By Uchenna C. Okeke
In the quiet homes where fosters become family, there is a special kind of beauty reserved for senior cats, especially the ones who have been waiting a little longer for someone to notice just how wonderful they are. Senior pets don’t arrive as blank slates. They arrive with stories, opinions, quirks and fully formed personalities and when they come as a pair, they bring twice the character and twice the companionship.
TWO SENIOR CATS WITH BIG PERSONALITIES
When Socks and Zoya first arrived, they had a simple strategy for dealing with their foster home: hide and reassess. Socks chose a blanket. Zoya chose under the bed. They weren’t being difficult. They were 11-year-old bonded siblings who had spent their entire lives together before suddenly finding themselves somewhere unfamiliar.
Foster mom, Emily, had recently lost her beloved cat, Rory, and wanted to adopt another adult cat. Fostering-to-adopt a bonded pair seemed like the perfect fit: two cats who already had each other for company while she was at work. Socks and Zoya, however, were not quite ready to warm up to their new situation. And this is where fostering made all the difference. Fostering gave them something they needed: time. Time to feel safe. Time to settle in. Time to trust. And, eventually, time to show who they really were.
The breakthrough wasn’t dramatic. It happened just one night when both cats climbed into bed with Emily.
“They decided I was home.”
And what emerged was really special.
“They’re both some of the sweetest natured cats I’ve ever been around,” Emily says.
SETTLING INTO THEIR FOREVER HOME
Both cats are remarkably well-behaved and tolerant. Socks is so brave now. He lets people pet him, loves playing with his fishing pole toy and cuddling up on the bed. Zoya, meanwhile, has clearly decided that a human lap is an excellent television-viewing platform. She sits facing the screen, with the focus of someone who has very strong opinions about what’s on. Socks has his own entertainment strategy: spinning in circles for treats.
Socks and Zoya don’t jump on counters or knock things off bookcases. At 11, they have little interest in redecorating. Their personalities are already developed, so there are fewer surprises. As Emily puts it, “Senior cats are usually calmer and typically well-behaved.”
Both cats are also wonderfully vocal, but they clearly did not attend the same meowing school. Zoya has a soft, high little voice. Socks has a much rougher sound. Together, they make so many sounds that Emily describes as the “cat equivalent of a husky.”
And they appear to have the most emotionally mature relationship imaginable. They rarely share the same room. The only scheduled exceptions are brushing time and bedtime. Once in a great while, one will reach out and very delicately and discreetly lick the other one. No drama. Very senior.
There is another comfort in having two. When Emily is away, she doesn’t worry quite as much about them being lonely and when she’s home, there is usually one willing to claim a spot beside her. When bedtime arrives, one will often settle on one side of her while the other takes the opposite side. For Emily, getting to know them has brought a different kind of reward:
“I feel like they truly know and appreciate that I’ve given them a home.”
Emily discovered that fostering is a two-way rescue. Socks and Zoya needed a safe place to land. In return, they have brought companionship, laughter and the simple comfort of coming home to two cats running to the door.
Sometimes, all it takes is an open door, a little patience, and a willing heart to give a pet the chance to become family. Foster-to-adopt is a great way to determine if a furbaby is right for you and your household. Cats and dogs are waiting for you. Visit our website to start your foster and/or adoption journey today!
By Lauren Puckett
In 2024, Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) volunteers fostered over 200 animals, most of them cats. Though some of these cats were kittens, there were plenty of adult cats who also needed foster families. Kittens are often in demand because they are so cute and cuddly, but adults come with their own benefits. Here are four reasons to foster an adult cat:
Less Demanding of Your Time
Kittens, especially young ones, need regular supervision. They are often underfoot and can cause humans to trip or stumble, potentially injuring all involved. Newborn kittens have stringent feeding requirements and need to be bottle-fed every two to six hours. This can be quite time consuming for the foster family. An adult cat, on the other hand, usually eats kibble on its own schedule.
Little or No Training Needed
While a kitten needs to learn to use its litter box, adult cats are almost always potty-trained and ready to go. This saves valuable time and effort – and messes – for the foster family. Kittens also need curtain climbing and scratch training while adult cats usually do not.
Calmer Temperaments
Kittens can be rambunctious and destructive, while adult cats are generally much more settled. They typically don’t have the same play or exercise requirements as younger cats and are less likely to get themselves into trouble.
Lifesaving Potential
Finally, there’s something very rewarding about giving an older animal a second chance at a happy life. The cat you foster will be grateful to you for opening your heart and home to them. Because HSLC does not have a physical shelter, we can only save cats when we have a foster home to place them in.
