. I found this interesting because I free fed the kittens and I'd always catch her pigging out. I asked about the other kittens and again was just scolded for starving this one. I called the local cat hospital and they said that it made no sense at all and they wanted to take a look at the kittens and/or an autopsy report. I asked for help to see if I did anything wrong but that shelter refused. I was harassed by this person to the point where I was seriously going to call the cops.

Its been 3 days and there is still food and water in the dishes and litter in the box. I'm absolutely torn up about it but I know there are lives to be saved. I'd like to foster a dog maybe (not kittens for a while) but a little fearful of it. I have talked to a few RVTs at the cat hospital that said some runts will look healthy but were never healthy to begin with. While this helped, I still doubt myself.

So for those that didn't want to read all that, what do you do with fosters in an emergency? How should I go about doing it again (through a different shelter seeing as I'd rather not deal with them again) and how does one stop being paranoid about a psycho coordinator?

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somebody

· #2 · May 14, 2012

I'm so sorry the little baby died. And to add to your trauma, the shelter blamed you! An experience like that could put anyone off fostering for life! There are better, more supportive, groups out there.

If you want to foster, I urge you to keep looking and try again. Make sure certain things are clear up front, especially about emergency medical care. I highly doubt that losing that kitten was your fault. There could have been any number of things wrong with the baby.

I find it highly suspicious that the shelter claims to have done an autopsy. Maybe I'm cynical but I wouldn't think a rescue organization would have the resources to spare to pay for something like that. And a refusal to share the official results makes it even more fishy, in my opinion.

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MimisGardenInc

· #3 · Jun 21, 2012 (Edited by Moderator)

I foster through my local shelter, and I did some research about the foster program they offered before jumping in. Main requirement for me was the emergency list they provided with procedures and contacts. They have at least 5 staff members phone numbrs listed, plus 5 emergency clinic that I can bring my fosters to. I do check back regularly to update that list, as the shelter works with so many pets, and foster homes that sometimes I feel like I get lost in the shuffle. I don't discredit them for that, but I prefer to be proactive as a foster parent. Been two years now, and still going strong!
I highly suggest you work with a new shelter, and make sure to get (and update) their emergency policies and procedures

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Nibbler

· #4 · Jun 21, 2012

although there is the big shelters like spca, human society ect, have you checked into private shelters ?

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Dirky47

· #5 · Jul 12, 2012

I'm so sorry to hear that but do not stick to your bad experience, move on and don't be afraid to love again.

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kircha

· #6 · Aug 7, 2012

I'm so sorry the little baby died

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OlgaGarrett

· #7 · Aug 18, 2012

Maybe I'm cynical but I wouldn't think a rescue organization would have the resources to spare to pay for something like that. And a refusal to share the official results makes it even more fishy, in my opinion.

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Megananderson

· #8 · Aug 10, 2015

Hi. I've been looking at your website and read a lot about your skills with re-homing animals. I thought it would be useful for you to know about a new app called Homey Pet. It's a new shelter orginisation who have already helped thousands of animals over the UK and plan for thousands more not only across the country but across the world. If you would like to check it out, the app is available on both iTunes and Google Play.
Thankyou,
Megan.

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