I suppose you could say I’ve been involved with fostering animals for over 30 years now so I’ve got a little bit of experience of different dogs and cats. Mostly this has been in the last 15 years. The benefits to fostering for any animal is massive. However lovely we make the kennels environment, how ever dedicated the staff or facility it obviously can’t compete with living in a home. However, it is vital that any animal going into foster care is carefully assessed by the centre first. All animals need to be in foster with the right foster carer. To suit their skill set, their experience and understanding of that particular animal needs. Some cares are brilliant with puppies or easier placement others have gained valuable experience working with dogs who have suffered trauma and it’s necessary to have knowledge of how to help these animals. Ongoing training, support and advice is always available to foster carers from St Giles Animal Centre and there will be people who will be there to help, support and give advice to the carers with each placement. Fostering enables the centre to have a much better idea of how that particular animal behaves in the home environment. Fosters can work with partially scared, traumatised and shut down animals to establish trust and for that animal to be able to form bonds. Toilet training can also be established where this is impossible in a kennel. Learning to walk on a lead, be sociable when meeting other dogs. It’s also so important for them to meet new people and socialise. As the foster carer you can pass all of this very valuable information back to the centre. How they are with other animals, cats, small furries, birds. This enables the centre to look for the right home for the dog/cat much more easily. It’s such a rewarding job but of course it is hard when any animal leaves to be adopted but also so fulfilling. I’m constantly asked how I do it and surely you must keep this one…. But I love fostering, the sense of achievement, the satisfaction when they do go to their forever home and when you get video’s, photos and messages from their new owners it’s fabulous. Seeing a frightened, terrified little soul go into their new home with people that will love and care for them is magical. I always tell them, with a tear in my eye, this is where your life really begins.