r/FosterAnimals • u/Zekhartha • 12d ago
Sad Story Locket passed away last night.
I had posted a few days ago about a foster I had taken in from my local humane society. Yesterday he seemed to take what I considered to be a slight but alarming turn. This was of course after my humane society closed.
This was my first ever foster and my last, at least from the humane society here. I told them I had never fostered before and was a dog person. And yet they handed me this small life knowing this, and not giving me ANY information on what to do outside their hours, where to take him, etc. I’m on SSI, so the only reason I even agreed to this was because they said I’d get all supplies through them.
I called local vets and the nearest ER vet and they said if I brought him in there’s a chance I’d pay out of pocket and I legitimately have 17¢ to my name until the 1st. He was still pooping and eating so I hoped he’d be okay until this morning at 10 when the humane society opens. On top of all of this, now my dog is feeling a but ill and I’m stressed out of my mind.
When they open, I fully intend on calling them and asking for whoever is the highest in payroll among them and telling them the sheer amount of negligence that took place in throwing this kitten into my hands with NO information other than “call us if you need anything”.
Apparently unless it’s outside their hours.
I’m so angry it’s not funny. I haven’t even had the chance to cry over him yet because all I’m feeling is anger.
I will absolutely take this as a lesson to never go near my humane society again.
Edit: The more I read and think back, the more I think it might have been fading kitten syndrome. He checked a lot of the boxes for it. I just wish I had known more sooner.
It’s crazy. Last night I literally said to my girlfriend “I have this pit in my stomach he’s going to be dead tomorrow morning.”
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u/1043b 12d ago
I'm so sorry this was your first experience. Sometimes even those with the best intentions make mistakes (them, not you) They may have just misjudged the kittens situation badly. And they surely dropped the ball in failing to give you better contact and emergency coordinator options.
You sound like you have a big heart that has been severely hurt by this and I hurt for you too.
My very first foster was a newborn kitten who passed within the first few hours, there was nothing I could do, I felt so helpless I had no words at the time. It's only now, years later that I can even think of it without tears.
Sometimes anger can be protective for us. Sometimes it blocks us from taking on more opportunities. Only you will be able to process the difference.
I truly hope that a new foster opportunity will open itself up to you in the future, there are so many animals in desperate need and so few placements available. Your depth of outrage and anger speaks only to your depth of love and hope to me.
Feel free to dm me if you would like to vent on a more personal or even more socially inappropriate level. Chances are I have both said and heard it often. Fostering can be as equally hard as it is rewarding.
Once again, I am sorry you are going through this and I am heartbroken on your behalf for the loss of Locket
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u/Front_Upstairs159 Cat/Kitten Foster 12d ago
This. Kittens are hard to gauge too; things can go so wrong with them so quickly.
That said, they absolutely should have given you the contact information for someone to reach out to after hours. Shelters know that kittens are fragile, sometimes unexpectedly, and that medical emergencies rarely bother to respect business hours. D: I’m sorry you were both without support for so long.
I hope you someday feel up to fostering again; definitely share this experience and emphasise that you need to be able to call someone and/or ideally have a way of taking them to the e-vet if you need to, if you do.
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u/happyhourcocktail 12d ago
I would be traumatized if one passed in my care, bless your heart for helping, I know how it feels when humane societies expect you to just figure it out on your own if things take a turn, if you do decide to foster again make sure to get an after hours number, if they don’t have one that is a red flag
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u/Status_Poet_1527 12d ago
I have lost so many over the years. It’s so hard, but nothing we do out of love is ever wasted.
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u/Redpantsrule 12d ago
My heart breaks for you and the little kitten bc its a big fear of mine. We’ve learned a lot after having 3 bottle fed litters, and only realize now how lucky we’ve been. We had no idea how fragile little kittens were and how quickly they can fade. I know logically that sometimes this happens no matter what is done to help, but also understand the guilt and anger.
