Today we meet Karen Hill, who has been volunteering with Brooke’s Legacy Animal Rescue for nine years, fostering cats for them and occasionally dogs as well. The rescue, located in Naples, Florida, is foster-based and has no physical shelter.
I had a few quick questions for Karen and then she so graciously shared a special fostering story with us.
What surprised you the most about fostering?
I can’t say I was surprised but certainly have learned so much about cats and their behaviors. Also, I have learned a lot about illness and medical care.
What is the hardest part about fostering?
Letting them go, but then it makes room to save another life, so I can do it with joy.
How many of your own cats do you have?
Three – I do not mix my foster cats with my cats. Cats do not always get along well quickly and are territorial. I keep my fosters in a separate room, as to not upset the apple cart and keep everyone calm. My cats will know there are other animals in the house, but they are used to it now. One of my cats (Mr. Higgins) is very territorial.
What do you think most non-cat people would be surprised to learn about fostering?
When I started volunteering and fostering, it was of course because of my love for animals. But, really, we are also doing social work. When your foster is placed and it makes someone so happy to have that new family member, it comes full circle. People adopt for so many reasons, but when someone tells you they lost a husband or child and the pet fills them with happiness and helps with an emptiness in their life, or a child that has always wanted a pet…there are so many stories, but what I do brings happiness and we can all use more of that in this world. Our group also adopts to senior citizens and what joy we bring them!
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
I have a great sense of humor, which is needed when working with cats! Cats also have that humor gene – LOL!
When I asked Karen to share one of her favorite stories, this is what she shared.
A Fostering Story from Karen Hill
(In her own words)
Fostering cats (and sometimes I foster dogs) has been extremely satisfying. I have fostered for Brooke’s Legacy Animal Rescue for 9 years now and I can’t even explain the joy I have when my fosters find their forever family! I always cry, but it is tears of happiness.
My personal mission is to place these pets and make room for more. I do get somewhat attached, but I always look at the bigger picture. I have been at shelters to rescue and have seen the pets in the cages lined up outside the death row room. This keeps me very motivated to continue to foster, place, and then make room for more to be saved. Cats specifically do not have to be held for 5 days, like dogs do, for owners to look for them in some shelters. The cats can come in and go immediately to euthanasia. Every shelter is different, but in the long run, cats are euthanized at a much, much higher rate than dogs.
I have fostered many special needs cats too…blind, one-eyed, three-legged, etc. The bottom line is that these animals don’t know they are special needs. We always find placement for them and they are so loved. My favorite “special kitty” adoption was with a young boy who fell in love with one of my fosters “Blinky” who only had one eye. She was such a sweet little Russian Blue mix kitten. Just melted my heart! They sent a picture of him with her last Christmas that was so sweet.
Another one of my foster cats, who I became very attached to, was Panzy Priss. She was a petite tuxedo that I would take with me all the time to adoption events, etc. because she did really well in public, the car, liked other cats, dogs…just wonderful.
The rescue was asked to attend a cat show they were holding locally and said we could enter one of our available cats in the “Household Pet” category. My comment was…who knew? They recommended that a friendly outgoing cat personality would do best, obviously, so I naturally thought of Panzy.
I didn’t know that anyone can show their cat of any background in this category. Naturally, I assumed a cat show would only be purebred breeds! The cat show people are very rescue friendly too. (We actually placed 3 cats at this show). This was all new to us…running from ring to ring and trying to man our rescue booth! Long story short…after two days, 10 judges, etc. Panzy won “Best In Show” in the Household Pet category, at the Platinum Coast Cat Fanciers show on Sunday, July 24, 2011, held at the Araba Temple in Ft. Myers, Florida!
Several weeks after the show, I had her at one of our adoption events at Petco with some of her ribbons and a lovely couple adopted her. They simply love her, whether she won ribbons or not! I was so happy for all of them, but really missed her, as she was my foster for almost one year.
Thank you to Karen for fostering cats and dogs and giving her heart and home to those in need! If you would like to learn more about Brooke’s Legacy Animal Rescue, you can visit their website and Facebook page. You an also donate at their website.
