Foster Parent a Pet
Why become a foster pet parent?
Some of the pets who arrive at the shelter are in need of more intensive care then our limited staff and hours of operation can possibly accommodate.
- We take in pregnant cats and dogs who need a special "mom" and or "dad" to provide a more suitable maternity ward and nursing area for them.
- We take in whole litters of day old puppies and kittens who would not survive unless they were under the watchful, caring eye of a foster parent.
- We have pets in our kennels who have been spoken for by a rescue and are waiting to go on a transport to their new home. By moving this pet into a temporary foster home, we can provide shelter to another homeless pet.
We desperately need kind, helping hands to allow pets with special needs to have a second chance at life. If you are up to the challenge, please send an email to Kathy McGowan, our Foster Coordinator at mcgowandennis@bellsouth.net and she will contact you about foster opportunities.
A small amount of your time will surely change the life of that pet!
For more information on fostering, check out a recent news story from MSNBC.com:
Fostering gives homeless animals a leg up.
Looking for a little excitement? Maybe a new love? My county animal shelter had the answer: kittens. Not to keep; just to fatten up and care for until they can be sent to permanent homes.
Omie McClary of Darlington, SC has been fostering and caring for pets in need in our county for years now. More recently she took in Dora (pictured left) who had a week to wait for her ride to a rescue in WV. Rather than have Dora wait it out at the shelter, Omie opened her door to this sweet girl and welcomed her home for the holidays.
In her own words…
After several days of adjustment, each dog I have ever fostered is a changed one for the better…relaxed and happy. Seeing that positive change is reward enough for me! Consider fostering an animal from the shelter. What a difference it makes in the lives of these wonderful animals.
Monica Nelson of Hartsville, SC has repeatedly opened her doors to those pets in need in our county. In addition to working a full time job and raising a family, she opened her heart and home to Tamego (pictured left) who was spoken for by a rescue but needed a temporary home before heading to her forever home.
In her own words...
After meeting Tamego, I knew she would be a great foster dog. She was skinny and depressed when I first brought her home but her health and spirits had taken a dramatic turn around when it was time for her transport. I cried when I sent her off but knew she was going to a great rescue. I recently heard from the rescue that she had been adopted by a wonderful couple who renamed her, Haley.
Brittany Kimbro of Hartsville, SC recently received this photo of Mollie (left) from her new parents. Mollie has a special place in Bittany's heart as she immediately fostered Mollie when she came in via animal control at the age of only 2 weeks. Brittany knew without intervention, Mollie would never survive. Brittany's house is now full of a nursing cat with 4 kittens but she offers up these thoughts on fostering pups:
In her own words...
Fostering has been wonderful because I love watching the animals grow and develop a personality. I will never forget the day my first litter of pups went to rescue. Everyone in the office had one of my pups in their lap and couldn't believe how mild tempered they were. It is really touching to know you molded a pup into a wonderful pet for a family. Fostering makes them a part of my family and letting them go is hard. I wouldn't change fostering for the world. In my opinion fostering is the next best thing to adopting animals. Sometimes it is better because you get to care for and love more animals when you foster!
Collette arrived at the shelter on a cold, blustery day in March via animal control. To say she was scared was an understatement. She spent the first 2 months of her time with us hunkering down in her igloo. Collette was very welcome however to extended petting sessions by volunteers and staff in her kennel area and quickly endeared herself to everyone. After waiting almost 3 months for "her" call to come, it finally came 2 weeks ago and Collette learned that she was heading to her new foster home in WV and then going to her new rescue in VA very soon thereafter.
In Collette's own words...
After heading up 1-95 via mutiple rescue drivers, I finally arrived at my foster mom's house in time to celebrate Memorial Weekend. Can you tell I am really enjoying myself? I have been told that I am a totally different person with all the tail wagging and smiles I am passing around. I feel like I am in spa heaven and have quickly adjusted to the plethora of other dogs and cats with whom I am sharing my quarters. Foster mom, Barbara keeps telling me I am so beautiful and that I should always hold up my head very high and proud. I am working on this and feel that Barbara has literally rescued my spirit and in doing so has freed up a space at the shelter so someone else can find a new home. Thanks Barbara for lending me a helping paw and the shelter staff and rescue team for believing in me. I know I am a super girl and now I can slowly show everyone!
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