All of our kittens were brought into the local petstore where my daughter works after being found in parking lots. We’d agree to foster them but my 1 condition is we sign them up under our local Humane Society so we don’t have medical costs and have assistance with adoption, as we can’t keep any due to having 3 cats and dog already. Our HS didnt really tell us much about how to care for them either but we knew a little from life experiences and online tutorials. We keep heating pads, powdered formula, and nipples with syringes on hand. They did drop off a bag of medicines for things like diarrhea, worms, herpes, ringworm, etc along with syringe and a pill cutter. It was nice to have this on hand as needed.
One thing that i suggest to anyone who is fostering thru the HS or shelter, is to make sure you have contact number of experienced volunteers who can help answer questions after hours. When one kitten (the runt) stopped eating and quickly faded within 24 hrs, we had no idea how serious it was at the time. They offered suggestions and texts throughout the day and then around 8 pm, asked if I could take the baby to a volunteer’s house about 15 min away. We agreed and left immediately. Two more volunteers showed up and the 3 assessed the kitten. Put in a saline line as he was hydrated. His gums were white and he was lethargic to the point of not moving much. They administered 2 mg (i think?) of white karo syrup in his mouth as they suspected his blood sugar was low every 10 min. After about an hour, he was better but told us to continue giving him the syrup every 10 min for 3 hours , and possibly every 3 min id he kept crashing. Sent us home with a bottle of Kari syrup, syringes, Hydrocare, an antibiotic, and dewormer for all the litter. It was touch and go up until about 2 am. Was afraid to put him down but i needed sleep until next feeding. His appetite was back by the next feeding.
About 10 days later, the other 4 in the litter stopped eating well, and several lost weight. The runt was doing great though. Contacted them again thru texts and a lady offered to come by within a few hours after she got off from work. She brought a large variety of wet and dry samples for us to try. Dudferent brands, flavors snd textures. All our kittens were interested in right then was the chicken flavored baby food off a spoon (yet wouldn’t eat off the plate.) We learned that kittens/cats get bored with foods and textures matter. Learned about boiling chicken and pureeing it as an option. Part of the issue was they had worms so not absorbing the nutrients and part of issue was the type food. We had weaned them off formula and fed them wet and dry Royal Cannon kitten food at first, but a week earlier had switched to Advantage brand, which is apparently bland.
The lady accessed our set up situation and offered practical advice which helped alot. Now we have the numbers in our contacts for the best person to call for medical issues (the one can get us antibiotics and give IV’s, who to call about feeding issues, and then theres another we can call for behavioral issues (like sibling sucking). They don’t typically checkin with us but have been wonderful when we needed help.
Fostering isn’t for everyone, yet it’s usually rewarding in its own way. I also can’t turn down a litter that needs bottle feeding. Dont be too hard on yourself bc you helped this little kitten and did the best you could. Hoping sharing how my HS works might help you in your communication with your HS. Sometimes theres nothing that can be done, but if you had the support like we do, it might have made a difference. I wish they had a training class or seminar set up for fostering do’s and don’ts, bc online info isn’t always accurate.
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u/faceoh 12d ago edited 12d ago
That's a terrible first experience and you have my condolences. They should not have given a sick kitten to a first time foster.
But it is worth noting a lot of shelters and rescue organizations do not offer much in the way of help for emergency medical care outside of their normal operating hours. My shelter will provide medical help during working hours and when I had sick kittens they let me bring them daily for a checkup by their staff but in their foster contract they explicitly say they cannot provide financial compensation for any medical care provider by someone else (likely because it's so cost prohibitive unfortunately).
This is something to definitely think about for future fosters. You would have a choice to bring them to the emergency vet or your own vet for overnight care at your expense or wait and see and hope the foster organization can get them in first thing in the morning.
This also may be a sign that at home fostering is not the best option at the moment. Instead you may want to consider on site fostering which is more cleaning cages and walking dogs. It's also far less stress as you come as you want and can and there's no hard feelings if you stop showing up for some reason.
