It's been a while!

Or at least, it feels like it has been a while! I had a little medical issue that involved some surgery, but everything is now resolved and I'm healthy! I wanted to take a second to really thank all of my coworkers at Boone County Animal Shelter. I literally found out just a few days before surgery that I needed it, and was going to need a few days off (it turned out to be a full week off!) I have had jobs where I was guilt tripped for going to a family member's funeral, so I was wary of how my coworkers and my boss Beckey would react. I was so happy when I realized that EVERYONE there was intensely supportive, even down to our wonderful volunteers! My coworkers shouldered extra work in order to give me time to recover, and when I initially asked Beckey about taking the time off, She didn't even let me launch into my full (and somewhat practiced) pleading explanation of why I really needed to do this. Her response was "Do it, as soon as possible. We will figure it all out here, you do what YOU need to do." We have all had jobs where we feel less than appreciated, all had terrible supervisors who didn't give a crap about you unless you did something reprimand-worthy. I'm not sure if the care and concern I received is a product of all of them being in shelter work, or if they are in shelter work BECAUSE they are so caring to humans and animals alike. Either way, I'm thankful for all of the thoughts and prayers, the extra workload ALL of my coworkers took on, and to Beckey for being wonderful about the whole thing.

Since I have been off work I don't have a whole lot to write about, so I'm going to post some information about fostering with BCAS. If you have ever thought about fostering, NOW is the time. Adopting an animal is wonderful and we are thankful for every single adoption we do. But fosters have the opportunity to save so many lives! We have something for everyone, whatever you situation. Sometimes we have baby animals who aren't old enough to be adopted and could really use a little while in a home to grow and become socialized. Sometimes, especially in the Spring, we get in pregnant animals who just need a quiet spot to care for their babies after they give birth. Sometimes there is an animal with a minor medical issue that will recuperate much faster in the peace and quiet of a home. For instance, we have a sweet male hound dog right now who could really use a couple weeks of good food and love to put some weight on and come out of his shyness a bit---something so simple would give him a MUCH better chance of finding an adoptive home. We can provide everything you will need, all you provide is love and time! PLEASE consider fostering, the reward far exceeds the time and effort you will be donating. Read on for more information...

Thinking about becoming a foster care volunteer?

The Boone County Animal Shelter is desperately seeking qualified foster homes! The more foster homes we have, the more lives we can save. As a foster care volunteer, you will be providing a pet with the one-on-one attention it so desperately needs.

The Foster Care Program provides temporary housing and care for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens who aren’t quite ready for adoption. We need loving homes like yours to help these animals in need of a little extra time and care.

We need help with different needs at various times: mommies with litters of kittens or puppies, babies without their mom who need bottlefeeding, dogs or cats recovering from illness, surgery or an injury and pregnant dogs or cats who would do better having their babies in a calm, quiet home instead of a noisy shelter environment. Help us for as little as a week, or as long as a few months.

Why are foster parents needed? Many of these “special needs” pets are highly adoptable; they just need a little extra time and attention. Our shelter is limited in terms of staffing, time, resources, space and money. Simply put, foster parents maximize the number of pets who can be saved.

Would I be a good foster parent? Do you have a spare bedroom, bathroom or laundry room? Would you feel good knowing you are making a difference in the life of a displaced pet? A few months of inconvenience turns quickly into a rewarding, educational, challenging and fun experience you will never forget.

What is involved? Fostering involves feeding, cleaning, grooming, and playing with the animals. Sometimes, however, that's just the tip of the iceberg for fosters. Because some of our animals are sick, stressed, or frightened, they may require special care. A frightened animal may require weeks of extra attention and behavioral modification to become ready for adoption. Fostering a pet in need of shelter, love, and guidance is a time-consuming effort, but it's also one of the most rewarding ways to help homeless pets.

What about expenses? BCAS will cover the cost of veterinary care and medicine. We will also cover food, litter and other necessary supplies, if needed. You just supply the tender loving care!

I already own a dog and/or a cat. Can I still foster? We ask that you keep foster pets separate from your own pets, in almost all situations. A separate room or enclosed area with no carpet will often work best (like a bathroom or laundry room). This separation is necessary to ensure any illness that the foster animal(s) have does not spread to your companion animals and no problems result between the animals. Foster dogs may be allowed to interact with your own pets, after a few days of assessment and evaluation, once you feel comfortable doing so. Before you bring a foster animal home, consult with your veterinarian to make sure your own pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations.

How often does a foster animal need to be brought in for check-ups? Foster parent volunteers need to transport animals to the BCAS facility on a regular basis for vaccinations, vet checks, weight checks and spay and neuter surgeries. Vaccination appointments and weigh-ins for kittens and puppies are scheduled as needed for each animal in advance and at your convenience.

Letting go? It can be a difficult process for you to let them go but keep this in mind: Once one pet has found a good home, that opens up a space for another one to be saved. We know what you are thinking...Oh, I could NEVER do that! I could NEVER give up the pet! Well, we know how you feel, because we all felt the same. Admittedly, it is not painless, you DO cry, and you miss them. Yet, we promise, the pain disappears when your NEW pet arrives from the shelter that NEEDS you. The pain is fleeting compared to the wonderful feeling of knowing that YOU truly saved a pet's life by allowing us to have enough foster homes. Anyone who fosters must be realistic about the expected outcome: that the animal will be adopted by another family. While it is impossible not to become attached to a sweet dog or cat living in your home, it's necessary to keep your original goals in mind and remain committed to finding the animal a new family.

How do I become a Foster Volunteer? The first step is to attend our monthly Volunteer Orientation (check our Events page for upcoming orientation dates and times) and let us know that you are interested in fostering. We’ll ask you to complete an application that provides us with your contact info and lets us know what kinds of animals you would be willing to foster. Next, we’ll ask you to meet the Foster Coordinator and our Vet Tech at the shelter for a one-on-one training/orientation to fostering, where you can ask questions and learn more about the process, preparing and cleaning your home for your foster, animal care and medical issues, etc. If you are interested in joining the Foster Volunteer Team at BCAS, call us at 859.586.5285.