The Vine: October 9, 2013
Submitted by Sarah D. Bunting on October 9, 2013 – 3:15 PM6 Comments
A friend of mine, Jen, is going through a rough time personally (sudden and unexpected divorce, finding a job, finding a place to live, trying to remain positive and strong for her two kids, etc.).
She’s been staying with friends and family in Naples, Florida for short periods, but is looking for a longterm solution. In the meantime, she’s trying to find someone who can foster her three healthy indoor cats while she figures things out. She’s desperately trying not to have to give them up, but moving them from place to place, and finding places and people willing to let three cats move in temporarily is difficult. Can the Nation help with fostering options?
Thanks,
Lindsay
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Tags: cats
I wish I could help, but I’m on the opposite coast! I’d say animal shelter but I’m sure they’re saturated like they are everywhere in this country… Maybe try asking if you could put up flyers at your local vet’s office? With a high enough concentration of animal lovers I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone who could help out… I hope your friend is able to get back on her feet soon!
The Humane Society usually has volunteers who foster animals in their home for adoption. I would contact them to see if one of them will be a foster parent to keep the cats from going up for adoption. It’s probably going to require that she provide food and litter, which presumably she is doing now. It’s definitely a lot to ask as pet boarding would cost her $60 a night through a service. I feel for her, as she is definitely going through an awful lot of awful.
This is a tough one. The animal welfare group I work with has received requests like this from time to time, and we almost always turn them down. Most foster homes have enough animals in them already that adding three more cats is often impossible. Still, it would be worth contacting area rescue groups to see if they could take at least one of the cats on a short-term basis or to find out if they have any suggestions for her. As RC suggested, Jen’s vet might be a good resource as well. I’m not sure about putting up a flyer, but the vet might know of clients that might be in a position to help.
This is going to sound a little weird, but have her contact homeless shelters and charities. I’m on the board of a national nonprofit with local affiliates that gives homeless families a place to stay and meals, and assistance getting back on their feet, and one of the things we do for our guests is find volunteers to foster their animals. It sounds like the program might be a good match for Jen as well; she could check out Family Promise affiliates in Florida.
I live in Minnesota, which is a bit far to send kitties for a foster, but I have a cousin in Miami who runs an animal rescue site. She has a huge FL network, so if her particular organization (My Animals Rock) cannot help, I expect she would know someone who can.
http://myanimalsrock.org/petrescue/?page_id=131
I’m in NYC and have 3 cats of my own. I wish I could help but unfortunately I can’t – but as a fellow animal lover, I hope things work out well for Jen!