Why don't you adopt that foster pet?

I hear the phrase 'foster failure' often and it makes me smile knowing that a family opened up their home to a shelter or rescue pet and then fell so head over heels in love they had to adopt him/her! I think it's a wonderful ending to that pet's story and it is never a bad thing to hear the words 'foster failure'. 

Prada looking gorgeous on the green couch!

For me, however, I don't foresee that phrase coming up anytime soon (I won't dismiss it altogether, because who knows what the future holds). Yesterday, I posted about Prada, my sweet foster mother that went back to the shelter to go up for adoption. I had a few people express concern regarding that blog, questioning why I didn't simply adopt her 'if I loved her so much'. 

I gave Prada a chance to find her forever family BECAUSE I love her so much. I would love to make Prada my own and offer her the life I know she deserves. I fell in love with her charming personality, she very quickly became part of my life and as hard as it was, saying goodbye was always in the plan. 

My husband and I have four pets of our own; Holly, Cody, Jazz and Izze Belle. My four pets are always my priority and adding an additional pet in my home is just not an option. We have a routine, my pets deserve my full attention and adding in a fifth is not something my husband or I want right now. We have had foster pets at our house many times over the last few years and the dynamic always shifts dramatically between our pets. I hate seeing my own little ones stressed out, so when I opened my new studio, we decided that we would have foster pets at the studio only. Our personal pets are happy with the arrangement.

So far, studio fosters have been a perfect compromise. We are able to foster litters of kittens, which gets them away from the shelter environment where we can socialize them, offer them a safe space, away from illnesses they may catch at the shelter and let them grow up in a semi-homelike environment. When we brought in Prada and her babies, the plan never changed. I did, however, become much more attached to Prada than I usually do to my fosters. That doesn't mean I should adopt her immediately, it just means that I love her and saying goodbye was tough. If I thought for even a second that Prada would not find a wonderful home, I would have kept her as a long-term foster at my studio. I do have faith that my shelter will step up for her and I have seen first-hand how wonderful the families that adopt our shelter pets truly are. Saying goodbye was a gift for Prada, she deserves a home with a family that can give her love.

By fostering Prada and her babies, I opened up a kennel at the shelter so another cat could be saved. By bringing her little family here, I saved 8 lives. That's nothing to feel bad about and I don't feel bad for even a second putting Prada up for adoption. I am sad and I miss her, but there is never even a little piece of regret or doubt that fostering is an amazing gift. I look at it as a gift to Prada as well as a gift to myself. Prada was special and I will always love her. I also know that her next family will love her to pieces as well!

Stephanie Conrad
Pet Studio Art | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

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When fostering hurts...

Prada snuggles with two of her kittens.

Over the past 10+ years that we have been fostering animals, I have said goodbye to literally hundreds of fosters. At almost any given point in time, we have a fluffy litter of kittens running around, with the occasional foster dog or adult cat. My most recent group of fosters has been a wonderful little crew. Prada came into the shelter with an adorable litter of six very little kittens. She was placed in our kitten nursery at the shelter, where things run a little slower and the area is quite to keep the families a little less stressed. Even with an amazing staff and calm nursery, the shelter is not a great environment to raise babies and it was fairly obvious that Prada was not comfortable in the shelter. 

Prada nursing her babies shortly
after arriving to my studio.

On one of my weekly trips to update photos for the cat area, I stopped in to say hello to the nursery kittens and decided to take Miss Prada back to my studio, where she had a little more space to raise her family. Once at the studio, Prada made herself at home and relaxed. She felt safe and comfortable for the first time in several weeks and she showed that appreciation to me every day. 

Over the past 2 months, I have become so attached to my sweet momma and although I knew the time would come that she would go up for adoption, I wasn't as prepared as I expected. For the first time ever, I cried on my way to the shelter to drop off a foster. 

Today, Prada will get spayed and once she is on the road to recovery, she will be placed up for adoption. I may never see her again once she moves on to her new home and as much as that hurts, I know that without being fostered, there is a chance she could have lost her kittens, or worse, her life if the shelter had become too overcrowded. 

I volunteer with an amazing animal shelter. We are an open admission shelter, which means we take in any animals that come through the doors, no questions asked. We save nearly all of the healthy and adoptable pets that enter our doors, but that doesn't mean we don't have rough months where our kennels are all full and that dreaded kill-list could go up. 

As hard as saying goodbye has been today, I know that Prada was given a better chance at life because she came to live with me while she raised her family. Seeing her love and devotion to her kittens is an experience that I cherish. Prada has been a wonderful mother and I know that by letting her go, I am giving her the chance to be babied herself. 

Stephanie Conrad

Pet Studio Art | Owner | Artist

www.petstudioart.com

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Happy Tears!

