Ever considered fostering a dog or cat? Maybe you're not ready to adopt, but you still want to give an animal a loving home, allowing them the best chance possible to get adopted? Fostering can be such a rewarding experience!
In this post, I'll be sharing my experiences fostering cats and dogs from a local shelters and rescues, highlighting the joys and the incredible transformations I've witnessed. After losing our two greyhounds, Missy & Tyson in 2021, to osteosarcoma, an awful bone cancer, although we weren't ready to welcome any new pets into our fur family, we wanted to do our part and provide a loving foster home for dogs & cats. This lead me to deepen my passion for shelter medicine; giving the unwanted and abandoned a second chance at life that they desperately deserve.
As an emergency veterinarian working in a Melbourne shelter, I’ve had the incredible privilege of connecting with many animals in need. During my lunch breaks, I would spend time with them, sit with them in their pens and just get to know them. Some of these animals touched my heart so deeply that I brought them home to foster. This journey has been nothing short of heartwarming and fulfilling, and I’d like to share our experiences with you.
Sloppy kisses from an injured puppy that was dumped on the side of the road
This little munchkin was found in an abandoned warehouse. She was so malnourished but with appropriate nutrition, worming and intravenous fluids in hospital, we got her ready for adoption!
Some of the fur kiddos we've fostered over the years...
Zorro, Luna, and Storm
Zorro, Luna & Storm (& Tyler in the background)
These three 8-week-old abandoned stray kittens brought so much joy into our home. Initially shy but playful, we kept them in a playpen for the first 1-2 weeks to help everyone adjust.
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Integration: Our cat Tyler welcomed them with open paws, and Dot and Twix soon followed. Tyler and Dot would groom them, and Tyler taught them how to play fight gently.
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Adoption: Once they were fully vaccinated and desexed, they were quickly adopted. One of them went to one of my colleagued, and Luna now lives with a beautiful kelpie who loves her to bits.
Houdini
Houdini on the left and Tyler on the right
Houdini was an 11-week-old kitten who was very shutdown and timid. She needed time and patience to feel comfortable.
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Adjustment Period: It took her about 2-3 weeks before she started enjoying pats. She accepted the other cats before she trusted us, but eventually, she became a purr machine.
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Adoption: Houdini stayed with us for about 6 weeks, and after her desexing, she found a loving forever home.
Kira
Tyler on the left, Kira on the right
Little lady Kira
Kira was an 8-year-old sweet little Shih Tzu surrendered by her elderly owner who could no longer care for her. She had a large tumour on her upper jaw, but her gentle nature shone through.
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Initial Separation: Our cats avoided her for the first few days. We kept her in a separate room with a baby gate so she could see what was going on, but she also had her own space. Our biggest cat, Dot, was probably bigger than her.
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Health Journey: The tumour was found to be benign but growing slowly. We contemplated adopting her because she fit into our fur family so seamlessly. However, one of my wonderful bosses, who is a specialist, fell in love with her and adopted her. She had surgery with the specialist team and is living it up in a family of vets. She hit the rescue dog jack-pot!
After surgery to remove the tumour in her mouth - so brave!
Why Do I Foster?
Fostering animals that need extra time to come out of their shell or require medical care often do much better in a home environment. It allows them to get used to people, other pets, and home life. As a foster carer, I get to know their unique personalities and can provide valuable insights to the shelter adoption team to find the best forever home for them. Many animals shut down or become very timid in a shelter, so fostering helps reveal their true selves.
The Joy of Fostering
Fostering gives more animals a chance to find loving homes. I am a passionate advocate of "adopt, don't shop" because there are so many animals in shelters needing homes. Fostering allows you to provide temporary love and care, helping animals thrive and increasing their chances of adoption.
Tips for Fostering
Kittens/Young Cats
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Playpen Setup: Have a small playpen with a little hide-away igloo, a litter tray, and toys. Cover half of the playpen with a towel to give the kittens privacy and prevent them from feeling overwhelmed.
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Gradual Introduction: Keep the kittens separate for at least 7-10 days to ensure they settle in and that no health issues arise during this time. After this period, allow your cats and the kittens to sniff each other through the playpen. When you feel comfortable, under supervision, allow them to socialise. We always supervised play!
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Supervision: Always supervise interactions and keep the kittens in the playpen when you are out. Kittens are mischievous so you definitely don't want to leave them unsupervised as they may get into strife!
Dogs
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Initial Restriction: Initially restrict the new dog to a room with a baby gate so they can see each other.
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Controlled Interaction: You need to be extremely careful here. Many dogs are not suited to living in a home with cats. Ensure you have discussed this and got approval from the rescue or shelter group. You can use a basket muzzle on the dog to allow it to sniff the cats safely. Always have the dog on lead in the initial introduction. If at any point you feel the dog has any inclination to chase or play too rough, stop and reassess the situation with the shelter team.
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Building Trust: Gradually build trust. You won't believe how different a dog's personality is when they start to trust you and really open up. It's so heartwarming when you get to be part of that dog's journey for their true personality to shine through.
General Tips
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Vaccinations: Ensure your pets are fully vaccinated and up to date with preventatives.
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Monitoring: Set up a Google Nest or other camera at home to monitor your pets.
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Supervised Introductions: Always supervise new introductions.
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Separation Period: Keep your new foster friend separated for the initial 1-2 weeks (or longer, depending on their personality).
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Safe Space: Provide a safe space for the new animal to retreat to.
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Patience: Be patient and give them plenty of time to acclimatise and decompress.
Support from Shelters and Rescues
Most shelters or rescues will provide you with the basics (food, litter, bowls, bedding), give you contact information for any after-hours vets in case of an emergency, and check in with you regularly. They will also offer support and guidance. The more information you can provide to them about the animal, the better their chance of finding a loving home. Be honest about the animal's behaviour and needs to ensure the best match for adoption.
Fostering has been a deeply rewarding experience for me, and I encourage anyone who is not ready to adopt to consider fostering. It’s a wonderful way to help animals in need and give them a second chance at finding a loving home. Seeing these animals blossom and find their forever families has been one of the most fulfilling experiences. If you're considering fostering, know that you are making a significant difference in the lives of these precious animals.
Thank you for taking the time to read about our fostering journey. If you have any questions or are interested in fostering, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of so many animals in need.
Happy fostering!
Dr Olga
Emergency vet