Calling all Fosterers...

Do you get attached to your foster bunnies? (or whatever other animals you foster?)

I was just curious.... I really love all my foster bunnies that come in, and it really does make me soooo happy to see them go to a new home... I love watching them grow, and helping them through all they have been through, and I like to follow each bunny through from start to finish, I always feel a bit sad if they have to sawp or move to a different fosterer, because I feel I miss out on their happy ending... like their story isn't finished yet. Only once have I not wanted to hand over a bunny, and I know I should of kept her myself (but that is the only odd one out)... but I know it would always make me feel sad if I had had a bunny come to me, and then I didn't get to pass on all their little character traits, and habbits and even just getting to meet the new owners and really see for myself that they really will love their new bunny, and give them the love they truly deserve/need.
I also love hearing the follow ups of how they settle into their new home, and see the pictures of them being happy, and all loved up

Is it just me and all my fairytale endings? Do I just get too attached? Or does anyone else feel the same?

When I take them back to the rescue for homing I cry all the way there, then when they ring to say they have been homed I cry again, if they ring to say they haven't been homed I cry again because they weren't wanted, can't win!!:lol:

I get so attached

snowy said:

When I take them back to the rescue for homing I cry all the way there, then when they ring to say they have been homed I cry again, if they ring to say they haven't been homed I cry again because they weren't wanted, can't win!!:lol:

I get so attached

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That makes me feel sooo much better... was begining to think I was a bit weird... maybe not cut out for fostering :shock:

I feel attached to buns I have just had in the car with me for a few hours

It's not weird at ALL!!!!! I have actually ended up adopting 4 of my foster buns!!! And the ones that I DO manage to take back make me end up hyperventilating and my eyes water all up.....and then I have to run away quickly!!! I can't HELP it.....it's just the way I am.

I would love to foster, feeling that you have been there through it all and getting to pass them on to their forever home, thinking I helped that happen!

Gosh I am so glad I'm not the only one!!!!!!!! :lol:

I have my first foster, Ruby and although id love to keep her, ill be gutted when she goes for rehoming

Nah! you are not alone!!

Oh my I get soooo attached and so soppy about them all I do adore helping them on their journey to a great forever home, socialising them, getting most to eat hay, seeing them through their neutering/spaying operations, loving and caring for them. Im so lucky though because Tree never rushes me or the bunnies if they need more socialising and care.

I cry everytime a bunny leaves here I cry because Ill miss them and also because Im happy that they have a great forever home I feel so priviledged that I have been a part of that buns life and now the bun has a superb new vetted home. I often think of my foster bunnies that are now in new homes and yes I cry

Steph said:

Oh my I get soooo attached and so soppy about them all I do adore helping them on their journey to a great forever home, socialising them, getting most to eat hay, seeing them through their neutering/spaying operations, loving and caring for them. Im so lucky though because Tree never rushes me or the bunnies if they need more socialising and care.

I cry everytime a bunny leaves here I cry because Ill miss them and also because Im happy that they have a great forever home I feel so priviledged that I have been a part of that buns life and now the bun has a superb new vetted home. I often think of my foster bunnies that are now in new homes and yes I cry

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I can vouch for the above!! :lol: I never cried when I was fostering for Jill but Frasier was hard to let go but he is happy with Romy now - I have struggled to let a couple of my rescues go! Poppy went to live with Sarah and I fell for her big time and Phoebe who went to a great home I wanted to keep for Max! :roll:

Although I'm pleased for every bun that gets a home..there have been a few I've been sad to say goodbye to..the last one being Elgar

and little Kimmy who was here a few months ago..well I cried when I got in my car after leaving her in her new home..
a few more before that...Bandit..Lily..and others

The last fosters I had. Me and Elgar wanted to keep!

I try not to be come attached I also adored Ben and Verity

It really is hard and that is good, because if you could let them go without a second thought then you are doing the wrong job!

Steph explained it very well, when you nurse them back from appalling conditions, socialised them, neutered them, nuture them, gained their trust, love them, it's really fantastic but the way I look at it is that we have done our work and they are OK now so we need to help another one or two of the thousands that are in a far worse state.

Remember........there is nothing wrong in crying, it's a normal emotion and one I am proud to have done many times when looking after bunnies

It depends on the bun. Some buns I get very close to - some buns I loved so much they never left but cos I have 15 now - It's not my intention to keep anymore

I did get very attached to a little boy bun recently (Biscuit) - cos he was a boy there was no option of keeping him - & I cried when he left - although he got a 5star home & I bonded him to his new wifey.
And they've sent me pics since

Mostly though I have a different kind of almost-distant feeling with my fosters. But that backfires too. When Bouncer died I felt guilt aswell as loss cos he never had a permanent home

I very rarely get attached to any foster buns.

I've never been tempted to keep any...I like to see them to go to new homes because I don't have the facilities to keep large numbers of buns here permanently.

I do confess to getting attached to a couple of the buns with big personalities though...namely Sylvia and also one of my current fosters Betsy

bill and ben finaly went to they new home on tues, i was totaly gutted, i didnt cry but they had a good fuss and i gave them some fresh mint and lavender, but i didnt pick them for a cuddle as i knew i wouldnt want to let them go, so i let the lady pick them to put in the carrier, also i used this to watch how confident she was with handling too, she had handled them once before, i liked this couple who have taken them, they did have another family look at them and i wasnt sure, she never rang me back anyway, so it saved me saying no to her, bill and ben have given me hours of fun and i drilled this into the new owners,
when simon my first one went i felt a little empty and my partner actually cried a little,
then linus came to me with toffee and humbug, and i had to keep him waking up on the kitchen floor being washed by a poorly bun just melted me, so he stayed
but i must admit it is getting easier, as it makes me feel happy that im apart of the team in drilling and ensureing they go to a good forever home,

I kind of know what you are saying Kirsty, but for me the priority is getting the animal (any type) into it's new home. If that meant someone else had to do the adoption because I wasn't available I wouldn't mind as I see fostering as a way to facilitate them getting a new home. I always remind myself it's about them not me.

Steph said:

Oh my I get soooo attached and so soppy about them all I do adore helping them on their journey to a great forever home, socialising them, getting most to eat hay, seeing them through their neutering/spaying operations, loving and caring for them. Im so lucky though because Tree never rushes me or the bunnies if they need more socialising and care.

I cry everytime a bunny leaves here I cry because Ill miss them and also because Im happy that they have a great forever home I feel so priviledged that I have been a part of that buns life and now the bun has a superb new vetted home. I often think of my foster bunnies that are now in new homes and yes I cry

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Ohhh Steph you are just the best!!

(Me and Ivy want to come visiting again!!)

My first foster was a fail
My second foster I cried a bit but was ok in a couple of days
My third foster I got really attached to & really wanted to adopt but OH said no.....thankfully he went to a friend.
After that I've waved them all cheerfully on their way, although I was very sad when one of them died as I was thinking of adding him to the brood.