Adopt, Don’t Shop for Your Next Pet! is the general mantra of animal rescue organizations. With the expanding homeless pet population, the need for volunteers and donations is tremendous in our area.
In planning our August issue that focuses on Kids & Pets, it was a perfect time for me to reach out to someone I have great admiration and respect for to learn more about her work as a Pet Foster Mom.
Kassie Stieben, a local pet foster mom for Dallas Dog – Rescue.Rehab.Reform resides in this area. A lifelong animal lover, Kassie began her journey approximately eight years ago when she initially brought home kittens that needed to be bottle-fed, and a 5-week-old pittie puppy soon followed. She found her passion and hasn’t looked back!
As a foster mom or dad with a rescue, you provide care in your home until a forever home can be found for the animal. Organizations will require that you fill out an application and have a virtual home check to become a foster. In Kassie’s partnership with Dallas Dog – Rescue.Rehab.Reform, the organization provides for all of the necessities including medical care, beds, toys, food, and training, as a foster mom/dad you just make sure they are housed, loved, fed, and watered while waiting for their forever family. Not all rescues are able to provide so much, so if you are considering being a foster, be sure to understand the expectations of your role in your partnership as a foster family.
Kassie’s advice to all new foster moms and dads is “have patience”. It can take a new pet three months to become acclimated to a new environment and schedule. Have patience and use the resources the rescue provides for you! When asked what her greatest challenges and rewards of being a foster mom are, Kassie responded, “My biggest challenges with fostering are making sure my own household stays balanced when bringing in a new pup. The first few days and sometimes weeks are really the moments where my sanity is tested. As far as rewards, my favorite types of dogs to foster are the ones with mild behavioral needs. Watching a dog overcome their fears and challenges and transform into a whole new dog is my absolute favorite! If my schedule allowed for it, those would be the only dogs we’d take in!”
I had to ask her about “foster failure”. Which if you aren’t familiar with the term, “foster failure” is the lighthearted affectionate term used to describe when a foster pet parent permanently adopts the dog or cat. Kassie explained, “I’m a huge goal setter... so when I convinced my husband to start fostering officially, I told myself, and him, I had to foster 10 dogs before we could decide to keep one.” Kassie has in fact experienced a foster failure. She did adopt the kittens she bottle-fed and adopted her 12th foster puppy, Raven. She has fostered 26 pets and has not “failed” again, but never say never!
As you may already have guessed, rescue organizations face many challenges, however, the greatest need is for DONATIONS. Rescues are really struggling with cash donations for medical needs. Many rescue pets present with immediate and serious medical issues due to suffering abuse or abandonment. Many rescues have had to close their doors due to lack of funds. Foster homes are also a HUGE necessity in the rescue world. Rescues simply cannot save animals without a place to put them, and most rescues are foster home-based.
If you are unable to foster or adopt and would like to help support these important organizations, donate, share, or volunteer. If you can’t donate money, volunteer. Rescues have endless needs for volunteers to help transport animals to and from vet appointments, adoption events, etc. Are you great at social media or graphic design? Volunteer your time to help develop content. Good at spreadsheets? Offer your time to help organize files. Can’t foster, but want to help find foster homes? Volunteer to help reach out to approved fosters. Help enrich a rescue dog’s exposure by taking a dog out for the day that is being boarded. There are so many opportunities for you to volunteer.
Find more information on Dallas DogRRR at Dallas DogRRR - Rescue.Rehab.Reform (squarespace.com) or Dallas Dog - Rescue.Rehab.Reform | Allen TX | Facebook
I’ve been rescuing random animals my entire life. As the homeless animal population got more out of control, I knew I had to help in any way I could.
The most surprising gift I have received is this rescue community. I can’t speak for every rescue’s culture but, Dallas DogRRR’s community is so amazing! Everyone is there to help. Always.