Part-time care for young animals that are awaiting adoption is a rewarding journey. The new foster programme anchored by Blue Cross gives Chennai-ites a chance to take care of a puppy or kitten for two to four weeks until the animal finds a permanent home.
Fostering is becoming increasingly popular across the world, and is seen as a solution for over-burdened shelters that cannot provide individual attention to rescued and vulnerable animals. It's also an opportunity for a person to enjoy all the benefits of keeping a companion animal, when he/she is not in a position to adopt one. “But it's a nice way to experience what it is like to keep a pet, by taking care of one for a few weeks and observing how it changes your lifestyle,” says a volunteer of the programme.
Foster parents provide space for the animal in their homes and administer special care if necessary (for example, bottle feed newborns) in a relatively infection-free environment and give the pet affection. Volunteers at the shelter set out to find permanent homes for the pet, after which the foster caretaker hands over the pet to the permanent family. A pet that has been fostered escapes the stress that comes from living in a facility where there are hundreds of other animals, and also gets a head-start in being socialised by humans.
Volunteers check foster parent's schedule, level of experience, and other factors such as existing pets. Says puppy rescuer Jennifer Jacob: “Foster parents Shiva and Sobhana Rani took care of three homeless puppies I rescued, and also successfully found permanent homes for them. They did a fantastic job of helping out during a time of need.”
To sign up as a foster parent to a rescued animal, log on to >bluecrossofindia.org/foster and fill up the short questionnaire on the site.
TAKE ME HOME
Marble is a nine-month-old female puppy and has been spayed. She is healthy ( all her vaccinations are up-to-date), and is looking for a permanent home. Call 43508934.
This grey kitten is looking for a permanent home. Call 97890 92532.
These two-month-old female puppies are Indian. To adopt them call 92833 90693.
HERO OF THE WEEK
Ashwini Raju nominates Nanditha S. Das for arranging for the rescue of a dog that had fallen into a pit and was stuck between two pipes. Nanditha called Blue Cross and ensured that the puppy was brought out safely.
