By Theresa Wild
In older generations, the progression of life events was simple: complete school, get married, have children, and live happily ever after. In more recent years, these events happen in different orders, or certain events are skipped altogether. Within this evolution, a common occurrence you can see in adults now is not having children; instead, pets take the place of that role.
There are several reasons for individuals or couples to opt out of having children. Could it be the financial strain that raising children can have on generations that have already struggled through recessions and student loan debt? Or is it due to the personal freedom one has when having pets vs. children? Or maybe it is because they simply do not want to spend their lives caring for children, instead, they may want to spend that time dedicated to their careers, traveling, or living life for themselves.
Whatever their reason may be, the world is seeing an increase in adults seeking other adventures in life outside of parenting children. However, is there still a desire to fill the role of having something to love and care for, while receiving the most unique type of love from a companion animal? According to two different couples who have both fostered for Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC), this is the exact path they have taken and it seems to have worked out perfectly for them.
Andi and BJ
Andi (52) and BJ (42) have been known as a couple who falls in love with the “broken” cats. They foster cats, more specifically ferals that need to be socialized, medical cases that need more specialized care and knowledge, and kittens that could require weeks of bottle feeding. They describe themselves as the crazy cat couple and their house has been deemed “the cat house” on their block. They have taken in cats that were labeled as unsocial, to the extent that the agencies worried about ever finding them a home. With their love and support, some of these “unsocial” cats can now be found on their harness at the local brewery with their mom and dad.
“Mystic was a medical foster – a community cat that had been seriously injured and they had no idea how he was going to handle being indoors with people or being medicated. Turns out, he’s amazing and magical. He is EXTREMELY social, has been clicker and harness trained, formally works as a therapy pet, and helps us raise and socialize orphan kittens.” – Andi & BJ
When I asked Andi & BJ if they ever had plans to have children, their answer was simple: “no and no.” Based on their hobbies alone, it would appear that they enjoy their freedom. They are gamers, brewers, and fans of Star Wars and other sci-fi fantasies.
In their own words, they are “proud nerds.” BJ plays guitar and bass and has been in a few bands, while Andi is a competitive pole dancer. It’s not that Andi and BJ don’t love kids, they have just chosen not to have their own. With 7 cats to care for and their busy social lives, Andi and BJ seem to have a wonderful balance.
Marshal and David
The same can be said for another couple that I spoke to, Marshal (34) and David (37). David is a children’s librarian and has made it his life work to bring stories to life for little ones. Although they don’t foresee children as a part of their future, they enjoy watching their friends’ children grow up.
Even though Marshal and David have chosen not to have children, Oscar Trotsky, their 4-year-old cat, has similar behaviors to what can be found in having a child. Oscar could be categorized as a “foster fail” (or “foster win”, depending on your perspective), after living with them for 3 months as a foster cat and then becoming a part of their forever family. Oscar can often be found napping on Marshal and David’s legs, devouring his wet food, and making occasional Zoom cameos when Marshal works from home.
Oscar Enjoying a Good Nap
Although Oscar Trotsky was given his name due to Marshal and David’s love for political science, in their home, he is referred to as “the baby.” In casual conversations, you can hear them ask each other “Did you feed the baby yet?”
Even though they compare Oscar to a baby, they know it is not the same thing. The couple acknowledges that “while both of us know that caring for children takes immeasurably more time and effort (no one puts a bowl of kibble down for their toddler and then walks out the door for a few hours) we do make decisions about the care of Oscar jointly. And while we do not consider him our child, he is one of the highest priorities in our shared lives.”
“Just Do It!”
Both couples have similar paths of not having children, but dedicating their lives to loving their pets unconditionally. If you ask either couple, they have the same advice for anyone considering adding a furry “child” to their lives: “Just do it!” According to David and Marshal, “Pets allow us to express love, and any time we have the opportunity and ability to share love, I believe it makes the world a better place.”
Whether you are considering children, one pet, or even seven, the love of an animal is endless. If you are on the fence about adding a child or a pet to your life – that’s ok! Andi and BJ said it best: “Your local rescue, and of course HSLC, will have the right companion animal for your lifestyle.” Reach out and see what is out there for you. Who knows, you may find your forever baby as well.
By: Heather Nokes
To foster is to save a life. Foster parents are in charge of the day-to-day care of their foster animal. They teach them what it means to be loved and prepare them to be adopted by their forever family.
The Humane Society of Loudoun County took in a dog named, Ulysses, who had been transported from Roanoke, VA. Without the help of HSLC and his foster, Sarah, Ulysses may not have gotten the freedom ide he deserved and a second chance at life. Sarah is a new foster for HSLC and gave us a first-hand account of her journey as Ulysses’ foster mom.
How did you hear about HSLC?
“I heard about HSLC when I was searching for volunteer opportunities. I have been around animals my whole life and wanted to reduce the number of animals being euthanized. Specifically, I was looking for an organization close by that I could be a part of. ”
What made you want to foster?
“I wanted to be an active part of helping at-risk dogs and cats. They often come from a stressful environment and need a quiet place to unwind and learn how to be a [companion animal]. They may have been homeless and shuffled around for a long time, and many of them are scared. By fostering, I am being understanding of the [animal’s] previous situation and helping them trust again so they can be successful in a forever home.”
