Pause for pets: Calgarians foster pets waiting for new home

Jenna Yule was bored when she began fostering animals as something to do during the pandemic.

And she hasn’t stopped.

“We have fostered 70 cats and one dog,” the Calgarian says. 

Yule says her in-house dog at the time didn’t want any competition, thus the feline focus when it comes to fostering

Over the years, she’s taken in everything from momma cats with babies to seniors, and sick ones need constant care.

There have been cats who have been adopted the minute they are posted to the Cats Home site — the organization she fosters for — and others, like current foster Percy, who have been waiting a long time for a match.

“He’s been in care for three years and is so sweet and lovely,” she says. “He’s laying in bed with me, right now.”

Her first foster, Cathy, is still part of the family.

“My sister actually ended up adopting her, so she’s in my life forever,” she says.

Fostering might not be for everyone — some become ‘foster fails,’ given they can’t part with the pet, which is only meant to be a temporary guest until it finds its forever home.

Yule says she has foster failed twice.

But that’s two times out of 70

Helping prep pets for their best lives is behind Yule’s love of fostering

“I mean, we fall in love with every single one, and I definitely cry when they leave, but just knowing that we were a loving stepping stone into the rest of their life makes it so worth it,” she says.

“I love taking care of them.  Honestly, I love kind of the sick ones who need you just a little bit more, or you know, the 17-year-old who  isn’t sure what’s going on and you’re able to like give them that love and show them that humans are okay.”

She also takes her task seriously, specifically creating space for the cats she cares for

We have a designated foster room,” she says. 

Many rescues like Cats Home are foster-based and typically provide everything you need to care for a pet until it is matched with a permanent home.

Over at the city’s animal shelter, a dog named Ace is patiently waiting for a home.

He’s spent time in care polishing his manners and showing off his fabulous forever pet potential

The one-year-old lab mix is boisterous, confident and loves being the centre of attention. He is eager to please and still learning about life but already knows sit, down and shake a paw.

Want to meet Ace? Call 311 and give them his file number A0940701.