Are you ready to save a life? Learn more about fostering an adult cat on our website and complete a no-obligation application today!
The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) is a foster-based rescue—which means we do not operate a physical shelter. Every animal we save depends on the availability of a foster home. Without fosters, we simply can’t take in animals in need. And right now, in 2025, we haven’t been able to take in a single new dog—due to a severe shortage of safe landings.
That’s where you come in.
Fostering is more than just providing a temporary place to crash. It’s a lifeline. It’s the bridge between what an animal’s life was—whether they were abandoned, neglected, surrendered, or at risk in a kill shelter—and the life they deserve in a loving, forever home.
Fostering:
- Helps animals decompress from the stress of shelters
- Increases their chances of being adopted
- Teaches them what love, safety, and routine look like
- Saves lives—literally
And here’s the best part: HSLC covers all medical care, and we’ll match you with a mentor who will support you every step of the way.
Fostering is also flexible. Whether you’re not ready for a long-term commitment or simply want to experience the joy of having a pet in your home, fostering gives you that opportunity.
Right now, we need dog fosters more than ever. Dogs who are waiting in shelters are counting on us—but we can’t say “yes” to them until someone like you says “yes” to fostering.
Please consider becoming a foster hero. You can fill out our no-obligation application here, or help us by spreading the word. Every share makes a difference.
Thank you for being part of the village it takes to save lives.
By Uchenna C. Okeke
Many people hesitate to foster because they fear becoming attached. If you’ve ever thought about fostering a rescued animal, this concern may have crossed your mind. But, is this fear of attachment really a reason to hold you back from fostering? What you discover may change your mind forever.
Attachment is Strength
Attachment isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength! It means you’re making an impact. It shows you have the love and compassion to change an animal’s life. Fostering isn’t just about providing food and shelter; it’s about offering love, stability, and care to an animal in need. The bond you form isn’t something to fear, it’s part of the journey.
As dog and cat foster caregiver, Blaire, puts it: “You get attached because you have a big heart. But part of loving them is wanting to see them find THEIR people, and understanding that if you keep them, you can’t help more. Always go into it knowing this is only temporary, ‘goodbye is the goal.’ The peace of knowing they found their forever home really does quell the sadness of letting go.”
Every Goodbye Means Another Life Saved
Letting go is never easy, but it can be deeply rewarding. Each time you foster, you not only help one cat or dog, but you also make space for another animal in need. The beauty of fostering lies in this ongoing cycle of love and rescue.
While goodbyes can be tough, remember that your role as a foster parent is key to saving lives. And if you find the perfect match for your family, adoption with HSLC is also an option! Many fosters choose to adopt, and that’s part of the journey, too.
Why Foster?
Fostering is a powerful way to make a difference in the lives of animals. It offers pets love, care, and a secure environment – often something they have never experienced before. By opening your home, you help them build confidence and develop social skills, preparing them for their future forever family.
Diane, who has been fostering for 20 years, says: “Fostering allows me to save a homeless dog. Every time I bring one in, I’m not just helping them – I’m also creating space for another dog at the shelter (or rescue). Without fosters, rescues wouldn’t have the ability to take in more animals. That’s the core of why fostering is so vital.”
Diane’s experience highlights how the impacts of fostering far surpass the difficulty of saying goodbye.
Flexible Fostering Options
Fostering can fit into various lifestyles. Whether you can commit long-term or just for a short time, every effort matters. Consider these options:
- Short-term fosters: If you can only foster for a few weeks, you can still make a huge difference.
- Vacation fosters: Providing a temporary home for a dog or cat while another foster is out of town is a great way to test-drive fostering.
- Fospice foster: Giving a senior or terminally ill dog or cat love and comfort in their final months is often seen as a privilege.
Will You Foster?
The Humane Society of Loudoun County is only able to save a handful of dogs in any given year because of a shortage of fosters. And yet, there are so many dogs that are waiting for their second chances. The only thing standing in their way is available foster homes. Will you be their hero?
Contact us at foster@humaneloudoun.org for more information about fostering or visit the HSLC website to learn more and complete a no-obligation application.
Throughout the month of April, the Humane Society of Loudoun County has been running an awareness campaign called “Who are the Fosters in Your Neighborhood?*” The goal? To shine a well-deserved spotlight on our fabulous fosters and inspire others to join their life-saving ranks. Our fosters come from all walks of life and truly are…the people that you meet each day!
Here are just some of the fosters in your neighborhood…
If you are thinking about giving fostering a try, our Animal Care Director and Foster Coordinator, Amy Richards, offers this guidance, “Reach out and ask questions by emailing us at foster@humaneloudoun.org. We are always happy to share experiences and advice. Yes, the goodbyes are difficult. But, go into it knowing that goodbye is the goal. We are the jumping off point into their new life.”