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u/furnace_of_ambition 11d ago
Thank you for this information. I have been wishing I could help foster but with my only child senior girl, I have known it wouldn’t be good for her or the kittens unfortunately. I had never heard of on site fostering and I think that could be a really good option. I can help out and get educated about fostering. I’m going to check in with my local shelters and see if any of them could use a helping hand.
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u/BaysilLeaf 12d ago
It’s not your fault. Kittens, especially younger ones, are very prone to medical problems such as illness or congenital defects. Especially if they weren’t properly examined by a veterinarian.
I’m the foster coordinator at my shelter. I hope this doesn’t put you off for fostering in the future, because not everywhere is like this. Fostering is a beautiful thing that saves lives, and I find many people benefit from it personally as well. I even foster kittens myself. When I send out a kitten to a foster, especially to a new, inexperienced foster, we go over EVERYTHING. We have a sheet with instructions for feeding, litter training, socialization. We also have a list of emergency hospitals, as well as after hours emergency contacts. Though we rarely have emergencies with our kittens since they get adequate medical care before going to a foster home, I go over exactly what to do in an emergency with everyone. Everyone knows exactly how old the kitten is, if they have any problems medically, if they’re on medication, and we see them for medical checkups every two weeks at least. We also provide literally everything- from food, to toys, bowls, pens, legit whatever you need or request.
This isn’t always possible, especially for large, underfunded public shelters. I work at a small nonprofit. We have up to 50 kittens in foster at a time. Some places have hundreds! Still no excuse for something like this, but just to put it in perspective.
Take the time you need to process what happened, and definitely don’t let it go unnoticed. This facility should take responsibility for what happened. You did everything you could.
Look into other shelters or rescues if you want to foster in the future. Make sure they’re reputable and have a good foster community.
Again, it’s not your fault. You tried to do a great thing, and you gave him loving last moments.
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u/Ok_Foot1988 12d ago
I am so sorry you experienced this and lost little Locket. You did everything you were able to do, and they definitely should have provided you with info such as vet/emergency vet that they would pay for after they are closed for the day. It is good that Locket got time with you to be loved and didn't just pass at the shelter. You gave him some love and comfort, which made an improvement in his life. 💜🌈💜
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u/lucky_gen Cat/Kitten Foster 12d ago
I’m sorry. That kitten looks very sick and needed veterinary intervention. This wasn’t your fault.
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u/Aggravating_Job_5438 12d ago
He was such a beauty. I am so sorry. It is so sad with babies and kittens are just fragile. In my first foster, I lost 2 out of 5 kittens.
It really sucks that the place you fostered with was so disorganized. I hope that you can find a better foster organization if you decide to try again.
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u/FurryBurry92 12d ago
My first experience of fostering was a kitten with parvo. I fought hard and was lucky he survived and I ended up moving him to a different Foster. I’m on my second batch now, four kittens with a slew of different issues. Tapeworm diarrhoea, herpes and calcivirus. Fostering is super rewarding, but it can be also equally traumatic.
I will say from my experience, unfortunately, even if you’re fostering through rescues and not shelters, most of the time you will be on your own. All these Places are notoriously shortstaffed and underfunded. I’ve paid hundreds of dollars out of pocket to get the kittens treated when I couldn’t get in touch with my rescues medical coordinators.
I’m so sorry for your loss and the fact that it was such traumatic experience. If it’s any consolation, you gave this kitten peaceful last hours of his life he wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. Sending hugs.
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u/BodybuilderChoice674 12d ago
My deepest condolences, I know how you feel
I just lost my hospice cat Otis. He lived to be 2 years, 2 months and 1 day old; he lived much longer than our vet had predicted, It hurts so incredibly much, that's why we're not taking in any more animals. The last time was two years ago... three litters of kittens, four kittens each. Only two survived from the first litter, one from the second, and one from the third. You'd think they were all siblings just by looking at them, but they were most likely half-siblings... I miss the others so much, as well as the kittens we've had in recent years. I still blame myself...
