FOSTERING DURING THE PANDEMIC THE MUTTLY CREW INTERVIEWS FOSTERING EXPERT: TIFFANY JUSTINE C., EAST COAST CANINE RESCUE(ECCR)
LINKS TO INSTAGRAM: @THE.MUTTLY.CREW @FOSTERAHOLIC @EASTCOASTCANINERESCUE
Our crew sniffed out in-depth advice from an active foster expert. We had the pleasure of speaking with rescue volunteer, “paws-on” mother, and foster parent Tiffany Justine C. She is a mom to 3-year-old Logan, a Siberian Husky Mix and 5-year-old Clifford, a Malamute. (Aren’t the names fantastic? Like you could enjoy tea or a hand-crafted beer in the company of sophisticated yet down-to-earth Logan and Clifford).
We asked Tiffany Justine or TJ key questions to help new dog foster parents. She not only dug up her answers but shared so many great tips! TJ has personally fostered more than 100 dogs! Needless to bark, her advice is truly based on vast experience. Here is our one-on-one with this Rockstar dog mom.
Q&A:
The Muttly Crew (TMC): Any advice for new pooch fosters?
Tiffany Justine (TJ): Make friends! They can share tips, advice, and are an amazing support system. I can’t tell you how many wonderful people and life-long friends I’ve met through the rescue community.
TMC: During our conversation, you mentioned: "the goal is goodbye." Great words! Please explain more.
TJ: There are lots of sayings and idioms in rescue and that one is probably my favorites. Saying goodbye is how you continue to save more lives.
TMC: What inspired you to foster yourself and work with a rescue organization?
TJ: When I adopted my husky Logan in 2017. I was very green in the rescue world. I applied to several different rescues and ultimately ended up adopting through East Coast Canine Rescue. I was so thankful to one of the owners of the rescue organization. She dropped him off, traveling all the way from Connecticut to New Jersey for me. I said, “please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” Sure enough, a few weeks later, she took me up on that offer and asked if I could take an adult dog for just a few days. A few days came and went and my first foster, Vincent was adopted. Since then I have had over a hundred fosters.
TMC: Before the pandemic, how many foster applications did ECCR see weekly? How much has that jumped?
JT: Just this month we have received more than 100 applications. This is wonderful, but also challenging for our volunteers who process our applications. Prior to the pandemic, East Coast Canine Rescue received 3 to 5 foster applications a week.
TMC: How do your permanent furry companions get along with the other animals you take care of at home and elsewhere?
JT: My boys Logan and Clifford are both very social. They love play dates, dog parks, and on and off-leash adventures. Use slow introductions when it comes to foster dogs and your resident pets. I like to take my dogs on a long hike or activity before introducing them to a new foster. Then they are relaxed. When bringing in a new dog to my pack, I take them for a walk together in a neutral location and to introduce them at their own pace. Be sure to take some time to research more information on how to properly introduce dogs.
TMC: Are you concerned about temp parents not being able to see through the fostering process either to adoption or helping get the fur-baby placed with a "fur-ever" family?
JT: Always. Our rescue is 100% foster- based. This means if we do not have a foster, we cannot save the dog. When you commit to fostering a dog, you are agreeing to have the dog in your home until they find happily forever after. When we move a dog to another foster it takes another home away from a dog we could be saving.
TMC: What are the biggest challenges of fostering?
JT: The biggest challenge, for me at least, is compassion fatigue and burnout. You can get so wrapped up in wanting to save more lives, it’s easy to forget to take time for yourself. It’s important to take breaks, commit to what you can handle, and understand it’s okay to say no.
TMC: What are the most fun parts of fostering?
JT: My favorite part of fostering is seeing a dog grow and flourish. It’s a beautiful thing to see a dog figure out how to be a dog. Little things like their first tail wag are so much fun!
TMC: Have you fostered seniors or fur-babies with special needs?
JT: I fostered just about all walks of life when it comes to dogs. I mostly foster puppies, working breeds, or when a foster family is having trouble with a foster dog. We have several fosters who prefer seniors so a lot to the time they go straight to those volunteers. I have only fostered one senior and it was the best experience. His name was Sunny (7-year-old golden retriever). He was basically a reincarnated version of the dog from “Up.” He was the happiest guy! I got him from a local dog groomer. He took him from a bad situation where he was kept tied up outside all his life.
Several other special cases come to mind. If I had to choose a favorite, it would probably be Ivory. She was the mom of four Husky puppies I fostered earlier in the year. After several months in foster care she was not making much progress with her fear of being touched and people in general. Once all her babies were adopted, I knew I needed to focus on their mom. I picked her up from transport and from the minute she got off the truck I attached her leash to me. Giving her no option but to be near me 24/7. Wherever I went, she came along and was not happy about it at first. After a few days of desensitizing her to me, I started the same process with other people by taking her to dog-friendly places. She met people giving her lots of high value treats and praise. With time her confidence grew, and she was ready for adoption after a few weeks in my home.