Contributed by one of our conseil members

Recently I have been powerfully struck by the gold we have in our Life Time Fosterers. Absolute gold.

The back stories are all different but in every case the fosterers offer their homes, hearts, and their families to dogs and cats who are carrying the effects of neglect, abuse, misfortune or simply age for the remainder of their lives.

All arrive with a relatively short life expectancy – some a few years, others only months. So our fosterers are giving their hearts to be broken, sometimes sooner rather than later.  They are making a huge difference for these animals.

Some cats and dogs do make astounding short-term recoveries in energy and activity for a while, with medical care (supported by our fundraising), warmth, affection and good food, but this is a bonus, and there’s no  guarantee.

Some stories

LILI came to us after 14 years of an outdoor life, untreated medical conditions, and inadequate food. For the last 10 months of her life, she dined on freshly cooked chicken with specially selected vegetables to help her arthritis. She had the option to be outdoors or indoors as she wished, and had company and affection from her devoted fosterer. She even managed to lose her hobbling walk and break into a little run now and again!

Then, all of a sudden, the Rainbow Bridge loomed for her, and LILI and her fosterer had to endure 24 hours leading up to the pain of that ultimate ‘Goodbye’. What a gift of love those 10 months were to LILI, from her fosterer! See her tribute to LILI at the end of this article.

ARTHUR came to us as a nearly 6 year old cat with bad dental problems that have been treated but not cured. He is FIV positive so other health issues could develop at any time. But the heart of a Life Time Fosterer has reached out for him. There’s no way of knowing how long the bond with this quiet but affectionate cat will be allowed to last before he is called to the rainbow bridge. But every day, Arthur has a way better life than he had before. He and his fosterer enjoy each day he is given!

What is the collective noun for POODLES? A ‘puddle of poodles’? Well that would be appropriate as the long-suffering fosterer for the puddle of poodles has to mop up after this elderly bunch quite a bit of the time! They are all old and a bit stumbly, but loving a lap. They are not always able to jump up nowadays, so they do it in steps, from stool to stool to lap! Only some of them can enjoy a proper walk, but off they all go to Caniparc now and again, for the livelier ones to do the course, while the others potter and sniff. These dogs arrived as already old dogs, in poor condition. Yet, in the ‘dog and cat family’ of the fosterer, their spirit has come back!

How do our LifeTime Fosterers do this, with the full knowledge that any day, any of these seniors may without a lot of warning reach a state where the kindest form of love is to let go and send them to trot off to Dog or Cat Heaven? It must simply be how big the hearts of our LifeTime Fosterers are. Just massive.

Someone said to me ‘I lost my dog recently, it broke my heart as she was part of the family for so long. I’d like to adopt another adult dog, but not too old as I couldn’t face going through that loss again so soon’. So very understandable. Yet that is what our Life Time Fosterers offer – their hearts, knowing they will be broken, not knowing quite when.

I have sharp memories of the days and hours leading up to the final ‘Goodbye’ for each of the 7 dogs and cats that I have owned over a stretch of 40 years. Our LifeTime Fosterers take a dog or cat knowing that this time is likely to come for them only too soon. For many, it is again, and again. They are repeat LifeTime Fosterers. What lovely, lovely people!

Is your heart big enough?

Start by filling in our application form (which is for fostering as well as adopting). Please use it to explain what you could offer, then we can discuss it further with you.

For a glimpse of what you can expect, here is a tribute to LILI from her foster Mum. 

Darling LILI – thank you for allowing us to share the last few months of your life. You came to us, a dog broken in body and mind, but not in heart. You expected nothing, yet you gave your love and affection without reserve.

Gradually you learnt to trust again and it was a joy to see you flourish and, although you had many health problems, you never let them get in the way of chasing the cat or begging for biscuits! Sadly you left us too soon. Saying goodbye was so hard. Shortly after your passing, I saw a beautiful rainbow – that was you, LILI – now free, showing the world your beautiful spirit.

The sadness of your passing will gently fade but the legacy of your courage and unbounded love will last a lifetime. Thank you, LILI, for the happiness you brought into our lives. Sleep now, lovely girl – we miss you.