Foster Care for the RSPCA

Ugh.  This is all very disheartening.  I was really hoping to find a group to support and it seems that they all have mad rules/policies that are quite different to the ones I am comfortable and familiar with from my past experience.

I can understand requiring 1 person to be home most of the time for a puppy (I would NEVER get another puppy unless this was the case, personally), but for a kitten?  The other thing that is a very new one to me is the "too close to a main road" rule.  My husband and I are not allowed to adopt a cat from most organisations because of this, which is why I was looking into the fostering since those animals arent allowed to go outside while in foster care.   I cant help but wonder how many animals are suffering because of these policies...

Some friends of ours discovered that adoption rules can be very different in the UK than the US.  I know it's a bit of a contentious issue, so I'm not making judgements, but it was quite startling to find that NOT allowing a cat to go outside (aka indoor-only cat, very common in the US) is a dealbreaker for adopting with many organizations, since it's almost the exact opposite position (in my experience) in the US.  

In the UK, not allowing a cat to go outside seems to be seen as a form of cruelty, which is where, I guess, the "not too close to a main road" rule comes in.

Very different from my experience as a cat-owner in the US, where vets recommended that cats be kept indoors.

When we were living in a 2nd story flat, DH said that we couldn't be allowed to have a cat because it wouldn't be able to walk outside by itself. In New York, I lived in an apartment higher up than that and had cats.

Oh lets please not get into the indoor/outdoor debate... We would only be fostering since even DH and I dont agree on indoor/outdoor!   

In the UK, not allowing a cat to go outside seems to be seen as a form of cruelty, which is where, I guess, the "not too close to a main road" rule comes in.

Yeah, that's what I was getting at.  Like I said, I know it's contentious, so wasn't trying to offend or even make a judgement.  It was just the first thing that tipped me off that things were fairly different and that my philosophies probably make me a less than desirable candidate for rescue work.  Sorry!

Oh lets please not get into the indoor/outdoor debate... We would only be fostering since even DH and I dont agree on indoor/outdoor!   

I wasn't trying to get into a debate. Just pointing out that the views in the UK are very different than the views in the US.

I had a coworker who adopted a puppy. The only way she and her husband were allowed to do this was that the  husband, who is a bus driver, had to promise to leave his route in the  middle of the day and stop home and check on the puppy.

We had to do this to adopt our mature, adult HOUSECAT!!

I don't mind admitting that my husband did this for one week just to make sure she settled in okay and then we resumed life as normal .  This was from a fairly large, major shelter in the area so could explain why they were so picky.  Personally, I found their policies absolutely ridiculous and will not be going there again to get our next pet.

These very different policies are why I'm going to adopt a dog in the States and bring him over instead of adopting in the UK. I plan on getting an adult dog, not a puppy, but I will be working all day and may not have access to a garden, depending on the flat I rent. Some rescues here in the US won't adopt out to people without fenced yards (even though I will walk my dog daily), effectively preventing people who live in apartments from adopting, and I can imagine most UK rescues would be just as restrictive, if not more, given the stories I'm hearing here. Fortunately, the breed rescue I want to adopt from doesn't require a fenced yard.

Good for you loveaturtle!  ...but do be prepared for the most confusing, expensive, stressful situation of your life when you bring a dog to the UK!

I've been following the Pets board! I'm going to be starting two plane ticket funds: one for me, and one for the dog!

These very different policies are why I'm going to adopt a dog in the States and bring him over instead of adopting in the UK. I plan on getting an adult dog, not a puppy, but I will be working all day and may not have access to a garden, depending on the flat I rent. Some rescues here in the US won't adopt out to people without fenced yards (even though I will walk my dog daily), effectively preventing people who live in apartments from adopting, and I can imagine most UK rescues would be just as restrictive, if not more, given the stories I'm hearing here. Fortunately, the breed rescue I want to adopt from doesn't require a fenced yard.

What breed will you be adopting? Just in case you weren't aware, the UK has a "Dangerous Dogs" law that although (hopefully) will be revised and changed to something less ridiculous, currently bans Pit-bull type dogs.

What breed will you be adopting? Just in case you weren't aware, the UK has a "Dangerous Dogs" law that although (hopefully) will be revised and changed to something less ridiculous, currently bans Pit-bull type dogs.

A beagle.

I have mixed feelings on those type of laws and policies. It seems that every dog attack in the news involves a pit/pit mix or rottweiler. However, I think how a dog is nurtured and socialized has more to do with its likelihood of being aggressive than its breed. The first person to receive a partial face transplant (in France, I believe), was attacked by a Lab (although her family believes the dog did not mean to hurt her).

A beagle.

I have mixed feelings on those type of laws and policies. It seems that every dog attack in the news involves a pit/pit mix or rottweiler. However, I think how a dog is nurtured and socialized has more to do with its likelihood of being aggressive than its breed. The first person to receive a partial face transplant (in France, I believe), was attacked by a Lab (although her family believes the dog did not mean to hurt her).

I agree - I will admit that part of my disgust at these laws (breed specific legislation) comes as a pit-bull lover (Florida certainly is jam-packed with them!) and the fact that breed specific legislation has been shown to just not work. In Britain, for instance, dog attacks and serious dog bites have actually increased since the law came into effect in the 90's - as you mentioned, what needs to be targeted are the people that create dangerous dogs, not any breed in particular. Anyhow, I'm getting long winded here.

Good luck with your Beagle! :-)

I've received this letter from the RSPCA today:
 
I’m very sorry but I am going to have to disappoint you. My colleague has advised me that it would not be suitable for you to foster cats for us.
 
The main reason is that you already have a pet of your own and we feel it is preferable for fosterers to have no other animals at home. The other reason being that you are out at work all day and this would severely limit the type of cats we could leave with you. Ie. only those that needed board and lodging and very little treatment or special care.
 
If at any point you would like to adopt a cat, I’m sure we could help, subject to the usual criteria being met. Once again, I’m sorry to disappoint you.

Unbelievable!!!  I am debating whether I should write back to her and let her know that she not only has passed by an experienced and dedicated foster parent, but also a donor.  I had planned on started up a direct debit monthly donation with the RSPCA, but now most certainly will not be. 

Ridiculous! I just don't get it.