To learn more about fostering, visit our website. And, if you are ready to save a life, complete a no-obligation application online today!
*To catch up on our foster campaign and other updates, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
By Lauren Puckett
Did you know that the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) adopted out over 150 cats and dogs in 2023? And, because HSLC is a foster-based organization, we relied on dozens of people — just like you — to provide a safe landing for these animals until they could find their forever homes.
However, some of our foster families need a little help – particularly when they are out of town and unable to take their foster pets with them. That’s where YOU come in! Here are a few reasons you may want to consider becoming a vacation foster for HSLC.
It’s a great way to try out fostering
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a foster but weren’t sure if it’s right for you, vacation fostering is the perfect low-commitment opportunity. It usually lasts for a short time – a weekend to a week – and can help you learn if fostering is a good fit for your household.
It’s best for the animal
Our preference is to keep animals in a low-stress environment. The alternative is temporary boarding which is expensive and takes funding away from other critical needs. Plus, it may be less enjoyable for our foster pets who are used to the comforts of a home.
It can help us learn about the animal
Vacation fosters provide a unique opportunity to observe an animal’s behavior in a new setting. As a temporary foster parent, you may gather additional information about a foster animal’s likes and dislikes. And, because your household may have a different mix of 2 and 4-legged residents, you’ll be able to observe how the foster animal interacts with them. This knowledge can be very helpful in finding a forever home most suited to the animal.
Ready to try out vacation fostering? Contact our Foster Coordinator at foster@humaneloudoun.org or complete a foster application today!
By Oliver Bittenbender
Caring for any foster animal can be a very rewarding experience. We recently published a blog about the reasons to foster an adult cat (vs. kittens). But we wanted to follow up with a foster story to bring these benefits to life.
Jill’s Story
During the pandemic, Jill Belsky adopted two fully grown cats. In her words, “I loved that we could adopt cats that had a rough past and provide them with a fresh beginning.” Jill loved the cats so much that she wanted to welcome more into her home. But, with a human family to care for, she couldn’t take in and keep as many cats as she wanted.
So, Jill found a clever compromise, “I thought fostering could be a great way to enjoy being with more cats, while also providing a beneficial service for animals in need.” So, she signed up to be a foster caregiver with the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC). And, given that she already had a great experience with adult cats in her home, she was very open to fostering a mature cat like Briar Rose.
A Lot to Love
Briar Rose has made for a fantastic first-time foster experience. Having matured and mellowed out, she requires far less attention from her caretakers than kittens. As a standard best practice, Briar Rose was initially placed in a safe space–in this case, a spare room. This provided her with a chance to adjust to her new surroundings prior to being given free rein to explore the house. Before long, Briar Rose was snuggling right up to her new humans, showing how comfortable she was around them. She has also taken well to the other two cats, Robin and Edie.
Jill finds that each cat “offers such unique interests, personality traits and ways of sharing their love.” From stroking her soft fur to watching her pounce at string toys and scratching posts, the Belsky family has found a lot to love about Briar Rose. Bonding with the new cat has been a rewarding experience for the whole family.
Words of Encouragement
Jill encourages those on the fence about fostering to think about the long-term difference they could make in a cat’s life for a relatively short-term responsibility. Homeless cats depend on kind people to be the bridge from their past to a happy and healthy life in a forever home. And though it may seem daunting at first, caring for a cat can quickly become second nature. “Before you know it,” Jill says, “you’ll likely fall in love with the foster cat, and any concerns you originally had become negligible.” Plus, with the care and support of the many amazing volunteers at HSLC, a foster caregiver is never alone in their journey.
Learn more about fostering with HSLC and complete a no-obligation application today!
For most folks who celebrate Christmas, the tree has been taken down and the decorations stored away for another year. But, we had one more story bursting with holiday joy that we couldn’t keep to ourselves!
Supportive Fostering Experience
Ladybelle had been rescued by the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) in the fall of 2022. Despite her beauty, Ladybelle had trouble finding her forever home due to some sassiness. Fortunately, she landed with a patient and loving foster family, the Burbages, who helped her mature into a sweet young ladycat.
And, in turn, the Burbage family had the support of HSLC’s Animal Care Team (ACT). Mom Nicole had this to say about ACT Director, Amy Richards, “You have been an angel throughout this whole experience! Whether we had questions about behavior, medical issues or general cat questions, you’ve always been there for us as we navigated through the fostering experiences. As far as the Burbage family is concerned, YOU ROCK!!!”
