Have you ever fostered animals?

[Luv Bunnies]

Our family is fostering three baby bunnies that were rescued from a wooded area near our home. Rescue groups removed over 80 rabbits from the area and their shelters were over-flowing. We figured the least we could do was take some in for a few months and socialize them so they could go to good homes.

We really can't keep them permanently. We already have 2 rabbits of our own and 5 rabbits in the house is really too many. I'm spending a lot of extra time cleaning cages and the extra food and litter are a big expense. It's no problem to do it for a few months but I can't imagine having 5 bunnies to take care of for much longer than that.

That said, we're still falling in love with these little bunnies and I can already see how hard it will be to give them back! I will be taking them to adoption fairs and I know I will be very picky about who gets my bunnies! I keep telling myself (and my husband and boys) that we are getting these bunnies ready to be someone elses pets. We hold them and play with them a lot which makes it hard not to get too attached!

If you've ever fostered animals, was it difficult to give them up? We will still have our two beloved bunnies so we won't be bunny-less, but I can't help but think it will be hard to see the baby bunnies go!

 

[kafitty]

i haven't had the ability yet to foster animals, but when i have my own place/steady income, you better believe i will be! so, i just wanted to say, i think it's wonderful you're doing that!

and it's always hard to lose an animal you've formed an attachment to, but i try to think of it as, i took care of them the best i could for as long as i could, and SOOO many other animals never get that chance at a good life. And it looks like in your case, you'll know that they're going to another good home, so that's something nice to think about.

 

[dawson5]

I'm fostering a chihuahua right now. A girl that hubby works with convinced the owners to give her up (kids were mistreating her and they weren't feeding her properly). We've had her for three weeks now. I am actively looking for a "forever" home for her but it's hard. I find myself getting attached, she is at the point where she sleeps in between me and my husband (I am shocked by this, he won't let our family dog sleep with us but lets this one, I think he just feels bad for her). I know I will be picky on who does get her. Our local humane shelter sponsored a free rabies day at a local pet spa. I took her in and was talking with the gal who runs the shelter, she wasn't very helpful except to say "bring her in, the small ones go quickly." I don't know how well they screen and worry that she would end up in the same situation she came from.

My neighbor also fosters. She is on the collie rescue site and when one comes up in this area, she goes and gets them. Somehow they called her about a sheltie... she now is up to three dogs. She adopted the sheltie. Probably not a good idea to have her go and pick up any more dogs.

 

[smiley]

One day a foster dog escaped the yard of her foster humans and ended up at our house. My husband called the number on her collar and found out she was up for adoption then talked me into adopting her.

We found out that her foster home was right down the street. An elementary school aged girl who lived at the home was sad to see her foster dog get adopted. We felt so bad that we told her to come over anytime she wished and we would let her play with the dog. During the first year she came over a couple of times a month. Now she is in 12th grade and never comes over, but we do walk past their house almost every day. If she's in the front yard she says hello.

So I guess it can be hard to be a foster parent/sibling for an animal and then have to give it up. One thing that made it easier for her is to see how good we treat our dog.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

I think it is great that you are fostering the bunnies and getting them ready for new homes - - having had rabbits in my life, they can be rewarding, but a little challenging!

Fortunately for us, everyone who has come into our house as a "foster" we ending up adopting (which is most of the pets we have ever had)....but then, I went into the foster with the idea that they would stay with us forever if the animals were happy. We are currently fostering our second parrot who is adapting well, but alas, our other parrots are a little jealous, but starting to get used to her.

 

[sdchickie]

Ok, I might just be cracking myself up here, but when I read the title of your post I thought it said "Have you ever frosted animals?" I immediately thought ***???, then who frosts animals?? Then I re-read it and went duh!
In answer to your question I've never fostered animals (or frosted them either).

 

[AllyandJack]

I fostered cats a few times. We fostered a pair of brothers that we named Frasier and Niles. Niles was sweet, but Frasier was a PAIN and ended up attempting to attack the cats we already had. They were adopted out within 2-3mo.

Then, I fostered a female cat that we named Bella. She was sweet, so she was adopted pretty fast...around a month.

Then, we fostered 2 more brothers. 7yrs later and we still have them. Nobody wanted the skinny, double-pawed freak. We brought them to the adoption things over and over, but a year later, they were still with us with no signs of being adopted. So, we kept them because we didn't want to send them to a shelter.

That was the end of my fostering animals.

 

[sunlver]

I foster dogs through a local doggie rescue group

We are on our 6th dog, and we adopted one..She was with us for 2 years and finally made her ours last Christmas...It is a very hard and rewarding experience. I own 3 dogs of my own, and have a foster dog at all times.I dont treat them any different then my own..the only difference they dont have my last name, all their expenses paid for by rescue group.

I love dogs, and I get so attached to them..The first foster is the hardest when they leave..it is always hard..but gets a tad bit easier each time.The one we have now, I just love to pieces..husband says "NO MORE DOGS"

In his defense we are a one income household and dog bills do add up...so I will continue to foster them, and dogsit. Yes.. I dogsit as well, we have dogs coming and going a lot around here..some call us crazy, I call it everyday life

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Ok, I might just be cracking myself up here, but when I read the title of your post I thought it said "Have you ever frosted animals?" I immediately thought ***???, then who frosts animals?? Then I re-read it and went duh!
In answer to your question I've never fostered animals (or frosted them either).

Oh, sure, I frost animals all the time! There's nothing better than coming home after a long day and taking a big can of frosting into the bunny pen. The bunnies don't seem to enjoy it very much, but it helps me relax so they'll just have to deal with it!

 

[lisajl]

I tried, but it is too difficult to give them back.
They usually stayed in our home forever.

 

[JoiseyMom]

My DH ran a small animal rescue for a few years...I had about 15 rabbits at one time..ferrets, chinchilla, mice, rats, hamsters, and probably a few others I am forgetting. I had no problem letting them go!!

He would have loved to have kept the ferret and chinchilla!

We still get phone calls once in a while too.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

When I think of how hard it would be to give up Hurley and Kody (especially Hurley) if my roommate's girlfriend moved in with him, I don't know how I could possibly foster an animal. I couldn't help getting attached to two dogs that I technically just dogsit(although my roommate does refer to Hurley as my dog.) I admire those of you who do, though.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Yes, Fred. He is our second dog. But he never left!

Mikeee