Do you want to be a pet owner, yet are unable to make the long term and financial commitment that goes along with the responsibility of bringing home a furry friend?

Sydney Dogs and Cats Home’s Foster Care Program is a key project which provides people with the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful aspects of having a pet on a temporary basis, whilst providing animals a loving short-term home.

Foster carers are called upon when an animal at SDCH is in need of extra care and attention due to their age or health related issues.

With the warmer months approaching, it is coming up to prime cat breeding season, so SDCH is expecting to see an influx of kittens and young cats being brought in to the shelter. In order to maintain space for other animals coming in to the shelter and to support the health and wellbeing of the kittens, SDCH is calling out for responsible foster carers to come on board.

Grace Ireland became a foster carer after her own cat of 17 years passed away. “I couldn’t commit to adopting a new cat so soon, so fostering was a perfect option!”

Grace did worry, at first, about becoming too attached, however she realised that her support as a foster carer would be making a wonderful contribution to making sure animals were in a loving home and that they were receiving “plenty of cuddles”.

Grace has since fostered 8 kittens, “It’s been such a delight meeting each of their individual personalities.” Grace says that each cat reacts differently to being in a new environment when they first arrive, with some making themselves right at home, while others are a little more timid. Yet, by the end of their time in her care, they’re much more confident. “Seeing how social and cuddly those cats are after just a couple weeks in a loving home brings such a sense of accomplishment.”

SDCH is also looking for foster carers with spacious homes to take in large dogs in order to provide the pooches with the additional space they require for plenty of exercise and enrichment.

Ashleigh Dare has been a foster carer of dogs for approximately two years and has found the experience to be one of the most rewarding decisions she and her family have made.

“It satisfies the void, the ever-present need to cuddle and snuggle puppers, but it is in no way all about that. It takes more than oodles of cuddles, but time, patience, and sometimes a strong stomach! We’ve fostered shy puppies, sick puppies, healthy puppies, and tiny puppies with huge personalities (Wilbur, I’m talking about you!), and have been able to give each and every puppy exactly what they need to grow and break out of their shells, and this counts for seniors pups too!”

Ashleigh has also found that the love and support from her own dogs plays a part in caring for foster dogs. “It can be heartbreaking to learn the rough cards that some of these fluff babies have been dealt at the start of their life, when they should be shown love and attention, but that is where you as a foster carer steps in. You take on the role of their caretaker when they so desperately need it. It also helps that our own dogs have acted as mother/big-brother figures and helped to teach them important doggy manners, like when they nibble just a bit too hard!”

And while both Grace and Ashleigh do find saying goodbye difficult and quite emotional at times, they wouldn’t change a thing.

“There’s no greater feeling than hearing your foster kitty has been adopted from SDCH,” says Grace. “I had the pleasure of meeting the family who adopted my previous foster twin kittens and they were so lovely and thrilled to have the kittens in their family. It absolutely melted my heart, and it makes you realise how much you’re helping the cats out during that transition period.”

Ashleigh says, “Unless you have fallen head over heels in love with your foster and decide to keep them, it can be difficult to give them back. However, it is a comfort knowing that they are going to be loved just as much by another family, and you have helped prepare them for that. Foster caring is a warming, fulfilling, and rewarding experience. If you find that you have a little bit of space in your home and a bit of spare time on your hands, opening your heart and your home to an animal that needs it will be one of the best things you ever decide to do (p.s., it has definitely become a bit of an addiction!)”

If you would like to join the Foster Care Program, please find further details and application forms here.

Published 19 September 2017

After going to visit 200 Corellas, Tracy had just about given up finding her beloved pet, Relly.

“It was heartbreaking,” says Tracy, “My hopes were raised every time I received a tip off about a Corella at a rescue centre, so the let down when I arrived to find it was not Relly was just horrible.”

In February 2014, Tracy popped out to pick her children up from school. Relly had been a bit cheeky to the kids earlier in the day, so Tracy made the decision to leave her at home. Sadly, she came back to find someone had deliberately broken the padlock to the aviary and had stolen Relly.

Tracy was devastated and began doing everything she could to look for Relly, putting up posters, contacting rescue centres and vet clinics, and following up every lead she received.

Although Tracy loved the other birds and pets she had during the time Relly was gone, she did not feel that same inseparable bond. “Relly has a special way of getting on and off my arm – she crawls up and down my side, rather than fly. She’s only ever done that with me”, says Tracy.

3 years on, Tracy received a call from Evelyn, a local rescue volunteer, to say there was a Corella which had been handed in to the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home. It had come in from Mortdale Greencross Vets after being found by a Georges River Council ranger.

Unsure if she could handle any more heartache, Tracy thought twice about visiting SDCH. She arrived preparing herself for disappointment, however when the Corella said, “Hello” and crawled up on to Tracy in that all too familiar manner, it was no mistaking that this was Tracy’s treasured Relly.

It’s all still sinking in for Tracy. “It’s unbelievable.  It is the most surreal experience to have her home and I keep wondering if it is really is Relly. There’s no doubt though as she flew straight to her favourite corner lounge in the house and has been throwing about pegs and making lots of noise as she has always done to make sure she’s the centre of attention.”

We never get tired of reunions at Sydney Dogs and Cats Home and it’s thanks to our supporters that we are able to continue to bring families and their beloved pets back together. Make a donation today to help us keep these stories coming!