The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria hopes to share a wide variety of viewpoints from all of our community through this blog, and today we are pleased to share a guest post written by one of our “Awesome Foster” caregivers, Jodi.
One of the most personally rewarding decisions I’ve made was to become a volunteer at the AWLA (Animal Welfare League of Alexandria). I consider volunteering here a privilege and, based on my experiences to date, plan to continue volunteering at AWLA for many years to come.
My first efforts as a volunteer were in the cat room, as well as providing some administrative and animal transport support. It was only a few months later when I signed up to foster. It had been nearly two years since the passing of one of my two cats and I felt ready to open my heart and home to animals in need. I knew I made the right decision after receiving an email from the Foster Coordinator listing: Animals in Need of Fosters. The very first animal listed was a cat named Luna, which happened to be the name of my cat that I had laid to rest.
The “new” Luna needed foster care during recovery, post back-leg amputation. Her owner had compassionately surrendered her as she was not able to afford the medical care needed after Luna had fallen from a balcony. As Luna healed, the staff of AWLA supported me, answering questions and coaching me as needed. At one point, I called them very concerned as Luna seemed to have lost her ability to walk. They had me bring her in for evaluation. Her regression was deemed part of recovery and I am happy to share that she is a thriving, happy cat.
My foster experience with Luna ended in what is known as a foster failure. Fear not, this is an affectionate term applied when caregivers adopt their foster animals. Luna had filled my heart and home with love and is now a part of my family.
Luna resents being called a failure, as hers was obviously a success story!
In the three years that I’ve been fostering, I’ve cared for more than 20 cats. I’ve fostered kittens that needed nurturing and adult cats that needed moderate medical treatment support or simply relaxing recovery time. Some fosters stayed with me for a week, and others stayed as long as four months. Each foster cat and situation is different, which keeps it interesting and always a learning experience.
Foster Experience Snapshot
This is Violet. She arrived at AWLA in very rough shape, in a lot of pain with a mouthful of infected teeth and ringworm. She could barely lift her head for the first couple weeks while doing her best to care for her two kittens. Fast forward: Post-oral surgery and completion of ringworm treatment, I witnessed the joy of Violet playing!
As a foster at AWLA, you are never alone in the experience. Starting with placing an animal based on its needs and your abilities and situation, etc., the foster support staff provides you with all the necessary supplies to ensure you and your foster are set up for success. Everyday support for routine care and questions, as well as emergency care, is extended to you for your foster. Most valuable to me has been the peer coaching and encouragement that the AWLA provides.
So if you are thinking about being a foster, I definitely recommend giving it a try! You will be supported every step of the way while making a significant and personally rewarding impact on the lives of special animals in need. If you are unsure about fostering, I encourage you to speak with the AWLA Volunteer and Foster teams to get more information. You may consider my approach: I started by asking where the current greatest need was and went from there. And if fostering isn’t right for you at this time, you can help in other ways, such as through Sarah’s Fund. Sarah’s Fund is a special fund dedicated to animals with medical needs that are outside the AWLA’s standard budget, from emergency surgeries to medications for chronic illnesses to life-changing therapies.
Thank you for letting me share my thoughts on fostering – a loving circle of giving and receiving.