Was it easy to sign up as a Foster with HSLC?
“It was very easy to sign up. I provided references and they did a simple interview and (virtual) home visit with me. For someone experienced with animals, it’s an easy process. HSLC gives plenty of resources and shares vast knowledge with new fosters to help them be successful.”
Tell us about Ulysses!
“Ulysses is a sweet, happy-go-lucky hound mix who adores everyone he meets. He followed me everywhere around the house and yard, loving every bit of attention. As a young dog, he enjoyed the large yard and regular exercise we were able to provide. He also loves to snuggle at the end of the day in bed. He was perfect for watching movies with!”
What was your favorite part about fostering?
“My favorite part of fostering is definitely the bond we create with the animals. They truly appreciate us giving them good food, water, and a soft place to rest their heads. I also really enjoy training them with lots of good treats. Ulysses especially loved when I’d train him using peanut butter as the reward!”
What was your least favorite part?
“My least favorite part is probably the goodbye. You get attached to foster animals, so it is bittersweet when they go to a good home. But, I would definitely foster again! I plan to, for both cats and dogs.”
Is there anything else you would want potential fosters to know?
“One thing I’d want fosters to know is that it takes time for [an animal] to become acclimated in their home. They may cry at night or be shy for the first few days or even weeks. It takes patience to help them adjust to a new lifestyle, but it is so rewarding.”
It is because of Sarah that Ulysses got a happy ending and was adopted! The Humane Society of Loudoun County does not have a facility to house animals and solely relies on its network of caring fosters. If you are thinking of becoming a foster with HSLC or have questions about fostering, you can use this link: https://humaneloudoun.org/programs/foster/ or email foster@humaneloudoun.org.
by Amy Richards
One of the best things to come out of the previous years is the story of how #MargoTheComebackCat came to the Humane Society of Loudoun County and made all of our hearts grow. It all starts in May of 2019 when we were picking up a senior cat from a shelter in Maryland. While we were on our way, we received a plea asking if we could take another senior cat while we were there. Upon learning more about this sad, surrendered soul, there was no way we could turn our backs on her.
Margo was an owner-surrender due to allergies and was just one day from being euthanized when we rescued her from the overcrowded shelter. Stressed and nearly blind due to high blood pressure, Margo was shutting down in the shelter environment. She was in dire need of a second chance. After spending a few days between a foster and one of our trusted veterinarians, it was even more clear that she desperately needed a single, soft place to land and rediscover herself. Thankfully a former adopter offered up their extra bedroom to see what a little TLC could do for this old gal.
It was a slow and scary start. Margo was so severely depressed that she wouldn’t eat and had trouble walking from arthritis. Her blood pressure was so high that her vision was a serious issue. After days of force-feeding, Margo started to show some signs of life. A few weeks of gaining her trust by being present for her and providing more treats, she continued to open up. Soon, she was happy to receive affection. She enjoyed brushings. And she even started to take treats by hand. Margo then made fast friends with the furry foster family members and became eager to spend time with the entire family. She would meow as soon as she heard everyone up for the day and even learned to manage the stairs! The family created a game called “Margo Polo” to make sure she could follow their voices to find them wherever they were in the home.
Margo had regular vet appointments to monitor her blood pressure which got under control with medication and lower stress living. She also began laser therapy to help soothe her arthritic joints. She was eventually able to turn around without falling over! With the improved blood pressure, also came slightly improved vision. Our former lost soul truly blossomed into #MargoTheComebackCat.
There were still some bumps in the road and some potential homes that fell through, but no one gave up hope. Everyone knew that the purrfect home was out there somewhere, and Margo’s time would come. And sure enough, she was seen on a courtesy post through the Facebook page NoVa Cats. Her future momma was looking for a lounging lap cat, and Margo fit the bill to purrfection!
Welcomed into her furever home on March 01, 2020, Margo has been loved and pampered by her family.
Her mom Scarlett reports:
Margo is a cuddly bug. She just wants a nice place to lay even though she lays crazy. She is veryyyy stubborn and will let you know when she is done with your buffoonery. She is a little old lady making her laps in the mall everyday. She walks around the kitchen table and living room table maybe 5 or 6 times each and is very vocal when you are blocking her path. She likes to scratch the doorframe but [my husband] says it’s okay because she is funny. She eats with lots of head bobbing that’s hilarious to watch. She KNOWS when I’m up in the morning and she is awaiting her food, but she will stay knocked out when the dogs bark/vacuum/any loud noise. And even though [my husband] wasn’t sure about getting another animal when we did (with moving into a new house and all) I catch him cuddled up with her all the time. She LOVES laying on our bed. If she could easily get up and down, we would leave her up there all night. She gets around really well for her vision being what it is.
We couldn’t share success stories like Margo’s without the support of our amazing community and team of volunteers. Thank you for your contributions and continued support of the Humane Society of Loudoun County.
To learn more about Fostering and Adoption through the Humane Society of Loudoun County please follow this link: Humane Society of Loudoun County.
To learn more about the joys of adopting a senior pet please read the following: Why Adopt a Senior Pet.