The idea of becoming a foster parent for the Humane Society Calumet Area came to Julia Earnshaw in a unique way.
The Chicago resident had been working with the HSCA’s Estelle Marcus Clinic’s program, Trap-Neuter-Return.
“I found quite a few stray cats behind my house and brought them to the clinic,” she said of the effort that focuses on sterilization and microchipping of feral cats before returning them to the community. “I heard about the foster program for animals that live at the shelter but can’t immediately be put up for adoption, and since I’m retired and have the time, I wanted to check into it.”
After applying to become a foster parent, which requires at least eight weeks of commitment to house an animal until it is ready to be returned to the shelter for adoption, she attended a recent information session on what to expect while temporarily caring for an animal in her home.
“We call this boot camp,” HSCA volunteer Elaine Howery said as she introduced cat and kitten topics to future foster parents. “Most of the animals needing foster homes have unique situations, and there are specifics to learn.”
“When housing a pregnant cat, foster parents must be willing to keep mom and her babies for eight weeks after they are born,” Howery said to the group. “The mom knows what to do; she shows them how to use the litter box and how to groom themselves, so there’s not much extra work involved.”
Kittens that arrive at the shelter with no mother must be kept warm and fed special baby formula, which is provided by HSCA.
Other tips included the proper way to bottle-feed an orphan kitten — as they lay on their stomach. They can be burped when held over the shoulder.
HSCA volunteer Kristen Jeppeson also facilitated the boot camp, focusing on puppies and dogs.
Fostering addresses the fact that animals come to the HSCA in many shapes and forms, she said. They run the gamut from orphaned kittens and puppies to pregnant cats and physically challenged dogs, as well as those with special medication needs, to name a few. Some are in hospice care, and others just haven’t been socialized and are not good with people.
Many older dogs fit this category, but it doesn’t mean they can’t change when fostered, she said.
“Fostering is like saving lives, especially for the special-needs animals,” she told the group. “Things are nice here at the shelter, but there’s no place like a home setting, where they get individual attention. Foster animals seem to thrive after returning to us.”
Food and bedding for animals in foster care are provided by HSCA, as well as any special formulas or medications needed.
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Earnshaw didn’t specify which type of animal she would be willing to take, saying her mind is open. “I may start one way and then go another,” she said. “Either way, I plan to dedicate one special room in my house for any of the foster animals I bring home.”
A Facebook page for foster parents was developed by the HSCA, Howery said, or a shelter representative can answer any concerns that arise. The 12 families now involved with the HSCA foster program also support one another, she added.
More information about the fostering program of the Humane Society Calumet Area is at 219-922-3811.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.