Kitten season is officially upon us and shelters across the country are bursting at the seams.
I know there are a few folks out there who have been considering giving fostering a try. Now would be a very good time to step forward, and take action. Every kitten family that goes into foster, frees up a cage at the shelter for another litter or big kitty to move in.
If you're ready, contact your local shelter, introduce yourself and request some information. They can guide you through the process, and match you up with a litter that would right for your skill level, schedule and lifestyle.
It's an amazing experience, and who knows,, you might just get to host a fabulous little house guest like Mr Harlan Lovejoy!
To find out more about the Tacoma/Pierce County Humane Society foster program, click here.
OOhh Harlan, what a precious poster boy you make!! After my darling Miss Flora finally floats over the Rainbow Bridge, I really do plan to foster. I think Mr. Cicero, once he matures, will be a great foster daddy. Unlike Miss Flora, Cicero loves other cats!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to all foster moms & their ittybitties!
You are SO right! This kitten season is even tougher than most because of the economy. People aren't spaying and neutering and then are abandoning pets because they can't afford them. I encourage everyone to consider fostering too!! It can help save many lives. I have been trying to spay and neuter all of the homeless/feral cats in our area, but there are a few super hard to catch females, so i know my house will be hopping with foster kittens soon.
ReplyDeletePurrs and kisses to all of your kittens,
Carrie the SnipPet Girl
I think Harlan is a perfect example of why people should foster - I wish I could but honestly I know I just don't have the personality for it - I would just end up keeping them all (my aunt and uncle tired to foster dogs - they kept the first one and couldn't take anymore fosters after that because they had 2 dogs already - I am the same way). I just wanted to add that if you are like me and can't foster there are a lot of other ways you can help out too - just contact your local shelter!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am competely in love with all the Lovejoys - perfect name for them!!
Thanks, Laurie, for the encouragement! The Tacoma shelter seemed to be kittenless for a long time, then all of the sudden we were tackled with too many! Yes, there is such a thing as too many kittens. :)
ReplyDeleteIf anyone can find it in their heart to foster a litter or even a singleton, please do contact your local shelter or rescue organization. Your help really does make a difference, and you are truly lifesavers.
Funny that this post was written today. After helping her fight a three month battle with cancer, I had to put my beloved 11-year-old Morgan kitty to sleep late yesterday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteShe found me eleven years ago when I walked into a shelter, and she jumped just about four feet into the air to hang onto the wire mesh around her pen and meowed at me. She died 11 years to the day that I first saw her face.
Seeing the call for foster parents gives me the desire to help kittens like my Morgan find their forever home. What could be a more rewarding and a higher calling?
I believe I will start investigating who in my area I can contact to begin fostering.
awen - i am so sorry for the loss of your dear kitty. clearly she was meant to be yours and had a happy, love-filled life.
ReplyDeleteit's so selfless of you to be thinking of other kitties who need you now. morgan is proud.
I really wish I could still be fostering. I loved it! But my two kitties turned out to be grumpy old men when it comes to kittens. I'll try again in the future when I no longer have my boys.
ReplyDeleteI have been working as a kitten foster parent for the Dakin Shelter in Western MA for several summers now. We have a guest room in our house that stands empty most of the year, which makes a perfect quiet place for our fosters. Yes, it is true-- I do get attached to the kittens and I always cry and feel torn when it is time to return them to the shelter, but it is an incredible feeling to help them along that route from wobbly little kitten to spunky little spitfires with nice Buddha bellies. Please do consider opening up your home to fostering, if you can.
ReplyDeleteAwen, I am so sorry about your little Morgan, but it's clear that she had 11 very happy years with you...and I loved the story of how she chose you immediately when she saw you...she obviously chose well.
ReplyDeleteFostering truly does save lives, all of our cats were in foster homes before we adopted them and I will forever be grateful to their foster mom for taking care of them...unfortunately my husband refuses to let me foster since he knows I would keep each and every one of them and rescue would have to be called in once we have 100+ cats...but seriously, as Amy said, even if you can't foster, there are plenty of ways to volunteer at shelters...one of the funnest volunteer jobs I had was "cat cuddler" at our local humane society :)
I tried to foster a kitten who's mother was abused while pregnant. But she dug her claws in to stay. I adopted her before her first birthday. I couldn't stand the though of her being a year old and no furever home. I can't foster anymore but I do give to fostering organizations and the ASPCA.
ReplyDeleteAwen, so sorry to hear about your loss. As Hyacinth said, your Morgan chose you. May all the memories of the love and good times ease the hurting of your loss. I'm sure that if she could speak to you now, she'd thank you for both giving her a wonderful life and letting it end without extended suffering.
ReplyDelete(((Awen)))
Awen, I'm so, so sorry for the loss of your furry friend.
ReplyDelete*hug*
{{{Awen}}} I'm so sorry for your loss!
ReplyDeleteI would love to foster - but I live in a tiny house that is already overflowing with 3 dogs and 4 cats! I do my part with donations and trying to help places furries who need homes.
My sincerest blessings and thanks to everyone who is able to foster and/or who has made adoption their option!
Good post, the more foster parents the better...
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to foster but the past 4 years I have been living in a college dorm. I definitely intend on fostering once I get a place of my own!!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore your blog. I came upon it totally by accident and have fallen in love. As someone who shares her life and home with four rescue kitties and two rescue dogs I know how critical it is, especially in the spring, to offer your home to foster.
ReplyDeleteIf you have the time, visit my blog and go down a couple of posts. You'll find an entry about my new kitty blog. Click on the photo and it will take you to see my babies.