Extra Special Adoption
Now, the best “mews”. As a wonderful Christmas morning present, Nicole decided to surprise her children by officially adopting Ladybelle! Amy even created a special certificate to make the adoption extra official! After 15 months of fostering, Nicole feels that they finally have their happy ending. “We just love her to bits and pieces!”
Fostering to Adopt
Not all rescues allow fostering-to-adopt, but HSLC does. So, if you are thinking about adopting an animal, consider fostering first to see if they are a good fit for your household. Likewise, if you want to give fostering a try, don’t worry that you won’t be able to keep your foster cat or dog. Foster caregivers have the right of first refusal if they decide to add the foster animal to their family.
If you are new to fostering, you may find the following blogs helpful:
- Interview with a First-time Foster Mom
- How Do You Foster without Getting Attached? You Don’t.
- Pawsome Foster Stories
By Liz Bresnahan
As an entirely foster-based organization, the number of animals the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) can accept is completely dependent on the number of foster homes we have. Currently, HSLC has a very limited number of dog foster caregivers. But, Amy Richards would like to change that. As HSLC’s Animal Care Director, here is Amy’s vision for what an ideal dog foster program would look like.
Strength in Numbers
Amy understands how important it is to have a deep bench of fosters. Having an extensive foster network would ensure that a safe landing is always available when HSLC is asked to take in an animal in need. While long-term fosters are crucial, vacation fosters are also essential as they can step in and support whenever a long term foster is out of town or in case of an emergency.
Transport
Sometimes dogs come to HSLC from out of the county and even out of state. In those cases, we need volunteers who are willing to drive to the dog, either at its original location or at a mid-way point if the other rescue/shelter can arrange a transport volunteer on their end.
Additional Help
Before a dog arrives in the foster home, Amy would like them to be assessed by one of HSLC’s vet partners, and/or a trainer or behaviorist if applicable. That way, Amy can pair the animal with a foster who is best able to meet the dog’s specific needs and set the animal up for a successful adoption.
Resources
While HSLC covers all medical costs, it relies on the foster to provide food, crates, grooming supplies, etc. If the community donated these resources, this would allow the foster family to focus solely on taking care of their foster animal. Additionally, Amy would hope to have enough funding for training and boarding for the foster dogs when necessary.
Dog Foster Coordinator
As the dog foster program grows, Amy would foresee needing additional support to manage the details and day-to-day needs of the fosters and any emergencies that arise. As part of the coordinator role, this individual would also organize outings for the dogs, such as group walks and playdates, to help with socialization and train new foster caregivers.
At HSLC, we hope that Amy’s vision of a comprehensive dog foster program can someday be a reality. It would allow us to be able to support more dogs like Tipper who was recently rescued. He is a senior dog who was surrendered by an elderly owner who could no longer care for him. When he came into HSLC’s care, it was clear that he needed significant grooming and medication to treat Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis. He’s all cleaned up now and anxiously waiting to find his forever home. Be sure to check out his bio!
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a dog foster or feel inspired to contribute to HSLC’s foster program in other ways, please contact foster@humaneloudoun.org.
By Lauren Puckett
In August 2021, Tracy Mathews was driving along one early morning in Purcellville when she thought she saw cats in the woods on the side of the road. Upon investigating further, the TNR and Animal Care Administrator for the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) found several cats hanging out in the bushes. Thankfully, Donna Drake, a former HSLC volunteer and board member, was able to humanely trap the kitties so they could be properly assessed. (For more backstory, read Destiny Can Win Again.)
Tracy took in three of the cats who were healthy and huddled together. Dubbed the Cats of Purrville, she gave the trio a safe landing in the feral kennel at her farm. There, she quickly determined that the cats were very shy but social, so likely adoptable. However, they did not show well at adoption events because they were so scared.
The Purr-fect Adopter Comes Along
Tracy fostered Morris, Myrna, and Felix, for 16 months before a potential adopter, Robin, came calling. During the meet-and-greet, the cats immediately went into hiding when Robin came into the room. But, she trusted that they would warm up to her. Robin originally came to meet just Morris and Myrna but decided that she couldn’t bear to leave Felix behind – so she adopted all three cats!
“Having a bonded trio of adult cats adopted together is unheard of!” according to Tracy. She goes on to say, “Robin has made such a huge impact in their lives.” Since they have been adopted, the three cats have gained confidence and now rule the house. While they are still not lap cats, they are thriving in a loving home.
“Everything is going well,” Robin says. “Morris always desires attention and pets. Felix is coming along nicely and allows you to pet him. Myrna is emerging as the ring leader and at times it seems she tells the two boys what to do.”
Looking to adopt a pair of cats? Check out the available animals on the HSLC website.