I admit it, I am a cry-baby. I shed tears when I am happy, sad or just overwhelmed with the moment. So, it may be no surprise to my friends that this particular email made me tear up, but I am so incredibly touched, I just have to share it with you. 

From Lisa S.

"Hi Stephanie,

'Foxy', Lisa's new foster!

I wanted to share some good news. You inspired me to become a volunteer, and now I'm going to be a kitten foster too.  I signed up today and went to get everything I need, and should be picking up kittens tomorrow [Note, this email was sent a few weeks ago].  It goes without saying that I'll be sending a photo (or two).

Thanks again for the painting, for your inspiration, and for caring so much about animals. I'm sure you already know that Texas is a much better place because of you, and now Nevada is too! 

- Lisa"

Wow! I have happy tears now reading it again! 

Just a little back-story for those that might be new friends of The Pet Studio. Last year, just outside of Austin (my hometown) the largest forest fire in Texas History broke out. The fire lasted for well over a month before being declared extinguished and destroyed nearly 1700 homes. Lisa S, living states away and not being personally connected to any of these families effected decided to offer both donations to Austin Pets Alive (one of the organizations helping out with the displaced animals from the fires) as well as a personal donation to two amazing families that lost their pets. Lisa purchased these paintings knowing that these families might never know her, but knowing how special a painting of their loved ones that were lost during the fire would be. 

'Mojo' & 'Ginger' | 16in x 20in
Mojo & Ginger were among the many pets who's lives were lost during the Bastrop wildfires in 2011.

Then, several months later, when Austin Pets Alive was having a rough month with several tough medical cases, including an overflow in their Parvo-Ward, Lisa sweetly purchased a painting of one Austin Pets Alive's cute Parvo survivors, Hector, to hang in the Parvo-Ward as a reminder of why APA continues to work hard to save these lives. The purpose of this painting was intended to bring joy to an area that can so often be filled with heartache and stress. Since Hector's painting arrived at APA, I have had nothing but compliments from the APA staff!

'Hector' |  16in x 20in
Parvo Survivor with Austin Pets Alive

In addition to these paintings, Lisa has ordered a variety of other pieces to donate to her own local rescues as well as unique gifts for friends as a beloved pet has been lost. (See below)

Now, as I anticipate what Lisa has up her sleeve next, I am just completely honored to know that she finally has a painting of her own beautiful kitties, Laci and Paisley hanging in her home! I can't wait to continue seeing pictures of her new little foster kids!

Laci & Paisley | 20in x 20in
Lisa's own gorgeous kitties snoozing on the couch!

So to Lisa, I say... Thank You! Thank you for being the kind of person that opens up your home to help save lives! Thank you for being such an amazing client! Most of all, Thank You for being a wonderful person that thinks of others as much as you think of yourself! Because of you, lives have been touched and I know that you have made a difference in the lives of many pet owners and Animal Rescuers!

Stephanie Conrad

The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

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Stephanie, owner of The Pet Studio, dropping off Hectors painting at Austin Pets Alive!

'Stosh' | 11in x 14in
Given as a gift to a friend of Lisa's after her beloved pooch passed on.

'Best Friends'
Donated to the SPCA of Northern Nevada by Lisa S.

'Julie' | 8in x 10in
Julie was one of the pets thought to have been lost during the Bastrop fires, luckily she was found days later. You can read her entire brave story here.

Saying Goodbye to Mason and Muru

It always amazes me how a little foster kitten can win over my heart in such a short amount of time. Mason and Muru, my most recent fosters, came into my life just over a month ago at only 4 weeks old.

They were a little shy over the first few days, but as soon as they realized that I wasn't out to get them, their playful sides came out and there wasn't a moment that the two of them could be caught snuggling or wrestling together! 

Today, I took them to meet their new owner at Petsmart. It was love at first sight and while my eyes were filled with tears as I said goodbye, I knew that they were going to a great home! I was even more surprised and excited for these two rugrats when their new parents decided to go on a shopping spree and purchase over $200 in treats, toys and beds for these sweet kids! Mason and Muru are off to start their new life... 

Stephanie Conrad
The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

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Just One Day...

As I wake up this morning, I am feeling incredibly rested. The kind of rest where there is no worry or stress and you wake up knowing that something wonderful has happened. I contribute my great rest last night to the millions of people around the country that participated in yesterday's Just One Day Pledge.

Percy, Adopted June 11, 2012

Yesterday, a dream that I share with many other rescuers actually came true. Yesterday, shelters from California to Texas to Maine stepped up to stop killing adoptable pets! In Texas alone, over 60 organizations took the Pledge. 

One of those organizations, The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, where I myself volunteer, stepped up for the Pledge and stayed open all day (usually WCRAS is closed on Monday's for surgery) to adopt out pets to their new forever homes! 

