So I recently decided to foster cats with a small rescue group in the area. I have never done this before so I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I applied online, and within the same day I got a call to pick up one cat within 24 hours, and a second the next day. This was quite fast, as I thought I would have to go through some kind of training, or moreover, that someone would call me and ask what my experience/qualifications are as a pet foster. This was not the case. Within the two days, I had to pull money together to get a litter box, cat litter, a couple cans of cat food, etc.: the basics. Luckily I had enough money to do so, but I was worried that I wouldn't have enough, and hadn't planned on getting all of this before last weekend, as I didn't know the process would move so quickly.
The second cat ended up having a URI or upper respiratory infection, and I was told I needed to make a concoction with two doxycycline pills, mixed with Karo corn syrup and water, put it into a syringe and give it to both cats ( the one that was well just as a precaution) according to their weight. For someone who has never done this before, I was freaked out. Some of the group members reached out to me, but no one volunteered to take the time to show me exactly how to do this. The sick cat was very congested, coughing, and sneezing. I was
majorly concerned that I would over-medicate the cats if I couldn't get their weight correct, not to mention, I had bought a food scale, that I was having trouble reading, and didn't know how to get the cats to stay still long enough to get the weight. This was slowly becoming a complete frustration, and I felt that maybe I made the wrong decision to foster animals. I was beginning to feel completely defeated.
24 hours into getting the medication issue out of the way, the sick cat was still coughing and congested, and I told the owner of the rescue that I planned on bringing the cat to the vet the next morning. This was Saturday night. I then messaged her the next day, as I was leaving for the vet the next morning, AND called her. Her calls were going to straight to voicemail, and she had just gone on vacation a couple days ago. When I called one of the core foster contacts, she she said that the owner was on the west coast, and probably wasn't answering due to the time change. I would have paid, but with all the lack of communication I had had thus far, I didn't feel comfortable paying for the vet bill, and facing the risk of not getting reimbursed, so she offered to pay for it. When I arrived at the vet's office, the authorization
still hadn't been called in. It only got called in while I was standing at the front desk. I really thought this cat was
NOT going to be seen today. Even after the vet issued liquid medication for the cat, the owner complained to me how it's expensive to get the medication in liquid form.
Fast forward two days, and I have decided that I will no longer be taking care of these animals and will be bringing them to one of the locations within the rescue group. I have thought about keeping these cats until they're adopted, but with how terrible the whole process has been with things like a major lack of communication, not being informed, and not having the full process explained as to how it works, I have had enough. I feel that in an effort to avoid having to deal with this group anymore, it is in my best interest to have them take care of the cats from here on out.
I looked up how to turn a bad experience into a good one, as I am having a hard time telling myself that I didn't fail, and that I should continue to foster animals. I learned that when you have never fostered before, it's better to go with a larger, more reputable rescue group. I have since applied for PAWS, and am awaiting to hear back about the next steps. I have learned that all rescue groups are not the same, and if these small things are issues that you,
yourself don't feel comfortable with, don't be afraid to tell the group owners. If I knew then what I know now, I would have asked them what the process for administering medication was. I would have asked if there is a backup person to approve authorizations, and I would have asked how new foster volunteers are trained. I try to keep in mind that I helped saved two lives, and those two happy-go-lucky cats are now playing and running all over my apartment together. I am proud of myself for speaking up when I felt something was wrong, even when I was accused of having a negative attitude. The group's criticism made me come extremely close to giving up and quitting for good. I'm glad that I haven't.
I originally got into this because I have anxiety, and know that pets can be a relief for that. I also just wanted to help be a temporary home for animals, as I am now allowed to have cats in my new apartment, and want to help as many of them as possible, and I can do just that by fostering. I know that this isn't an easy process, and it's not one in which I didn't expect to work, and have
some bumps in the road. But to be left on my own to crush pills, measure them, and administer them, is not something that I signed up for, nor is it something that they should have left me to do on my own, for the first time.
I am now looking forward to volunteering for a more organized, structured rescue group, and know that my efforts will be rewarded when I see the cats I've fostered go to good homes. I know that I'll have much better support with PAWS, and that though there will be some difficult times, I won't be left feeling alone. More to come later...
