By Susan Spisak
What does “fostering” or “to foster” mean? The Merriam Webster Dictionary offers a few definitions, but one addresses pet rescue: “being, relating to, or involved in a situation in which temporary care is given to an animal (such as one that is injured or awaiting adoption) in a household or similar setting.”
Our friends in area shelters and rescues need assistance with fostering animals. The all-important fosters provide them with loving homes where they can place new pets as their resources are often stretched. It allows the organization to have respite homes so current fosters can take a break or go on a vacation. Most importantly, extra fosters allow them, if this applies to their mission, to bring in out-of-state dogs pulled from high kill shelters, truly saving them from euthanasia.
Fosters provide countless benefits to pets. If they’ve been relinquished, to have the comfort of a home, and a person again, is something they’re grateful for. If they were pulled from a shelter, to have a warm bed, to be able to relax, and to taste freedom is an unknown luxury. For dogs who have been mistreated, fosters are an important cog in dogs re-learning love and changing their mindset about people. While it may not be an immediate, easy road in any situation, the result is clear: the fosters are instrumental in their growth, and the bond between them is unmistakable.
Two organizations in desperate need of fosters to help with their intake population are Pittie Posse Rescue and Sanctuary and Catahoula Rescue of New England: Houlas and Healers. It’s important to note, they also need approved adopters who are willing to understand their unique breeds.
Pittie Posse Rescue and Sanctuary, a Portland area nonprofit committed to responsible dog ownership, was co-founded a decade ago by Britt Bolnick with her husband Sully Sullivan. They currently have sixteen fosters who help care for their intakes, primarily from Clayton and Fulton Counties in Georgia. Additionally, they take in local owner surrenders, and dogs seized in cruelty and criminal cases across Maine.
Tank, Pittie posse rescue & Sanctuary
Britt wanted to reassure potential fosters and adopters about Pit Bulls, an umbrella term for breeds such as the American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, and American Pit Bull Terrier. These dogs are frequently misunderstood, and many have inaccurate impressions of them. Britt wanted to provide clarity for those considering fostering or adopting, emphasizing that understanding their true nature is essential.
“Dogs are a responsibility, just like children. They need love, veterinary care, training, exercise, enrichment, and respect. If you give them that, they will reflect that and be your best friend for their entire, too-short lives. If you neglect or mistreat them, they will reflect that instead,” explained Britt. And to tip potential fosters off on their overall personalities, Britt said they’re loving, smart, loyal, dedicated, goofy, and they can be high energy, or couch potatoes.
She’s adamant about force and fear free, positive training (as all responsible nonprofits /breeders/shelters are). “Dogs who have already suffered any combination of neglect and abuse need kindness, confidence, and to build trust in their trainers and family, not to be further intimidated, frightened, and hurt in the name of ‘training.’”
Britt said when you are a foster for the group, you get an entire team to support you, and with any need that arises. “Every foster of ours has a dedicated, private chat with an entire team of our inner circle for addressing training questions, needs for supplies, medical issues, behavior questions, and anything else you need as a foster.”
For people who are busy or work, and feel they couldn’t foster, Britt and Sully own The Bark Yard in South Portland, an award-winning daycare, grooming, training, and boarding facility. Fosters can utilize this and be comfortable knowing their charges are well-cared-for and receiving further socialization, an important part of fostering. (Note: fosters are not required to live in southern Maine.)
Warren-based Catahoula Rescue of New England: Houlas and Healers has been around for over twenty years. Founder and Director, Shannon Nachajko, said they currently have about thirty fosters, but their schedules fluctuate based on availability.
"Honorary Catahoulas"
CRNE was asked to help these two bonded Weimaraner girls.
Their intakes include Catahoula Leopard dogs, Catahoula mixes, and Australian Cattle Dogs, and they’re from shelters, rescues, or are owner relinquishments. She said they also get calls from vet clinics that have had dogs surrendered to them and need help as well.
Shannon said they always need fosters. She admitted the breeds they specialize in are not for first time owners or those with zero experience. “If you want one because ‘they are pretty’ then get a doll. They are not for you. They come with a big attitude and require a lot of exercise daily!” Same would go for potential fosters. That said, they are loving, active, and are fiercely loyal.
But if you are dog savvy, she knows you’ll enjoy them. “These dogs are exceptional breeds. If you have experience, they are so much fun and they challenge you in ways that up the ante, making you a better dog owner and trainer, because you must be on your best game.”
The biggest thing she asks of a foster is simply to open your heart and home. “We stress that fostering is about teaching the dog to be a dog again, not teaching tons of tricks or obedience. We want the animal to decompress and breathe again. We want it to adjust to a home so we can see how it does and learn the pros and cons it has to living in a house. That way we know where it will do best when it comes to placement.”
They have a specific foster program. A few things fosters are asked to work on are housebreaking, socialization, and leash manners. She said they prefer not to totally train the dogs, instead they like for adopters to finish steps as it adds to their bond.
If you cannot foster, but would like to assist them, Pittie Posse needs supplies, and wet and dry dog and cat food for their free Pet Pantry. Catahoula Rescue of New England needs volunteers for office and social media duties, fundraising, and events. For info on both, pittieposserescue.com/ and nehoularescue.com/.