Fostering
Fostering with Celandine Wood Animal Rescue
Fosterers play a vital role in our work. By opening your home to an animal in need you can literally save its life. Fostering is very rewarding, but requires dedication and is not without its challenges.
Use one of our Foster Application Forms or Contact us to become a foster carer.
Fostering Cats
Sometimes fostering can be simple, ie fostering a healthy kitten or cat whilst a permanent home is sought, however, we regularly deal with feral kittens and cats that have never lived in a home environment, who require a lot of time and patience to socialise them ready for adoption. We may also require fosters for a sick or injured cats or kittens, which require medial treatment and additional care, this may necessitate regular vet visits.
What do I need to be a foster?
Foster requirements vary from animal to animal, in general foster animals should be isolated from your own animals for a period of at least two weeks to ensure that they do not transmit any illnesses that they may be incubating. For very nervous animals, the isolation period may need to be extended to allow them time to settle and decompress before introducing them to other animals.
Please note, all foster cats or kittens must be indoors only whilst in your care.
You will be required to spend time with your foster animal every day socialising, playing and being present. Your role is to socialise the animal in preparation for them going to their forever home. In general animals will be required to attend the veterinary practice for treatments including
vaccinations, neutering and any additional health care needs and meet and greets with potential adopters, therefore transportation may be required.
You will have your own dedicated support group to provide assistance if required.
Usually fostering cats is not terribly time consuming but is highly rewarding as you watch your fosters personality shine as they thrive in your care.
Food and cat litter can be provided if needed and all medical treatments will be provided by the charity.
Fostering Dogs
Sometimes fostering can be simple, ie fostering a healthy and well trained dog whilst a permanent home is sought, however, many of the dogs who are relinquished to rescue may have minor behavioural issues, such as not being toilet trained, chewing behaviour or separation anxiety.
We may also require fosters for a sick or injured dog/puppy, which require medial treatment and additional care, this may necessitate regular vet visits.
What do I need to be a foster?
Foster requirements vary from animal to animal, in general foster dogs should be crated initially to allow them to get used to their new environment in a calm manor.
You will be required to spend time with your foster every day socialising, walking, playing and being present. Your role is to prepare the animal for rehoming, including ensuring that they are toilet trained, know basic commands, walk nicely on a lead and can live harmoniously in a home environment.
You will have your own dedicated support group to provide assistance with any medical or behavioural issues that may arise.
In general animals will be required to attend the veterinary practice for treatments including vaccinations, neutering and any additional health care needs. You may be required to attend meet and greets with potential adopters, and therefore transportation may be required.
Fostering puppies and dogs can be time consuming, but is highly rewarding as you watch your fosters personality shine as they thrive in your care.
Food, crates, collars and leads can be provided if needed and all medical treatments will be provided by the charity.
Foster Stories
Milena
I have been a fosterer with the Celandine Wood Animal Rescue (CWAR) for almost a year now.
My first foster dog was Ollie and he was a 14 year old Jack Russell. He was due to be put to sleep within 24hrs when CWAR stepped in and took him in. I will never forget how anxious he was when I picked him up to bring home. All the new people, new home, new housemates must have been very confusing to him but with patience and love he very quickly realised he’s safe with us and he became a temporary member of our family. I loved taking him for walks, playing with him and getting to know him. This helped me to talk about him to his adopters when I took him for his first meet and greet. It was hard to hand him over to his new family but I knew he would be happy and loved. I remember getting back to my car that day knowing that I had fallen in love with fostering.
Since that day I fostered a gorgeous cat called Kevin, who came to CWAR very poorly with kidney failure – we weren’t sure he would make it despite all the treatment he received, but a few weeks later he went to his new home and is doing great.
Soon after that we fostered 7 poorly semi feral kittens! They were hard work but it was so lovely getting to know their little personalities and keeping an eye on their recovery. My last 3 foster dogs were bulldogs and it’s been amazing getting to know all the funny and quirky traits of the breed. Most fosters dogs come from very difficult situations, they were mistreated, abandoned or neglected. It takes a lot of patience to help them understand that they’re safe with me and can relax. I always tear up when after a couple of days they realise they’re safe and began to come for cuddles, play and are relaxed and happy. They quickly fit into our family life, which includes a dog, cats, chickens and teenagers!
I feel very privileged to be able to play a part in the wonderful work of CWAR and to help animals in need and see them go to their new homes. The team at CWAR is wonderful and very supportive with a huge amount of experience and expertise and they’re always there if I need help or advice. I love receiving updates from the new families of the dogs and cats I fostered and seeing them having wonderful lives full of love.
People often ask me how I am able to hand the dogs over to their new families and not adopt them myself. It’s simple, I do love every dog and cat I foster but I am their temporary home, to get them better so they’re ready for their forever home.
Milena
Katie and Natasha
As new fosterers with Celandine, we have had a wonderful experience so far!
We took on two beautiful 9 month old kittens, Ocean and Daisy. When we first took them in they were incredibly shy and hid away from us for a whole week. Slowly but surely they started coming out of their hiding places and spending more time with us. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing them come out of the shells and trusting you a little bit more every day! We’ve discovered that they LOVE to play; Ocean’s favourite game is running after toys, and Daisy’s is pouncing on your toes underneath a blanket. They have such a special bond, Daisy follows her more confident sister around everywhere, and Ocean gives her the courage to explore the house and accept love from her foster mums. They also talk to each other all the time, meowing and trilling happily all through the night!
We are so happy we decided to foster with Celandine, and can’t wait to continue giving many animals unconditional love and the second chance that they all deserve. Thank you Celandine!
Katie and Natasha
Sian
As someone who has several rescue cats and dogs of their own, I wanted to find a way to support even more animals in need, without having to commit long term. Fostering has been the perfect solution.
I was blessed to be given the opportunity to foster four beautiful kittens who had been rescued from a feral colony on a farm. A large number of cats and kittens of differing ages and with differing health problems had been trapped to be neutered and rehomed or released, depending on their age and situation.
Tofu, Yeti Spaghetti, Spinach and Cheese all came to stay with me. They were about 8 weeks old. Skinny. Underweight. Unkempt.
At first they were all incredibly nervous and wary, but time spent with them helped build their confidence. Roast chicken and cuddles soon won them over. They started to meet my own cats and dogs through careful introductions, and household sounds became part of their everyday lives. I’m not going to lie and say fostering is always easy. It takes time, patience, care and love, and sadly not all the cats or kittens you try to help will make it.
In this instance, having come from such a harsh background, little Cheese succumbed to a viral infection. The vets and support fosterers at Celandine were amazing and provided around the clock help, advice, support and veterinary care. Although little Cheese didn’t make it, knowing she passed away having known the feeling of a soft blanket, warmth, love, a full belly and never ending cuddles makes a huge difference. There is a happy ending though! Spinach, Yeti and Tofu were all adopted into the most amazing, loving homes and are growing into the most adorable and affectionate cats.
Considering the start they had in life and the hardships they faced, they are all now living the best lives EVER! I am forever grateful for the opportunity I had to help socialise them, support them, care for them and love them whilst they waited for their furever families xx
Sian
