Become a foster carer

At the branch we have some wonderful, caring and reliable fostering volunteers for our dogs and cats, but we will always welcome more! To be a successful fostering volunteer you need to have emotional resilience, be sensible, practical and kind. Keep reading to hear some first accounts from these special people who donate their time, love and homes to our animals.

Carmen and David have welcomed a wide variety of dogs into their home. These have included a dog recovering from surgery, puppies and senior animals. Each dog they have cared for has gone on to be successfully placed in a permanent home, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their ongoing support.

'We have been fostering dogs for Mount Noddy for around a year and a half. Knowing that we are helping dogs that have ended up in kennels through no fault of their own, and are often stressed by the experience is very rewarding. We ensure that they are happy, loved and taken good care of until they find their forever home. It really is one of the best feelings knowing how much we are helping them. Each dog has been quirky, fun and unique. All of the dogs that we have looked after have been brilliant on walks and in the home and have adjusted very well which is lovely. The fact that they settle quickly in our home reassures us that when they move onto a permanent home, it will be a minor adjustment for them.

We often get asked how we can let the dogs go after having them. It is easy to become attached, however, we know that the branch will have found a loving home for them to go to. When one has gone we know it won’t be long before we can then help another dog that may be struggling, it is very rewarding and enriching for us. We love helping animals in need and will continue to do so.'

The branch takes in cats and dogs, so we need foster homes for both. Usually people choose to foster either cats or dogs, but this isn’t a rule (although we wouldn’t place a dog and cat together at the same time). Tracy is one of our most valued cat fostering volunteers, and has had over 20 cats and kittens in the last year. Tracy has a spare room, which is perfect for fostering mum’s and babies.

Tracy is absolutely fantastic at giving our more feisty feline residents somewhere safe to relax and begin to enjoy human company. When we get shy, worried or semi feral pregnant cats in we can be reassured that Tracy will do a fantastic job. Interacting with people in a home environment means the kittens are well socialised, which opens them up to more potential adopters. Tracy has done an absolutely outstanding job of turning round shy and worried mums and kittens and we don’t know what we would do without her!

'Fostering for RSPCA Mount Noddy is one of the best things we have ever done! Showing our support to the RSPCA by fostering kittens and cats is very enjoyable, and knowing that we have helped them on there journey to finding there loving forever homes makes us feel very happy. 

The process is so very rewarding and we feel honoured to have these cute, sometimes scared, but fun cats to enjoy in our home, safe in the knowledge that we are able to enhance and enrich there lives... Happy Days!'

Vicky is one of our more recent fostering volunteers, however she has made a massive difference in a short time! Because Vicky was able to take on a foster dog with specific behavioural need, it freed up a space at the centre for another dog, which is often the case with fostering. By looking after a dog it gives the staff at the centre more time to spend training, walking and providing enrichment for our kenneled residents. Fostering also allows our centre to increase the amount of animals we care for each year.

Vicky was happy and able to take on a dog with more complex behavioural needs, and since she has been in a home environment she has come on leaps and bounds. Being in a home meant her stress levels dramatically reduced, and the previous behaviour that was observed improved. In fact it has improved so much that we have been able to adjust her rehoming criteria, which opens up more potential homes for her.

'Fostering has been a great experience, and I would defiantly do it again. It has been so wonderful to watch Lady relax and settle in here, and knowing that I have really increased her chances of successful rehoming really fills me with such satisfaction. Getting to know Lady’s true character, and relaying this back to the staff at the centre so they can find the right home is very rewarding.

We have been on some wonderful walks, and she has been great company. Although I will be sad when she goes to her new home, I am reassured that because we found out more about her it will be a good match and go the distance!'

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer foster carer then please send an application form form to the team at [email protected]