Have you ever wanted the perks of snuggling endless amounts of kittens without the lifelong commitment of having a pet of your own? Perhaps you have your own pet and are considering adopting a buddy for them but are unsure if a new animal will be a good fit? Maybe you are like me and would love to have a thousand cats but your husband has drawn a hard line at two. 

FIERCE Animal Rescue is a small, but mighty group of animal advocates on a mission to address pet overpopulation. We are a hands-on organization that responds to requests for help in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. You can also see us out in the community assisting local TNR groups (Trap, Neuter and Return) and doing educational outreach at local schools, nursing homes and community groups.

We are a foster-based rescue, so our ability to help depends completely on our foster homes. Being willing to foster an animal doesn’t take much. We ask that you have a small, dedicated space separate from any other animals you have, anywhere between a few days to a few months. FIERCE provides all the veterinary care, food and necessary supplies - you only have to provide the space and give all the love!

I personally started fostering kittens and puppies back in 2015 in my one bedroom apartment. My husband was in the military and deployed at the time. I was a brand new first grade teacher and felt called to give something back to my community. Over the last ten years I have fostered more than 50 animals. I watched them all be adopted into loving families and go on to live lives in the warmth and comfort of a home instead of battling the cruel realities of stray life. It is no secret that strays endure severe hardships, facing threats such as starvation, exposure, diseases, parasites, injuries from fights or accidents, toxic substances, and human cruelty. Opening up my home and heart as a foster home has given many innocent animals a chance at a better life.

Fostering has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. And it can be really simple and easy.. Most of the time, the job of a foster home is to socialize and awaken the snuggly, easy-going part of a kitten’s personality.  A foster home has the privilege to care for them, snuggle with them, help them assimilate into a safe environment until they get big enough to get spayed or neutered and then adopted out. As a self proclaimed “crazy cat lady”, I’ve been able to foster many different personalities for short periods of time, without actually owning more than my own two cats.  It’s truly the best of both worlds. 

A common question I get asked is, “don’t you want to keep them all?” And my answer remains the same. As much as I’d love to keep them all, I know there will always be another one out there that needs me to be the safe place to land between being rescued and finding their forever home. Thousands of cats and kittens are euthanized in shelters every single day, because there are just not enough foster homes to get them into when there’s a need.  If you have an extra room or bathroom and some love to spare, you will qualify as a foster home!

Foster homes are that bridge between what was and what can be.

Fostering has brought endless joy to my husband and my two young children (Gracie, 3 and Ollie, 2). My kids have learned so much about caring for an animal through fostering. The kittens have taught them gentleness, respect and responsibility. 

Fostering will always be a huge part of our family and we hope this will inspire more families to join in the fight against pet overpopulation!