Fostering Happiness 

Each year, people from all corners of the world move to Japan, some for a few years, others for longer. Many are concerned about committing to a dog or cat that might need to move with them to an undecided future location. 

Animal Refuge Kansai (ARK) has two large shelters in the Kansai region, but not in Tokyo. Dogs, cats and other animals in the care of Tokyo ARK are placed in foster care in private homes, where they are treated as family members until we can find forever homes for them. 

We asked three foster families to tell us about their experience with ARK: 

• Sanae Totani has had numerous ARK animals in her care. She currently has a large breed dog named Bean.
• Ray and Yuichi Sugawara are seasoned foster parents who recently fostered a special needs cat. When he was adopted, two new cats moved in!
• Shamrin Lullo has fostered for other organizations, but had her first foster dog from ARK.

What do you enjoy most about fostering?

Sanae: The best part of our family is seeing the animals come out of their shells and enjoy time with us. We get to take care of all kinds of breeds, from adorable puppies to wise senior dogs, and each one has their own unique personalities.

Ray and Yuichi: There is nothing more joyful than spending time with lovely cats! Fostering a variety of cats will give you the opportunity to see that each cat has their own unique personality. Some cats are not used to living with people, but it is so rewarding to watch them adjust to life with us as a house cat. We just want to let people know that even if it’s tricky for you to keep a dog or cat at home because of frequent moves or your life plans, there is still the option of volunteering to look after them for a few months/years. 

Shamrin: The most enjoyable part of fostering my first foster dog, Udo, has been seeing his incredible transformation over the months spent in my home. Udo was found as a stray dog in the mountains of Tochigi and was incredibly shy and frightened at first. He would shake constantly and pin himself against the wall. He now sleeps next to me nightly and happily runs throughout my yard! 

What are some of the challenges you have faced?

Sanae: Fostering does come with its own challenges. Every rescue animal has its own sets of difficulties, and some may have behavior issues. We typically foster larger breeds and, while we can, care for most of them until they find their forever homes. There was one time we had to return the dog to ARK, as we realized the dog needed more exercise and attention for his behavior problems. ARK transferred him to a trainer and he eventually found a loving family! 

Ray and Yuichi: When a new cat arrives, we are all a little worried about how they will adjust to living with us, and it is especially the case when they’re still getting used to eating, drinking and going to the litter tray, but we’re here to help! We want these little guys to be as comfortable and happy as possible until they find their “forever home”, so we do everything we can to look after and support them.

Shamrin: During Udo’s first week, I was unsure how he and my dog, Tom, would get along. Tom was somewhat protective of our home, and Udo got a little annoyed at Tom’s antics. They are now the best of friends and love to play together, both inside and out. 

What sort of people would you recommend fostering to? 

Sanae: Fostering is recommended for animal lovers as well as for people who are considering getting a pet and want to experience what it’s like to live with them. It’s an opportunity to practice and get an idea of what to expect plus you might even find your new family member!

Ray and Yuichi: Even in the short and limited time until their adopters are found, we would like people who can love dogs or cats like their forever parents to become foster carers, and we would like to be such volunteers!

Shamrin: I think it is necessary to be flexible. Many foster animals come from difficult circumstances, so you might need to adjust your lifestyle to care for them properly. It is important to be understanding of behaviors that you might find undesirable, and consider the root causes.

Any other comments?

Sanae: It’s been an amazing journey for our family and we highly recommend it to anyone who loves animals and wants to make a difference to little lives.  We hope you will enjoy fostering as much as we do.

Ray and Yuichi: We are really pleased to be foster carers in cooperation with ARK Tokyo! If you have any questions or are interested in learning more, we would highly recommend getting in touch with ARK. We hope you enjoy your time with the furry friends and that you can support them in return!

Shamrin: Fostering is the most rewarding experience, and preparing an animal to go to their forever home is just as healing for the humans involved.

FAQs:

Are there any stipulations for foster families?

We ask that foster families check their housing rules to make sure that pets are allowed. The default in Tokyo is still for no pets. We also ask that animals be treated as family members, and that cats be kept indoors at all times. Dogs should wear both harnesses and collars when outdoors, with leads attached to the latter. We ask that all resident animals are neutered and vaccinated.

What happens if I need to go away?

ARK will take the animal back while you are away.

What if the animal gets sick?

We ask that you contact us and let us take the animal to our own vet if time allows. In an emergency, we ask that you take the animal to a nearby vet and keep any receipts for charges incurred so that we can reimburse you.

How long will I have my foster animal?

It could be anywhere between weeks and years! We like foster families to have the same animal until it finds a home whenever possible. We ask that foster families have at least six months available.

What if I want to adopt my foster dog or cat?

We ask that foster families let us know before someone else applies for the animal.

Can I pick the animal I want to foster?

We are happy to follow guidelines regarding size, breed, etc., established by the foster home.

What are the good and bad things about fostering? 

We asked three of our foster families to answer these questions. Please see their answers above.

Where can I sign up? 

Please contact us using the following form and let us know you saw us on GoConnect: https://arkbark.net/en/support/foster/

Note: Custom Media and Goconnect founders Robert Heldt and Simon Farrell are ARK Board Directors.