As the doors opened for the day, visitors, volunteers and potential adopters started piling in... and they didn't stop! During the first four hours of the adoption event, 25 pets were adopted out, including several of our long-term cats, one of whom is an FIV positive kitty (Percy - pictured here!). Both Staff and Volunteers had tears in their eyes as Percy moved out of the shelter on his way to start his new life.

As the day moved on, I was fortunate to spent my time educating new pet parents and assisting in visitations for  potential adopters. I met so many amazing families yesterday. Some with children, some without, some seniors, some newlyweds but the one thing they all have in common... they are our community members. These are the individuals that we are working with, the ones that want our shelter to save lives and the ones that are going to promote adoptions in the future simply because they were greeted with a smile and made to feel like we want them to be part of our success! 

Fern with her new mom!

By 4pm, 30  pets were on their way to their new home, to play, to cuddle and to know that they will be loved with a warm place to sleep!

And.. the shelter, well, the morale was through the roof! The Staff was all smiles and jokes, laughter could be heard in almost every area of the building and the best part... several cages were empty with an implied "I'm Adopted" sign hanging over them! 

At 6pm (closing time) adoption numbers reached well over three times the norm. With 34 wiggling tails and happy meows now out in their new homes, the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is able to open their doors to more life-saving challenges and continue the trend as we move forward to a No Kill Williamson County!

While it was labeled 'Just One Day,' yesterday was not just another day. Yesterday was a day that ended needless killing. Yesterday was a day that changed minds and showed shelters that they can do it and that their communities are behind them! Yesterday was a day that proved change is good and that amazing things can happen when a shelter embraces and partners with their communities! 

Stephanie Conrad
The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

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Volunteers, Adopters and Visitors all made this 'Just One Day' possible!

My Foster Kittens

The Foster Room

Last week, I spent some time clearing out my large closet in my art studio. This closet is special because it has plenty of space and two giant sliding doors, making it an ideal space for foster pets to live. The only issue I was having is keeping my own pets out of the foster's space while allowing them to continue with their normal daily routine, which includes spending plenty of time with me while I work. 

So, after some debating, I decided to replace one of the sliding doors with a screen door, so the fosters have plenty of ventilation, but are kept at a safe distance from my own pets. This solution has worked like a charm! Our first residents to the kitten room, Mason and Muru are really enjoying their play space and my pets are having a great time watching them from a safe distance! 

Mason and Muru, the first residents of my new foster room!

Mason and Muru are litter-mates that were brought into the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter on 5.12.2012 and are about 5 weeks old right now. They are quite attached to each other and LOVE to wrestle and play! I am being thoroughly entertained by these two little ones!

Mason and Muru are not the first, nor the last kittens that have been invited into my home. 

Muru talking up a storm!

I first began volunteering with local rescue organizations when I was 16 and since have fostered countless litters of kittens (my favorite animal to foster) as well as puppies, adult dogs and cats and even a few turtles and lizards! Fostering is an easy way to help out the shelter system. Not only does it free up space at the shelter to allow more pets to be saved, it gets these little ones out of the shelter environment where they might be exposed to illnesses that their little bodies can't fight off. 

As a foster parent, I am able to see these little ones turn into little cats as they learn their own skills, such as jumping, chasing each other and learning boundaries. These two are already showing off their social side and are really enjoying cuddles and love from anyone that stops by for a visit! As soon as I show up, both are at their kennel door and are purring so loudly I can hear them across the room! 

Mason and Muru showing off their stylish sweaters!

Unfortunately, one small issue with kittens is that they really are just babies and don't realize that there are things they do that can hurt them. These two in particular are dry-nursing on each other. Dry-nursing typically starts to happen when kittens have been separated from their mother too early (in this case, we don't know where mom was as the kittens were a public drop off after being found as strays). The kittens will start to nurse on anything they can, including each other. Muru has particularly been sucking on Mason's back, where he is beginning to lose some of his fur. I have applied a variety of kitten-safe bittering sprays with no help, so I had to get creative to keep them from nursing on each other... so, now I created some cute new kitten sweaters! These little sweaters are made from small ankle socks with 3 holes cut into them for the kitten's head and front legs to go through. The kittens weren't terribly excited with their new styles, but they aren't suckling each other any longer! 

Mason and Muru are a great little pair of fosters and I am happy to open up my home to them for the next two weeks, until they are old enough to be neutered and have their next round of kitten boosters! My fingers are crossed that they are snatched up and adopted the moment that they are available, until then, I will enjoy my time as their temporary mom and continue to get lots of kitten love! :-)

Sweet little Mason cuddled up on his bed!

Stephanie Conrad

The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

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