Future fostering questions (and any thoughts regarding shift work and piggies)

ScrufflesRules

ScrufflesRules

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Hello :)

Over the last few months, I've come to the conclusion that the next stage in my piggy journey will probably be fostering. This is partially for financial reasons (I don't think I can afford any more £3500 vet fees), and partially for emotional ones (not wanting to restart the piggy cycle any time soon).

I've got lots of questions, but I was wondering whether it would be best (if there's even a difference) to fostering for a smaller charity, or one of the larger ones (RSPCA/Blue Cross). I'm guessing there are pros and cons to both.

How have you found issues related to vet care were dealt with when fostering? Who makes the decisions regarding pts or pursuing further treatment- the fosterer or the charity (or a decision made by both?). Is help generally provided when it comes to administering medication/ critical care if the fosterer works long hours away from home? I understand this probably varies by charity.

Does the fosterer have a say in who adopts the pigs? Do smaller charities generally get more 'post-adoption updates' than larger ones?

Is it inevitable that my future piggies will be foster fails? How do you resist the urge to give over all your living space to foster pigs

What would you say the average amount of time to foster an individual pig/group of pigs is? I've seen piggies who have been in foster care for over two years, and there's no way I'd be able to rehome them after that length of time!

P.S. I'm going to be working long shifts at various unsociable hours in the near and distant future (RIP my dreams of fostering parrots). How will this affect guinea pigs? With my RB piggies I had a very strict routine where I would feed them at the same time every day, but I don't think this will be possible with any future piggies. Does anyone have any experience with making piggies and shift work compatible?

P.P.S. I'm not ready to start approaching rescues to apply to foster just yet, but I like to plan in advance!
 
Myself and hubby were both on shift work at different places until recently and found our boys to be very adaptable.
 
Hi! I'm a piggy foster parent in the US so things might be different. I think a ton of your questions should be answered by the rescues that you are looking into as each rescue is unique. I foster for a rescue that specializes in exotics so no dogs or cats. We foster for everything from hissing cockroaches, reptiles, birds, and small furry mammals.

On your question about adopting your fosters, that really depends on you. My sister tried fostering for the rescue and she was a foster fail and adopted one of her fosters and one of mine; the rescue asked me to see if they would be compatible. I have been successful in fostering at least 7 piggies for two years now. My longest fostering was for a bit over a year. I have worked on not getting to attached by thinking I am just caring for another families' future piggies. Kind of like babysitting, I'm not going to keep another person's children I'm just caring for them while they are away. Hopefully this makes sense.

I currently foster two sanctuary piggies; they are 6 years old and the rescue deems them too high risk to have spayed. This rescue spays/neuters all of the mammals (excluding the female mice) so no surprise babies here! This is the first time I have had to do vet care for them. My rescue pays for all vet bills, but I have to approval to take them to the vet so the rescue doesn't get surprised. This part of fostering is REALLY appealing since I don't pay their vet bills, just all of their food and bedding bills. But that could be different with the rescue you foster for, I would just ask them.

I can't speak about the hours of working, just as long as you are consistent about caring, feeding, and loving them on a daily basis.

Hopefully this helps, sorry it is so long.
 
I can only speak of my experience with the Potteries. I live some distance from the rescue and other foster carers so I may have slightly different experience from other foster carers. Once the pig is in our care we are responsible for all standard care, grooming, health etc and determining when they are ready (if ever) for adoption

The rescue has an account with a vet practice near the rescue and wherever possible all vet treatment is with those vets and in the rescue account. The rescue account has certain procedures tests etc automatically authorised but others need a personal authorisation from Helen. The rescue pays that account directly. My vets also have an agreement with the rescue and I get a discount on vet treatment for foster pigs. But I have to settle those bills at my own vets and then reclaim the cost from the rescue. I know exactly what is allowed or not allowed in terms of running up treatment costs. But in an emergency we just have to do whatever is right for the piggy and sort out the finance afterwards. As a small rescue we do sometimes have to do an emergency fundraiser to recover vet costs we’ve already incurred.

When it comes to long term health issues and/or EOL care, the foster carer discusses this with Helen and if necessary Helen will also speak with the vets to determine the best course of action for the piggy. It’s a team decision with the foster carer the vet and Helen.

Once a pig comes to me they become my responsibility. If a pig needs medicating it’s down to me. I actually find it very stressful when a new pig comes to me and if you have pet health anxiety it can be very triggering. If there’s going to be a long term issue with medicating etc then we might need to move pigs around in the rescue but that can take time, as inevitably all our foster cages are full. I don’t get contributions to keeping pigs just vets bills. I provide food, bedding, hay etc. As a rescue we do get donations of food hay etc and these do get offered within our group. But fostering is really a love job, with vets bills paid.

Adoptions wise, we have a strict policy and waiting lists. All foster carers should be well versed in the policy and when an application comes in we do discuss them. Helen has final say if we are in any doubt about approving adopters. But once it’s been approved it is down to the foster carer to do the adoption. And I also do bondings. Not all foster carers do, but most of us will do initial introductions and then act as point of contact with adopters about the piggies they have adopted. You have to be prepared to deal with the public and to have them in your home from time to time.

We’ve all had failed fosters. For me there was Felix and also little Holly. And Boris (due to lockdown poor chap - couldn’t keep him alone for months on end). But on the whole I am very good at giving them up. You have to have a different mind set. Love them and care for them as if they were your own….but tell them and yourself that they aren’t staying. Long term stayers become an issue. But every failed foster is also blocking a cage that an emergency may need, and that really does help focus the mind.

It certainly can be very rewarding. Post neuter boars are always fun. 6 weeks wait and then doing a bonding with a new wife. Rehabilitating piggies can also be rewarding. Seeing them fill out, blossom and gain in confidence. And then helping to work out what sort of home they will thrive in so that you can find the right adopters. But it’s not without its heartaches. I’ve fallen in love with piggies I simply couldn’t keep. I’ve seen neglect (not always intentional). I’ve lost some fosters despite my best efforts. But I intend to foster more and keep fewer of my own in future.
 
With us at Merrypigs, this is how we would go about fostering in relation to your questions...

We would always make decisions re vet care and PTS, of course with an input from the fosterer although the final decision is always ours. We cover all veterinary costs.

Our fosterer don't really have a say who the pigs are adopted to. However all potential adopters are adopting on a strict contract and home checks are completed.

We have had no foster fails so far - although some have been very tempted!

We often get updates on our piggies - a few of our piggies have been adopted by fellow TGPF members which is always nice!

We can't guarantee how long piggies are in foster for. Everyone is different. Some only a few weeks, some much longer.

We are happy for shift workers to adopt provided all the pigs' needs are met.

Our fosterers must be within 20 miles of the rescue.

Hope this helps! 😊
 
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