M
eet Jo who together with her husband Alex, have been fostering since 2015. We asked
Jo to tell us how she became a foster and what it’s like. Here’s what she told us
We realised that it is never someone else’s job, if we can help – we will
“It began with our first ever foster, Gorgeous George (epic fail – we fell head over heels in love and he is still with us). We kept seeing stories of dogs and pups abandoned, discarded like rubbish and it made us so incredibly sad. But we also kept seeing hope, people with huge hearts filled with love, the rescuers and fosters, who were all volunteers, giving all their strength, love and time, gaining nothing but bigger hearts as they helped the poor souls. We realised that it is never someone else’s job, if we can help – we will, and that set us on a journey..
So, back to the beginning, we’d seen a plea for a foster home for a poorly little 6 month old boy with a bum leg, that was found running up the motorway, after a 20 minute sprint by 5 people, he was eventually caught. I messaged the lovely lady, beginning the message as I’ve done a few times now ‘I know you don’t know us, but maybe we can help?’ And that was our introduction to foster life
Roll onto 2018, we decided we needed to accommodate more than one dog at a time, the reality of never ending poor souls needing help was apparent. Alex (the ever patient and supportive husband) turned our front garden into a foster pen, he built the entire structure, fitted with lights, heated dog houses for the winter and an industrial fan for summer. It was quickly pointed out to us, that it was best suited to entire litters of puppies rather than one or two adult dogs, and so began our non-stop offer of safe space for pups.
With great determination, we promised ourselves that we would not keep each foster dog like we did with George, which is just as well because we’d have 300 dogs by now. Watching them leave is hard after loving them, but seeing them happy and loved in their new homes makes the world right. Although I must admit, I’ve been known to chase a few cars as they’ve driven the pups away for their flights, Alex tells the driver ‘If you see the wife in your rear view mirror closing the distance like Usain Bolt, put your foot down and go, go like you’re the getaway driver for the biggest bank job in history!’.
Fostering for us now is a way of life, a purpose. The poor souls arrive and while the rescuers work tirelessly to find them their ‘forever homes’, we love them, feed them, play with them, try to teach them basic commands and in doing so, we note their traits and report back which kind of home would best suit them. Fostering is certainly an adventure, each pup is very different, each has their own personality and it’s so much fun getting to know each one. Over the years, I’ve been used as a climbing frame, had my hiking boots reduced to peep-toe sandals, been presented with poop on a cupcake toy and as an additional topping to a burger, and our hearts are filled with joy each time.
If you are thinking of trying your hand at fostering, whether it is one dog, just one time, please, I urge you to go for it. For that one dog, that one soul, it makes such a difference, you are the bridge between what was and what can be.
If you want to be part of something huge, something worthy, something that will make you laugh, smile, and yes on occasion cry, take a leap, get involved.
Working within a team you are never alone, there is always support and while you foster that poor soul, a family is waiting out there somewhere to offer it a loving home. An added bonus, we have met some amazing, like-minded people and I have great pleasure in calling them my friends.
The final word, fostering saves lives! The amazing rescuers can only do what they do, if they have safe spaces to take care of the dogs. If you want to be part of something huge, something worthy, something that will make you laugh, smile, and yes on occasion cry, take a leap, get involved.” - Jo Kane Pays
If you’re inspired by Jo’s story and would like to know more about fostering then check out our Fostering Fact Sheet and ‘Join’ our Elysium Animal Rescue - Cyprus Group on Facebook. Alternatively you can email us on admin@elysiumanimalrescue.org and we’d be happy to answer any questions you have.
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