One of my first fosters was Angel….a petite little tuxedo kitten with pretty yellow eyes.  When I first heard her story, I was brought to tears.  She was abandoned in the winter outside a local school.  Some of the pads of her feet had been burned off, presumably from being thrown out of a car.  The vet report indicated severe pneumonia and other traumas only a vet would understand.  Now it was my responsibility to nurse her back to health, both physically and emotionally.  It took a long time for Angel to learn to trust humans again.  I let her go at her own pace.  Slowly she discovered the pleasure of a back scratch and a chin rub, but panicked when I picked her up.  I loved her unconditionally.  Giving her to another family was not an option any more.  I adopted her and became what we call a “foster failure”.  Angel will be three next spring and life still moves at her pace, with everything on her terms.  She makes me laugh.  She keeps my lap warm when I work on the computer or watch tv.  I think of her past and see what a great companion she has become.  I may have failed the foster program by keeping her, but succeeded in nurturing a true little angel.

Since Angel, dozens of animals have come and gone through this house (only one other has become permanent!).  They have gone to new loving homes.  For those of you that think it would be too hard to care for an animal and then just give it up, I say this….you are right.  It is hard.  You will have animals that on adoption day will bring you to tears.  You will wonder if you are making the right choice.  And then you will meet the adoptive family.  You will see the wonderful place they are going to and the happiness your animal brings to their family.  Their enthusiasm will erase your sorrow.  At that point, you did what you were supposed to do….provide a safe and loving home for the animal while it waits for it’s forever home.  It is an incredibly rewarding job that doesn’t necessarily get easier, but is definitely always worth it.  And now your home is available for the next animal in need………

We just took Desi and Lucy to their new home this morning.  We were feeling rather sad as we usually do when we  have to part with any of our fosters ,especially our bottle babies.   We immediately felt better when the little nine year old girl started  to cry she was so happy to have not one but two kittens.  Her eleven  year old brother was also happy to get them , but he being a boy,  could not show as much emotion. Their mom said they couldn't get  to sleep last night they were so excited waiting for today to come.

Needless to say, this is the best part of this rescue work.