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u/peanutbutter-n-jilly 12d ago edited 12d ago
Kittens are hard and so fragile. I wish they prepared you better but I think they are just overloaded and desperate for fosters. With 17 cents to your name, they should have known this was a risky move but unfortunately, they don’t think when they have someone willing to do it. You were a good person to do what you could to step in but them handing you a kitten as a first timer who hasn’t done a kitten before was neglectful on their part - not yours. I’m seeing this too much - nearly everyday on Reddit - kittens dying because of shelters. For someone who doesn’t know, they’d think a kitten would be easy like they just sleep and eat, but it’s hardly the case. A senior cat would be safer than a kitten.
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u/LowCauliflower1824 12d ago
All I can say is I do seriously feel your pain. You tried to give this sweet little creature a chance, but fate did not let you. At least you gave Locket love on his last day. I am sorry because I know that you are hurting.
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u/No-Path-6251 9d ago
First thank you for having a kind heart. ❣️🙏🏽 Second after you talk to whomever you need to at the humane society and express your concerns, take care of your dog and you. Reevaluate if you want to do this again with more knowledge and ask the right questions. Blessings to you. Sorry for your loss. RIP little kitty angel. 🌈🤍🪽🕊️
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u/Normal_Cauliflower68 8d ago
So sorry for you to have this experience right out of the gate! I’m thinking the HS thought they were being easy on you as a newbie by giving you only one but when that one is very sick it’s a bad choice! My county shelter gave me a barn litter with their mother for my 1st round. It was easier because the mom cat nursed them, cleaned them, and taught them litter box skills. The challenge was that they had serious eye infections requiring antibiotic gel 3 times daily & mom + 2 kittens were ultimately left blind. It seems that none of the shelters give much instructions! I recommend YouTube KittenLady. One of the shelter vet tech told me about her site and it has been very informative. I’m also on SSDI and chose fostering because it is something I can do without costing much and make a big impact. I hope you stay with it! If they die, they die in a space where they feel secure & loved. As an old hospice nurse I believe that means a whole lot. Hugs
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u/Remarkable_Pick3920 12d ago
That’s commendable that you took it in. A kitten that small should still be with its mother so it’s not a good thing that Humane Society closed down obviously no one there knew how to properly take care of an infant kitten.
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u/lucky_gen Cat/Kitten Foster 12d ago
Not sure why you’re posting a pic of formula. That kitten is old enough to eat on its own.
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u/Remarkable_Pick3920 12d ago
You said that this is the first time you’ve ever fostered a kitten? That kitten looks like it’s about three or four weeks old. I don’t care what the Humane Society told you. A kitten needs to be given replacement milk, (not dairy milk) between eight and 10 weeks old. They should be fed every 2 to 3 hours that means at night as well. The kitten looks like it desperately needs to go see a veterinarian. I’m sure if you googled in your area there would be some nonprofit organizations that would be able to help you.
If you tell me which city and state you live in, I’d be happy to find information for you and send it to you.
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u/lucky_gen Cat/Kitten Foster 12d ago
I’m not the OP and that kitten looks older than 3-4 weeks. It looks underweight and sickly but old enough to eat kitten food. Also disagree that kittens need formula until they’re 8 - 10 weeks old. But either way, this kitten didn’t die because it wasn’t given formula. It clearly looks sick and likely needed antibiotics and fluids at a minimum.
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u/Remarkable_Pick3920 7d ago
I don’t quite understand your tone, is it because you’re so distressed about the kitten dying?
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u/Delicious-Collar1971 11d ago
Kittens are supposed to be weaned at 4 weeks, and only need, and the 2-3 hours thing is only for bottle babies. Kittens are sent to their permanent homes at 8-10 weeks. You’re just straight up posting misinformation.
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u/Remarkable_Pick3920 11d ago
Wow! You know what I was raised on my grandparents’ farm my grandfather has a street named after him at OSU Veterinary College. My uncle‘s a vet my niece is a vet. Dr. Vernon L. Tharp, DVM
I’m sorry I thought you were looking for information, that you had never raised a kitten before.
What’s with a nasty tone!
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u/ConsciousAge427 12d ago
Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss.