Episodes > 105 > Pet Tales/Pet Match

A Second Chance

“A place to call home.” This is such a primal human need that many people go their entire lives in search of it. But pets need homes too!

Imagine this - 600 waging tails, 300 mouths to feed and 3000 nails to clip. This has been the life for Rob and Karen Bourne over the last three years. They have been foster parents for 300 dogs over the last 3 three years…but not at the same time.

Foster Parents are a special “breed” of people. They volunteer to take dogs and cats into their home for a period of time, give them shelter, food, medical treatment and love, and then the doggies and kitties just up and leave! Kind of like when a kid goes off to college… except these animals never come back home with an arm full of dirty laundry.

Becoming a Foster parent is a commitment. You can’t just go to a humane shelter any more and say, “I like that one” and walk away. Passing an interview and home visits are part of the routine these days. And you have to be ready when it’s time for your foster pets to leave the nest.

Yes, this is a bittersweet experience for most foster parents, but they can take comfort in knowing that the animals are being sent to a place they can call “home.” And every time one gets a new home it opens the door for another to get a second chance.

THE TAIL-END
If you have looked at the Bourne’s story and it looks like this is something you might want to do - here are a few tips to consider as well;

1. Make sure your family is prepared, especially small children. Your family life as you know it will be disrupted.
2. If you have a pet now then it’s a good idea to give them their space separate from the new pet at least for awhile.
3. Make sure you have all the supplies that you will need. Also any special needs or meds required by your new pet.