There is a saying that it takes a community to raise a child, and I think that is true. But I am taking this a step further and applying it to our animals in desperate need. It takes a community to save them. The shelters cannot do it alone, nor can crossposters and networkers, nor can adopters, nor can rescues.
I have thought about what the weak link is in the whole process from: animal goes into kill shelter to animal does or does not get out. The weak link is presence (or lack thereof) of fosters.
As I post hundereds of dogs, cats, (and sometimes horses and rabbits and even pot bellied pigs) in need, I know that about only 20%-40% are going to make it out. And that percentage drops for the cats and the bully breeds.
There are all sorts of reasons that animals end up in kill shelters, but this article is not about that. This is about what we, as a community, need to do to get them out.
Basically, the two options are adoption (which is low) or rescue. The rescues I have contacted always say "we are full". There is simply no more room at the inn. I become distressed when people seem to think that when an animal is taken by a rescue from a kill shelter and "saved" that this is all that must be done and the job is done. Well, folks, it ain't. This is just the beginning. The rescues need all kinds of support- supplies, financial support for medical care or boarding, and most of all FOSTERS.
I hear from EVERY RESCUE (in every state, city, municipality) that "we need FOSTERS!". "We are being begged to take all of these dogs, but we have NO WHERE FOR THEM TO GO!"
So this is my plea to the community, if you have the ability to FOSTER, please contact your local rescues or shelters and VOLUNTEER TO FOSTER. I have a foster sign up page on this blog where you can leave basic contact information for a shelter to contact you if you can foster. I have only specified very basic information so as not to compromise anyone's security in the public domain. It is safe to comment and sign up! Charlie to the Rescue page has a foster sign up, but the list is currently pitifully short.
What is required to be a FOSTER to an animal in need?
- Time- if you work full time and travel a lot, it probably won't work. If you are a stay at home parent, are retired, or work part time, fostering may be just for you!
- Patience- shelter dogs may not be house trained or socialized. That is the purpose of fostering- to let the animal experience family life, learn basic socialization skills, and housebreaking if necessary. To prepare them for a successful transition into a "furever" home.
- Transportation- reliable transportation in case the animal is ill or to take the animal to adoption events. Some rescues may not require this.
- A SAFE place to keep the animal - inside is best, with a fenced yard or commitment to walk the animal (if a dog) for exercise and "relief".
- And most important of all, a sense of selflessness and a love for animals and willingness to help an animal in need.
If you cannot foster, please consider supporting rescues in other ways. Many of their dogs end up in boarding because there is no where else for them to go. Boarding eats up a budget fast, and we all know that in this economy that is not a good thing. For example, Angels-n-Paws has about 19 dogs currently in boarding and no more funding to support them. If they cannot raise funds or adopt out the dogs (and the adoption rate has been very low), it is possible that some will have to be returned to kill shelters. They are desperately trying to avoid this, but the owners are not getting sufficient community support and funding to help.
Like I said, getting an animal out of a kill shelter is only the first step, let's not forget them once we don't see their faces labeled "urgent" anymore. They may be out if immediate danger, but if they cannot be adopted or placed in a foster home, the rescues cannot take more animals and have significant difficulty keeping the ones they already have saved.
PLEASE CONSIDER FOSTERING. You can save lives and you may just find that you are the one who gets "saved".
Thanks for listening,
Love, Stubbs- a shelter dog who someone cared enough to FOSTER until I found my forever home!
No comments:
Post a Comment