The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
OPENING THEIR HOMES
A surge in foster parenting has helped Wanderers’ Rest through COVID-19
“Fostering is important for the stress levels of the animals, getting them out of the shelter, and understanding what their actual personality is like. In the shelter, it’s not always what it is when you’re in a home.”
— Sabrina Wilcox, shelter manager
CANASTOTA, N.Y. » Animal lovers have opened their homes and hearts to pets in need during the coronavirus pandemic, and this is something Wanderers’ Rest Humane Association in Canastota has experienced firsthand.
The shelter, run by a mixture of staff and volunteers, shut down at the beginning of the national health crisis and had to eliminate volunteers and reduce staff hours.
Shelter Manager Sabrina Wilcox says this was when concerns were particularly high — how could all the animals be taken care of while the shelter also ensured everyone’s safety? A public call to action was then sent out in search of more foster parents.
“So many people stepped up,” Wilcox shared.
Several residents stuck at home realized that it was the perfect time to welcome a foster into their care.
Foster parents agree to temporarily house and care for an animal until they are adopted. Of the animals that went out for foster care during this initial shut-down period, all have since been adopted, Wilcox said. Fostering continues to be a loving stepping-stone used at the shelter to help animals on their journey to their forever families.
Wilcox explained the role foster care plays in an animal’s development; it isn’t just an opportunity for someone to get close with Mr. Fluffy. “Fostering is important for the stress levels of the animals, getting them out of the shelter, and understanding what their actual personality is like. In the shelter, it’s not always what it is when you’re in a home.”
An array of residents have applied for the job. Some could handle long term placements, while others could only dedicate small chunks of time, but anything was helpful, Wilcox said. Even a weekend or a night spent in a home can make a huge difference in a pet’s life.
Every animal in a foster home means there’s one less in the shelter, and this frees up vital resources for other animals. “When you’re fostering, you’re saving another life too, not just the animal that you’re fostering,”
Wilcox added.
Any animal has the potential to be placed in a temporary home as they wait for adoption. A lot of momma cats and kittens go into foster care, but momma dogs and puppies can be fostered too, there just aren’t as many of them, Wilcox said. Fostering is particularly important to a kitten’s survival, especially if they are orphaned. Once they are old enough, fixed, and ready for the Wanderer’s Rest community room, it doesn’t take long for the animals to find their forever homes.
Along with this increase in community support during these difficult times, Wilcox said there are other
noticeable trends at play. The cat adoption rate between April 1 and August 31 is 60% this year compared to 52% the last. For dogs, it’s 45% and 30%, respectively.
These numbers consider how many animals are coming in, and Wilcox said as of late, that number has been dropping. When the animals do get there, they don’t have a hard time finding a home, either, and so the adoption rate increases.
Fewer animal surrenders isn’t exactly news; it’s a trend that has been going on for some time, not just during the pandemic, the manager shared. The reasons for this aren’t exactly known, but she suspects
that an increase in spaying and neutering could be a part of it.
More recently, with so many people staying at home, it’s possible that animals with behavioral and other issues, who would otherwise get the boot, are receiving the attention they need to stay put, Wilcox speculated.
Likewise, more people at home are realizing they want a furry friend to keep them company, and this could be boosting adoption rates.
A total of 63 cats and 37 dogs have been adopted between April 1 and August 31 of this year at Wanderers’ Rest, and there’s always
more looking for their new home.
The shelter currently has around nine dogs and 15 cats ready to find their long-time human companions, and this number will only increase as foster kittens mature to adoptable age. Adoptions and surrenders are made by appointment only at this time.
For those interested, supporting the rescue can take many forms. Foster and adoption applications can be found online as well as a donation portal and wishlist including bleach, canned dog food, dry cat food, and kitten chow, which are all in high demand.
“We have a big need right now for volunteers,” Wilcox admitted — particularly those who are able to commit to a weekly schedule, even just one day a week, to help with regular cleaning and day-to-day tasks.
“Volunteers are basically the key to our success here. So we’re opening it up to anybody who is willing and wants to help out as long as they follow our COVID protocols.”
Any support is welcome to help free up the staff for more pressing duties like medical tasks and temperament tests that are necessary to get an animal feeling tip-top and ready for adoption.