Indigo's ready to leave foster care Do you ever wonder if you have emotional strength? Sometimes it can be surprising to learn how strong the mind and heart can be. To foster an animal can test this strength, and this past month has given a couple of tests with Charleston Animal Society's Adoption Ambassador, Indigo. Reflecting on changes you see in an animal from the time of taking them into foster care to adoption placement can ease the sad feelings you may have when it's time to let go.
Indigo was a challenging foster since her arrival back to foster care on December 5. Her behavior was much different than when we fostered her in early 2013. She was angry and did not handle changes in her life well. The weeks prior to her return to us, she had seen more than her share of changes. She was never a happy cat when she would have to return to the shelter for even the shortest period of time. With time to adjust and be settled in the home, her behavior evened out but she was still unpredictable at times. This is why we waited to promote her for adoption and the best decision for all.
As weeks turned to months, it was more evident that Indigo would never be a loving lap cat (even though she would cuddle next to me every night to sleep). The search for either a barn or outdoor living arrangement was started. We found someone that was not looking for a loving cat, but a cat that could be a hunter. Indigo moved to her new home on March 19, and while she is currently indoors for the transition, she will be an outdoor cat in the near future where she will have space to call her own. She's not handling the initial change in her environment well, and I will be assisting her in the transition whenever her adopter requests my help ~ after all, the forever placement of a foster is the goal.
To have an empty home again is a bit strange, but both Pet Helpers and Charleston Animal Society have already seen their first kittens of the 2015 season and it's a matter of weeks before they are in need of many in foster homes. Yes, we are in hopes of being one of the first to be called to duty and look forward to kittens again. Don't get me wrong, to save the life of an adult cat that would otherwise possibly be euthanized in our No Kill community is more rewarding than words can express. If you are interested in saving more lives, please let your local shelters know you would be possibly interested in caring for a behaviorally challenged or medically challenged animal - sometimes fostering is their last hope. I still miss our FIV+ foster, Hamster, and I am missing our often angry foster, Indigo, but am fortunate that I can visit both of them in their forever homes. Placing an animal yourself rather than returning them to the shelter's adoption floor, can give you a peaceful feeling and often the ability to stay in touch with those you have cared for; I highly recommend it!
On to happier, recent times ~ last week I had the opportunity to visit with former fosters, Jack & Jill. These kittens lived with us for four months as young kittens. When we first took them from CAS, they were syringe-fed furbabies. When they were a little older it was determined they both had a condition known as eyelid agenesis and would require surgery. The surgery was performed successfully at three months of age, and they remained with us for a month of after-care. Jack & Jill were adopted from the foster home, and while it has been a year since seeing them (but we do receive the periodic pictures) it was a pleasure to visit them in their home and realize they remembered me. They are doing great and get along well with their older brother, tabby cat Isaac. To see how they have grown into beautiful cats was an added bonus. Again, it was because they did not return to the adoption floor of CAS the connection exists with this wonderful family who adopted these two and the bonus of visiting them a year later was enjoyed.
Indigo was a challenging foster since her arrival back to foster care on December 5. Her behavior was much different than when we fostered her in early 2013. She was angry and did not handle changes in her life well. The weeks prior to her return to us, she had seen more than her share of changes. She was never a happy cat when she would have to return to the shelter for even the shortest period of time. With time to adjust and be settled in the home, her behavior evened out but she was still unpredictable at times. This is why we waited to promote her for adoption and the best decision for all.
As weeks turned to months, it was more evident that Indigo would never be a loving lap cat (even though she would cuddle next to me every night to sleep). The search for either a barn or outdoor living arrangement was started. We found someone that was not looking for a loving cat, but a cat that could be a hunter. Indigo moved to her new home on March 19, and while she is currently indoors for the transition, she will be an outdoor cat in the near future where she will have space to call her own. She's not handling the initial change in her environment well, and I will be assisting her in the transition whenever her adopter requests my help ~ after all, the forever placement of a foster is the goal.
To have an empty home again is a bit strange, but both Pet Helpers and Charleston Animal Society have already seen their first kittens of the 2015 season and it's a matter of weeks before they are in need of many in foster homes. Yes, we are in hopes of being one of the first to be called to duty and look forward to kittens again. Don't get me wrong, to save the life of an adult cat that would otherwise possibly be euthanized in our No Kill community is more rewarding than words can express. If you are interested in saving more lives, please let your local shelters know you would be possibly interested in caring for a behaviorally challenged or medically challenged animal - sometimes fostering is their last hope. I still miss our FIV+ foster, Hamster, and I am missing our often angry foster, Indigo, but am fortunate that I can visit both of them in their forever homes. Placing an animal yourself rather than returning them to the shelter's adoption floor, can give you a peaceful feeling and often the ability to stay in touch with those you have cared for; I highly recommend it!
On to happier, recent times ~ last week I had the opportunity to visit with former fosters, Jack & Jill. These kittens lived with us for four months as young kittens. When we first took them from CAS, they were syringe-fed furbabies. When they were a little older it was determined they both had a condition known as eyelid agenesis and would require surgery. The surgery was performed successfully at three months of age, and they remained with us for a month of after-care. Jack & Jill were adopted from the foster home, and while it has been a year since seeing them (but we do receive the periodic pictures) it was a pleasure to visit them in their home and realize they remembered me. They are doing great and get along well with their older brother, tabby cat Isaac. To see how they have grown into beautiful cats was an added bonus. Again, it was because they did not return to the adoption floor of CAS the connection exists with this wonderful family who adopted these two and the bonus of visiting them a year later was enjoyed.
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