It’s important to know that becoming a foster carer is just as much about giving as it is receiving. Yes, you may be giving up your valuable time, money, energy and opening up your home to a pooch or kitty desperate for some love and guidance – but what you receive in return is so much more valuable. We thought it was important to note this – as many people think of volunteering or charity work to just be about ‘giving’ when it actually gives directly back to YOU in so many ways!

Here’s a few things you’ll receive when you’re a foster carer:

• Countless licks, snuggles and wagging tails
• An incredible feeling of achievement when your foster pet begins to trust you and connect with you
• A newfound knowledge of different breeds and training techniques – you’ll become a pet expert!
• Constant companionship and laughs
• New friends and a supportive community of other foster carers or rescue volunteers
• Pride – you’ll feel immense pride that you have saved a life. We would often find ourselves telling everyone and anyone about foster caring because we were so proud and wanted more people to know about it and get involved!
• Pure happiness when your foster pet finds there forever home and you know that if it wasn’t for you that would never have happened

This is a short list from a very very long list of rewards you will get in return for being a foster carer. You’ll be surprised just how much you get in return – it’s truly a two way street!

J x

‘Foster Fail’. This is a very common term you may come across when you start looking into foster caring or become a carer. It’s also a very common occurrence in the foster caring world! So what does it mean? A foster fail is simply when a carer falls head over heels for a foster pet and has to keep them for themselves!! Initially, someone may start foster caring because it’s a low committal option or they aren’t sure if a pet will fit in with their life but furry love conquers all right?

This is another reason why foster caring is such a great idea. No one wants to commit to a furry friend if they aren’t positive they can give them the time and love they need and aren’t certain they are ready, so it really is a great first step to seeing what your life would be like with a new companion. So whether you are a student who isn’t ready to commit just yet, a family who isn’t sure how a pet would fit in their life, or just someone who has been thinking of adopting – foster caring could really be a happy medium for you and the experience you need to make that big decision and fall in the love with the perfect pet.

We absolutely fell in love with this beautiful poem from DCH Animal Adoptions cat foster carer Roslyn.

For every joy you gave me, for every heartache too
it really was a privilege for me to foster you.
For every tear I cried when we had to say goodbye
I know that they were worth it
to know you didn’t die.

So many unwanted animals sit in the pounds
alone,
I long so much to help them, I want to take them home.
But I can’t save them all and this really makes me fret
I need others to step on up and save the life
of a pet.

Fostering isn’t forever, it’s just till they find a home,
It’s better than “the needle” or some tragedy unknown.
So have you room in your heart,
A space in your home
to rescue a pet or foster one so it wont
face life alone?

By Roslyn Day-Anderson

Learn more about foster caring for DCH Animal Adoptions here.

As a foster carer it’s extremely likely that you will come across pets that are shy, fearful or anxious. This often stems from their past experiences with neglectful or abusive owners, problems with other pets in shelters, a lack of social interaction and a lack of exposure to certain experiences and situations.

To help foster pets begin to trust you and become less fearful of people and other animals, follow some of these helpful tips that we’ve learnt from the team at the Partnership for Animal Welfare

1. Let the pet initiate contact

If your pet is shy and fearful, let them initiate contact with you. Try crouching or sitting on the floor, maintaining a nonthreatening sideways stance with no eye contact. Drop a treat halfway between you and the pet, and then reduce the distance until they are able to take the treat from your hand. This will help them gain confidence and trust so they will approach rather than retreat from you.

2. Associate positive experiences with all members of the household

If your pet is shy or fearful around a specific member of the household, such as a male, it’s important for them to associate positive experiences with this person so they learn to trust them. Have members of the household all take turns in feeding the pet, walking them, playing with them and rewarding them. This can reduce the pet clinging to just one member of the household.

3. Introduce the pet to other dogs and cats

If your pet is shy or scared when they encounter other pets, it’s important to very slowly introduce them to similar sized pets or pets of a similar breed who you know to be friendly and relatively calm. As time goes on, gradually introduce dogs or cats who are larger and more active. A great environment for socialization with other dogs is a puppy preschool or training class.

4. Focus on training and obedience

Try to take a little time out each day to focus on obedience and teaching the pet new skills. This is mainly relevant to dogs and may involve teaching them to sit, heel, shake hands, roll over or walk properly on the lead. The more the dog knows how to do, and the more skills they can display to earn praise and treats, the more confident they will be.

For more tips visit: http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_Shy.php

Spring has most definitely sprung and summer is just around the corner so it’s the perfect time of year to get out and about with your four legged friends! It’s so important for pooches to get consistent exercise and socialise with other dogs so we’ve made it easy for you by compiling this list of our top 5 dog parks in Sydney that we know you’ll love.

1. Sydney Park (Sydney Park Rd, St Peters)

This is our go to dog park in the Inner West. It’s a huge space that’s always busy with lots of obedient and social off leash dogs. There’s plenty of parking as well as a café and several playgrounds for the kids.

2. Centennial Park (Access via Robertson Road, Randwick or Woollahra Gates)

This is arguably the largest park for dogs in Sydney, with over 154 hectares designed for off leash pups! There is even the Eastern Suburbs Dog Training Club that runs at the park every Sunday, alongside a dog grooming service open 7 days a week.

3. Sirius Cove (Sirius Cove Rd, Mosman)

Does your furry friend also like to swim? This beautiful stretch of sand and grass in Mosman is completely dog friendly – just prepare yourself for that wet dog smell!

4. St Ives Showground (Mona Vale Rd, St Ives)

There’s always something going on for pups at the St Ives Showground, whether it be competing in dog shows or participating in training or agility classes . It’s a fully off-leash facility with fencing so you know your dog will be safe.

5. Hawthorne Canal Reserve (Canal Rd, Leichhardt)

This reserve is not only 100% off leash with puppy water stations and plenty of shade and seating but it is also home to Café Bones for those pooches with a taste for fine dining! The café is completely dog friendly and serves up organic dog treats as well as an array of yummy items for owners.

This week we sat down with Madi, a University of Sydney student who decided to start foster caring early this year. We find out how she got involved and why she loves fostering.

How did you first hear about foster caring shelter animals?

I moved into a pet friendly rental and my roommate and I really really wanted a dog or cat but were worried about the commitment as we travel a lot so we looked into short term options like pet sitting and stumbled across foster caring!

What was your next step?

We sent off a few applications to shelters and adoption agencies that needed foster carers and heard back from Denise at Paws within a few days. Someone came to look at our house to see if it was pet friendly and by the next week we were off to the vet to pick up our two new foster babies.

What was your first foster caring experience like?

It was rewarding and challenging all at once. We had two Pomeranians who were sooo cute and very attached to one another but who had completely different personalities. They were very scared at first so it took some time for them to trust us, but when they did it became so much fun and we really fell in love with them.

What is your favourite part of being a carer?

You can’t beat the companionship of having a pet so I really love coming home to wagging tails and giving the dogs lots of cuddles and spoiling them. It’s so amazing when they begin to trust you and realise that not all humans are bad – because a lot of them have been abused or treated awfully in the past. You really feel like you are making a difference.

What’s the most challenging part of being a carer?

Saying goodbye. You become extremely attached and are always tempted to adopt them yourself so whilst you’re so happy they have found their forever home it’s definitely a teary moment when you say goodbye!

Who do you think is suited to foster caring?

Honestly anyone. It’s really perfect for students like me who don’t want to commit to a pet yet or just anyone who might want to test out having a pet before they adopt or buy. As long as you have a little bit of extra time and lots of love to give that’s all you really need.