Thank you to that stunning Cathy Keisha for putting me in contact with Karen! Do you know someone who fosters? Contact us to let us know!
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That’s Aunt Karen!!!! Thank you for featuring her and giving Brookes Legacy some much-needed publicity! Dunno if she told you but Aunt Karen began volunteering with them when her daughter had to do volunteer work for high school. I thank her so much for everything she does.
And thanks again to you for putting us in touch!
Fosters are so special and they save thousands of lives. It is a very honorable thing to do.
Awesome work she’s doing. What a great way to volunteer. Although it is way more than volunteering now. It’s a calling.
Shoko
I agree… it’s a calling!
Awesome foster. At one point, I said I could never foster because I could never let them go, but I’ve heard from several people now that they thought the same thing – and while they sob when their fosters leave, it helps to know that they saved these cats’ lives – that without them fostering, the cats wouldn’t have had a chance. I’m looking into fostering now because of this. Bless those who foster – it can’t be easy, but they do it tirelessly and with grace :)
That’s wonderful that you’re looking into fostering! I can’t wait to see your fosters. How does Bear feel about that? Or have you told him yet? :-)
I haven’t decided for sure … I rent so I have to have my lease changed, etc. No, he doesn’t know … if I didn’t have him, I’d already be fostering. He’s so scared of other cats, I also want to check with the vet first.
Fosters are so bery special and we couldn’t get along without them!
Aaaaaaaw What a great story. Mommy says she misses fosterin’ terribly but is grateful fur all those dat still do. Fanks fur sharin’.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
I loved this piece. Foster parents (honestly, whether it be for little ones of the furry or human kind) are so very special. I know that not just anyone can do it. Although I haven’t done any yet, I hope to foster cats and dogs some day. We have a fairly new foster-based (no physical shelter) animal rescue group in my area, and I would love to become one of their foster moms in the hopefully near future. My primary obstacle will be making sure that I don’t become so attached that every furbaby I foster becomes a foster fail. I loved that Karen addressed her experience with these feelings in her interview. This truly was so wonderful to read. Thank you for sharing this with us!
I bet the new rescue would love to have you as a foster!
Paws up to Karen! We think those that foster are angels on earth. :)
What an amazing lady! I would love to be able to foster one day.
Paws up! Karen sounds like she is doing amazing work for the kitties in need in her area.
What a great interview! Thank you, Karen, for doing wonderful and important work!
Karen and her group sound like amazing people that help so many. I love reading happy stories.
What a sweet story and what a lovely person Miss Karen is – she, and all the others in the world who foster and work so hard to find homes for those who need one, are angels. Real angels. In a world where there is way too much “sad”, it’s always uplifting to hear of happy endings and lives saved……………….
Hugs, Sammy and Mom Pam
Reading this post brought back so many memories of my time as a volunteer at a small town, no kill shelter. We had a little boy who would regularly come in to “visit” the animals because his parents would not let him have a pet. The county fair was a big event each year and this boy wanted very badly to enter one of the pet categories. We helped him pick out the cat he wanted to enter and he came every day to brush her and play with her. When the fair rolled around, one of the volunteers helped him enter the cat in the fair. He and his cat won a blue ribbon, which we hung on the cats cage at the shelter. The kitty was adopted right away and then the boy took home the ribbon. It was such a wonderful experience for this child and for all of the volunteers cheering him on. Even though he couldn’t have a pet of his own, he found a way to experience the unconditional love and joy they bring. He has grown into a wonderful young man and is still a devoted volunteer. I loved hearing about some of Karen’s favorite experiences and what a huge difference fostering can make. Nothing is as uplifting as a happy ending!
I absolutely LOVE this story. It is so sweet and touching. I’m glad that even though he wasn’t allowed to have a pet that his parents were nice enough to let him still go to the shelter and interact with the cats. This sounds like it was a very important part of his childhood and obviously left its mark on him since he still volunteers! I hope he’s able to have a pet of his own one day, if he doesn’t already.
CK’s Aunt Karen is awesome! Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. :)
Awwww!