Daily Mail - Daily Mail Weekend Magazine
WHY NOT FOSTER?
If you can’t take a rescue dog on full-time, caring for one temporarily will help prepare it for its new home and free up valuable shelter space, says dog fosterer Sylvia Van Atta
Distressing as it may seem, most of these perky, pleading- eyed canines were destined for doggie death row until they fell into the compassionate hands of dog rescuer Sylvia Van Atta. Through her not-for- profit organisation Many Tears Animal Rescue in Llanelli, South Wales, Sylvia has saved thousands of dogs from pounds, broken homes and breeders who no longer need them. Every Sunday she puts her charges into crates in her van and drives them across the UK to meet their foster families at set drop-off points.
Dog fostering is the fast-growing way to help abused or unwanted dogs, and Many Tears is a shelter housing rescued dogs until they are rehomed via the centre or through their extensive network of foster homes. Their temporary foster carers will nurture these dogs, giving them love and attention to get them ready for their new home. ‘Animal fostering is important because it’s the final step in preparing them for adoption into a permanent home,’ says Sylvia, 60, who set up Many Tears 12 years ago and now has 232 fosterers all over Britain. ‘Many dogs die because rescue centres don’t have space. So every one that goes to a foster home frees up space and enables another life to be saved.
‘Some people are reluctant to foster, they think it’s unfair to establish a bond and then let the animal be adopted. But a foster home is a lifesaving bridge for a stray who might never have lived in a real home.
‘Many dogs don’t cope well in kennels at a rescue centre so a fosterer gives the dog a chance to get used to life in a proper home. They can overcome phobias and learn to trust people and know they can expect food, warmth and a safe place to sleep. Time in a foster home can also provide information to match a dog with the right adopters, for example a dog that’s happy with cats.’
London- born Sylvia is a woman on a mission. She’s driven by the traumatic experiences of helping run a dog shelter in America. Astonishing as it may seem in a country like the US, before she started there dogs were routinely dropped down a hole and shot, strangled or gassed by local dog wardens. Sylvia was so upset by this that she offered to run the shelter to try to change it and ultimately had to learn to euthanise dogs so such barbaric practices would end.
‘I’ll never stop thinking of the dogs I murdered. It nearly killed me, so with Many Tears I’m trying to make up for it,’ she says. ‘We take dogs from all over – Portugal, Ireland, Spain, Bosnia, Turkey, Romania. Last year we took in 12 dogs from Cyprus who’d been in a rescue home for seven years.’
There’s no shortage of dogs at Many Tears who need foster homes. On average dogs are fostered for three weeks before a home is found. ‘But
some are harder to find homes for – old dogs, scared dogs and big dogs for starters,’ says Sylvia. ‘Also pairs of dogs, or those with health issues. At the moment we have two Russian
wolfhounds. They’re a big commitment. The longest we had a dog in foster care for was a year. We rescued Bertie from a pound in Swindon, he was a street dog and mistrustful of
everyone. His foster carer worked with him religiously and he was adopted two weeks ago. This is the level of commitment our foster carers show.’
All the Many Tears rescue dogs are assessed before they go to foster homes. ‘Every dog will have been microchipped, vaccinated, wormed, had flea treatment and been spayed or castrated before leaving us,’ says Sylvia.
She’s keen to stress how rewarding fostering dogs is. ‘If you’ve lost your own dog this can be great because you’re not replacing it – you’re simply helping another dog. It can also be good for retired people and those looking to be part of a community – the fosterers all keep in touch.’
Steph Elder and her mother Marianne, from Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, have been fostering for seven years. ‘We have two Labradors of our own, Skittle and Mambo, and they’re brilliant in helping the foster dogs rehabilitate,’ says Steph, 33. ‘We’ve fostered over 200 dogs. We’ve even had dogs who’ve been pregnant so the pups have been born in our home. Skittle helps the mothers by rolling on her back and enticing the puppies to play.
‘Our dogs welcome the foster dogs as part of our family and help them gain confidence. To be a fosterer you need patience and constant empathy and to be observant, as no two dogs are the same. But it’s so rewarding.’