Could you be a fosterer and save a life?

As you may have seen, we are desperate for fosterers for both our cats and dogs. We have some fantastic fosterers who are a lifeline for some of our animals and they thrive in their care. Currently the centre is overrun with animals who have been in our care for too long and need a well deserved rest from kennel life before they find their forever homes.

It is an incredible job to take on but all you need to do is provide love and care, we'll provide everything else. Could you be a guardian angel for one of our residents?

...or a cat!

One of our fosterers has taken time out to give you an insight into what fostering for us is like...

"All dogs are special but there are some that are just that bit more special and these are the ones that can often get stuck in rescues (through no fault of their own) or need some 'rehab' before a permanent home can be found for them. We are fostering one of each kind for the RSPCA Animal Home and can honestly say that it's been one of the best things we have ever done.

Mack is an old greyhound, arriving at Landing Lane because his owner died and there was no-one else to take him in. He was 13 and arthritic - a difficult dog to rehome for obvious reasons but when we said Hello to him in his kennel he just wanted what they all want - a stroke and an ear rub. When Marie said they would foster him cos he wasn't doing well in kennels we thought about it for a while - how would the rest of our greyhounds take it? Could we cope with another dog? Actually, we didn;t think about it for that long! We could help this poor old lad so why wouldn't we? Mack's been with us over a year now, wobbling out every day for his slow plod round the block, shouting for his Bonio in the morning and generally being a sweet old man that keeps the others in line if they try and nick his bed. We take him to the RSPCA clinic to monitor his arthritis and his medication every now and again. Mack will have the best care at home for the rest of his days - and that thought makes us happy!
 

Grace is one of the second kind - traumatised, undoubtedly abused and neglected before she was found wondering the streets of Harrogate, she trembled in her bed at Landing Lane. The staff were really worried about her and a call went out for a foster home. She has been harder work than Mack in that we've had to keep her isolated from the others initially and because she wouldn't go out (too scared) we had a lot of clearing up to do at first (lots of bed liners on the floor! Don't buy puppy pads, ridiculously expensive!). But gradually, very slowly, we began to see a change in the little girl. I'll never forget the first time she wagged her tail at me. Just a tiny tail tip wag. It made me fill up, I can tell you. Gradually she met the other dogs. Slowly she got the courage to go into the garden. Very slowly she began to go for walks with us. Now (about 2 months from her first day with us) she is flying up and down the hall doing bitey faces with Babe and we've had to hide the squeaky ball cos she likes to try and kill it at about 5 in the morning. She's not out of the woods yet, still sacred of men, not always happy to go for a walk, but the difference in her is incredible. The RSPCA will be able to look for a permanent home for her before long.

Fostering is not for the faint-hearted (or perhaps not for the very house proud either!) but if you can find space for a bed on the floor and have a bit of spare love in your heart, you won't regret it. The RSPCA will give you full back up and of course they cover the vets bills. They will also cover the food bills too if you need it (although we don't need that help, luckily). I can't tell you how lovely it is to see an old boy lying in the sun or a young dog slowly coming out of her terrified shell and to know that although you haven't changed the world, you have changed that dog's world.

Jane"

So could you join Jane and become a member of our fostering team and help change the life of a furry resident?

If you think you could, get in touch with the branch on 01904 654949 or email us at reception@rspca-yorkhome.org.uk

To all our current fosterers, you do an incredible job and we thankyou from the bottom of our hearts for everything you do for our animals in your care. Keep up the amazing work!