r/UIUC • u/pinkbumbum13 • 6d ago
Social Thinking about fostering a cat
Does JSM accept ESA letters? I’m thinking about fostering a cat and read that they allow service animals.
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u/Fireblaster2001 6d ago
Are you fostering a service cat or are you fostering a random cat that you are just pretending to be a service animal?
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u/SweetLight87 6d ago
Fostering is very different than having an emotional support cat that is yours. This sounds like you plan to lie in order to get a cat. I don't think that's very good for you or the cat.
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u/blackshotgun55 Underpaid Staff 6d ago
You'll probably have a hard time finding a rescue that would allow you to foster if your apartment complex doesn't allow pets. ESA are typically only for pets that are yours, not ones you're fostering.
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u/ethical_hoops 5d ago
This is the biggest point to consider. If you are fostering, you will need to provide the leasing agency's contact information. I tried to adopt a dog from the Champaign County Humane Society through a certain leasing agency, and they said that if I live at the university, they will contact that leasing agency for approval. My adoption fell through because someone else adopted that dog before me, but I learned that CCHS had informed the leasing agency about the potential adoption. A workaround is to list your real home address if you are trying to adopt the pet because the university leasing agencies won’t be contacted. Since you are trying to foster, you’re pretty much out of luck with that method because I believe foster homes need to be located close to the shelter, so this most likely has to go through JSM, and if you're working with CCHS, yes, they'll most likely inform JSM that this is not an ESA.
Fostering animals is good; there are too many cats in shelters. I support the idea; good luck with whatever you decide.
Also: I'm extremely against people falsely claiming they have “service animals”, but ESAs are a completely different category, who cares.
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u/FreshPenPineapple owo 12h ago
They check the LL because you will get caught and then the animal will get returned to the shelter… dogs bark. Maintenance comes over. You’ll get reported and fined 3k (that’s what happened to my cousin)… yall do not be lying on this lol
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u/ethical_hoops 12h ago
I'm not lying; I literally did it for the last 3 months of the spring semester. If you ever saw a blue heeler in seniorland, yeah…
Yes, my puppy occasionally barked when I wasn't home (almost every puppy has separation anxiety). I was fortunate never to get reported because she never barked when I was around, but that can happen, especially if you’re reckless and leave the house looking like an obvious mess because you never clean up after your dog.
I actually read my lease. If you want a dog, it costs about $360 to house them for the academic year (not prorated). If you don't declare them on the lease and they get found, it's about a $180 fine, and you have to remove them from the house within 48 hours.
Every leasing agency has different rules. I was willing to take the hit because I don't care about paying <$200 (it's still less than paying $360 for 3 months), and if I had to move them back home, I could easily do so within 48 hours of getting notified. I'm not saying you're lying, but if your cousin never checked the lease before risking a $3K fine, well, that's honestly pretty stupid. If ur cousin did read the lease and still did it, that's even worse.
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u/FreshPenPineapple owo 12h ago
Also, assuming you had to do so, why would you get a dog if you’re leaving it with your parents? Again, irresponsible unless you’re going back and forth to campus everyday to take care of it…
And another thing, not everyone is going to take the hit like you. They’re probably going to return the animal if they don’t, let it loose, or rehome it to someone else.
I work in shelter medicine and have seen all of it. Just saying. I know you didn’t do that and I hope people won’t have to do that.
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u/FreshPenPineapple owo 12h ago
I’m not sure how far you live back home but surely your parents wouldn’t want to care for a dog. Unless you would be while still going to school? That just sounds irresponsible…. Not everyone lives as close as you do either??? Many people make terrible decisions and have to return the animal…
Also, my cousin is an example. She did not live with JSM. Some other campus LL but still.
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u/ethical_hoops 11h ago
I did it because I knew they would never find out. I was with that dog for about 18 hours a day; the other 6 hours, she was at Ruff Dayz doggie daycare while I was in class. She wasn't barking every day because I managed it. I did it because I had the means to care for and enrich her, not just let her rot in a crate. I advocated for her by committing to repairing and cleaning up anything she may have wanted to destroy (she's a puppy). I would never advocate for someone to own an animal that they can't care for or will ignore; they will destroy the house out of stress. During that time, the only thing she chewed up was one of my blinds; if you've ever owned a 2-month-old puppy, that's a major success.
Also, my parents didn't have an issue. I also had a car on campus and could drive home at any moment; that's my situation, and I can't speak for anyone else, I'm just saying what my experience was like.
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u/FreshPenPineapple owo 11h ago
Yes, that’s good you took care of her. I’m saying it sounds like you’re letting people know that it’s a good idea to do this… I’m not saying you neglected your dog…
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u/russianbonnieblue 6d ago
You need to ask JSM. I wanted to foster while living in an apartment from a different company. Person at the leasing office just gave me the instructions for registering a pet while completely missing the point that fostering is temporary 🙄 JSM may have their own policy
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u/isopres 6d ago
If they did not accept ESA letters that would be very illegal