May 27th - June 3rd | What Foster Homes Teach Us

Hello FWACC Fosters,

One of the most important things foster care gives animals is something shelters simply cannot fully replicate:

The opportunity to show us who they really are.

Sometimes that happens quickly. Sometimes it takes days. Sometimes it takes weeks of quiet routines, patience, decompression, and consistency before a dog or cat begins to truly settle.

Last week, we asked fosters to share some of the lessons, surprises, and experiences they’ve had while fostering. While we only received one submission this week, the responses captured something we see constantly in foster care: animals change when they finally feel safe.

This week’s newsletter focuses on what foster homes teach us, seasonal health concerns we are currently seeing in shelter pets, and how fosters continue playing one of the most important roles in lifesaving.

One foster shared something we hear often:
“Give them their own private space where it is quiet. Let them adjust.”

That simple statement reflects one of the most important parts of fostering: decompression.

According to this foster, their dog did not even feel comfortable leaving the crate during the first couple of days. Then slowly, things began changing.

“She was calm enough to get out of her crate. She was comfortable walking around her room.”

That progression matters.

In shelters, we often see animals during the most stressful period of their lives. Foster homes allow us to see what happens once the nervous system finally begins slowing down.

The foster also shared:
“What surprised you most about your foster pet?” - F: How smart she is and how well she listens.

Sometimes the dog barking in the kennel becomes the calm dog sleeping at your feet. Sometimes the shut down dog becomes affectionate and playful. Foster care gives animals the chance to reset.

Other lessons shared included:

• Slow introductions matter
• Outside introductions often work best
• Structure and patience help build confidence
• Quiet spaces can dramatically help decompression
• Many foster pets simply need time before showing personality

One response that will probably resonate with many fosters:
“Things you wish you knew before fostering?” - F. That I would build such a strong attachment to them.

That attachment can make goodbye difficult, but it also means the animal was able to feel safe, loved, and supported during an incredibly important period of their life.

We are currently seeing an increase in Panleukopenia positive kittens as kitten season continues to intensify.

Feline Panleukopenia is a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease that most commonly affects young, unvaccinated kittens. Because kittens have developing immune systems, they are especially vulnerable to rapid decline once symptoms begin appearing.

One of the biggest challenges with Panleukopenia is how quickly kittens can deteriorate. A kitten that seemed quiet or slightly off in the morning can become critically ill within a very short period of time.

Common symptoms may include:

• Lethargy or sudden weakness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration
• Hiding or decreased responsiveness
• Rapid decline in condition

The virus itself is extremely hardy in the environment and can survive on surfaces, bedding, clothing, shoes, bowls, crates, and supplies if proper sanitation is not followed. Because of this, prevention and isolation protocols are incredibly important during kitten season.

A few important reminders for fosters:

• Keep foster kittens separated from personal pets, especially during the initial quarantine period
• Wash hands thoroughly between handling different litters
• Use separate supplies whenever possible, including bowls, litter boxes, bedding, and carriers
• Avoid cross contamination between foster groups
• Closely monitor appetite, stool quality, hydration, and energy levels daily
• Notify the foster team immediately if symptoms develop, even if they seem mild initially

Vaccination is one of the most important protections we have against Panleukopenia.

FWACC vaccinates kittens and puppies every two weeks while in foster care due to how vulnerable young animals are during this stage of development. Maternal antibodies gradually fade over time, which is why boosters are necessary and why sticking to your scheduled vaccine appointments is incredibly important.

Even if a kitten appears healthy, remaining on schedule helps ensure they continue building protection during one of the highest risk periods of their lives.

Unfortunately, increases in Panleukopenia cases are not uncommon during heavy kitten season, particularly following periods of increased rain and outdoor breeding activity. Large numbers of vulnerable neonatal kittens entering the shelter system create greater opportunities for exposure and transmission.

Foster homes continue to play an incredibly important role in helping us monitor kittens closely, reduce stress, and identify illness early.

With the large amount of rain and humidity we have been experiencing lately, we are also continuing to monitor increases in upper respiratory illness (URI) symptoms in dogs.

Shelter environments naturally create higher exposure risks due to shared airspace, stress, environmental changes, and fluctuating intake numbers. Rainy weather can further complicate things by limiting outdoor time, increasing moisture exposure, and creating additional stress within kennel environments.

Common URI symptoms can include:

• Sneezing
• Nasal discharge
• Coughing
• Decreased appetite
• Lethargy

Many mild URI cases improve with supportive care and reduced stress, which is one reason foster homes can be so beneficial for these dogs.

As always:

• Monitor for worsening symptoms
• Keep foster pets separated from household pets initially
• Reach out to the foster team with any medical concerns
• Ensure pets continue eating and drinking normally

Reducing stress continues to be one of the most important things we can do for shelter animals recovering from illness.

Sometimes the right dog finds the right family in the most unexpected way.

Earlier this month at our Herd You Needed a Dog event, a visiting family completely fell in love with a sweet girl named Delta. They spent time with her, connected instantly, and couldn’t stop talking about her for the rest of their trip. The difficult part? They were only visiting Fort Worth for PBR Week and had to return home without her.

But Delta’s story didn’t end there.

That family happened to be close friends with one of our rescue partners and kept gushing about “this amazing dog from Fort Worth.” As they described her, light bulbs started going off. One quick phone call later and our partner realized… Delta was one of OUR dogs.

Now Delta officially has a family waiting for her and counting down the days until her June 24th transport.

The only thing she needs now is a foster home to help bridge the gap until she leaves for her new life.

Delta is already past her 7 day hold and urgently needs placement. We would absolutely love to get her out of the shelter environment and into a home while she waits for transport.

• Social and attention-seeking
• Friendly and easy to handle
• Walks well on leash and follows guidance easily
• Loose, soft body language with a wagging tail
• Loves interaction and solicits affection
• Dog friendly
• High energy and ready for adventure

Delta is the kind of dog people remember after they leave. The kind that creates a connection instantly.

Now there’s a family states away waiting for her arrival. Let’s help get her there

Thank You

Every foster experience teaches us something.

Sometimes it teaches us how resilient animals are. Sometimes it teaches us patience. Sometimes it reminds us how important rest, routine, and safety truly are for an animal trying to recover from stress.

And sometimes, it simply reminds us that behind every kennel card is an animal still learning how to feel safe again.

Thank you for continuing to give them that opportunity.

FWACC Foster Team