Consider becoming a foster family for felines
When The Buddy Foundation finally became a 10,000-square-foot shelter with multiple cat rooms and living suites, we mistakingly thought we were well equipped to handle a multitude of feline situations.
We did not anticipate how animals would suffer in this economy, becoming as disposable as household objects. Animals have been left piled at the door in cages, boxes or tied to the property.
Some of the felines left behind have special needs. They may be aged, informed, injured, sickly or just plain too young to survive without round-the-clock assistance. These felines that require extra attention are the ones we want to put in foster care.
We are in need of some feline foster homes, as kitten season has not fully arrived and our foster homes are already almost filled to capacity.
Besides fostering just for the plain love of animals, why do people volunteer to foster? Some may not want to take on the responsibilities of pet owning because of a busy life style, whether it be work or personal reasons. When you foster, the commitment to a feline or litter of kittens is not permanent.
Besides, when you foster, the financial cost of veterinary care is not yours unless you wish to make a donation. Your responsibility ends when the forever home is found or the animal is healthy enough or old enough to be placed with Buddy.
Can fostering lead to adopting? Sure it can, but not necessarily. Fostering is a good way to determine if that particular animal can be worked into your existing family or not based on the feline's interaction with your family, including existing animals.
Some families foster to introduce a youngster to the responsibility of the daily care an animal requires.
Buddy provides the supplies and medication to take care of animals. Though Buddy has a beautiful shelter, the thought of one of our felines recovering in a home environment is much more appealing because of the extra love, attention and continuity of care.
With kitten season approaching, we will need bottle feeders for extra tiny kittens. Again, we provide the supplies, including mother's replacement milk. If this is too time consuming of a commitment, we also have kittens that can eat canned food or moistened dry mixed with replacement milk. Sometimes we have a mom cat with nursing kittens. In this situation, mom does most of the work.
For whatever reason people initially foster, the end result is an emotional, rewarding experience. Foster parents make a huge impact on moving an animal to good health and to their forever home.
Foster care also assists the foundation in increasing its ability to care for more homeless animals in need. That translates to one more additional animal or animals that will not die alone on the streets. Please call or stop by the shelter to volunteer to be a foster parent or for more details.
Buddy's Birthday:
Celebrate The Buddy Foundation's 20th birthday from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at Drink, 871 Algonquin Road, in Schaumburg. The theme of this year's celebration is the Old West featuring cowboys, saloons, dancing girls and more. Your donation of $30 ($35 at the door) includes a buffet dinner, two drinks and birthday cake for dessert. The evening promises a fast paced raffle and auction, along with music and entertainment. Reserve your tickets by mail today. Send your check to The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, or call (847) 290-5806.
Credit cards are accepted and tickets will be returned by mail. Visit online atwww.thebuddyfoundation.org, and purchase your tickets through Pay Pal. If you cannot attend this event, show your support for Buddy by sending in a ticket donation or contributing a raffle/auction prize.
Featured Felines
Lucky is a dark brown male tabby born in October 2012. Lucky was found abandoned outside, very scared and not eating. He was put in foster to gain some confidence and add on some weight. Everything was new to him; he discovered playing with humans and watching other cats was fun. He likes to hide, but once you get him out, you will see what a great cat he is. He will head butt, roll over, play till you get tired.
Lolita is a black and white female born in May 2013. Lolita is an adorable, petite kitty. She came to the shelter from living outdoors. She was once very shy, but has come such a long way that in no time she will be one of the kitties in Room 2 to be a greeter. If you take the time to get to know her, she has a keen memory and will respond to you the next time you see her, and will actually come to you.
• The Buddy Foundation is a nonprofit (501c3), all volunteer, no-kill animal shelter dedicated to the welfare of stray, abused and abandoned cats and dogs. For information, call The Buddy Foundation at (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.