To celebrate April’s National Pet Month, Foster Portsmouth ran a competition to discover the pets in fostering households that contribute to supporting and welcoming children in our care into their homes.
The winner of the competition was a dog named Lola. Foster carer Ruth, owner of Lola, shared:
“Lola is the most amazing dog with all foster children. She takes her role as ‘nanny’ very seriously and likes to comfort any new, younger children who need the extra nurturing, helping them feel safe and secure when they need it most.”
The 12-year-old boy who has been in the care of Ruth and husband Glen for the past three years added:
“Lola is ‘flooffy’ and cute, she likes to give loads of cuddles and is playful too, and she makes me happy if I feel sad. When I first lived here she would come and give me a cuddle as I tried to get to sleep as I wasn’t used to sleeping in a room by myself.”
Ruth continued:
“Lola is an incredibly intuitive and gentle creature, who is adored by all our foster children. She is always there to greet you as you walk in the door and make you feel at home, and put a smile on your face. She is never grumpy or in a bad mood, and brings the household together to make us a family.”
The competition results were announced as part of the run up to Foster Care Fortnight (13-26 May) and the promotion of Foster Portsmouth’s spring drop-in foster carer recruitment event being held on the morning of Saturday 18 May at the Holiday Inn Express, Farlington between 10am-1pm.
This year’s theme for Foster Care Fortnight is ‘fostering moments’, providing an opportunity for us to celebrate some of the special moments our foster carers create for the children in their care, their own families and for themselves, including those involving their beloved pets.
National Pet Month celebrates pet ownership, sharing the many benefits of our cherished companions. The campaign aims to raise awareness including making people aware of the benefits of living with pets and the value companion animals can add to those in need, including in a therapeutic sense. Foster Portsmouth have discovered many of our foster carer’s pets act in this capacity for the children in their care.
One of our competition runner ups was a cat called Jack. The 13-year-old young person fostered with Jack’s humans Dave and Angela said:
“Jack keeps me calm. I like to stroke him and I love him so much.”
The couple’s 15-year-old fostered young person added:
“Jack brings the family together.”
Dave confirmed:
“Jack is welcoming and inquisitive, and wants to get to know you. Having a pet is a lovely icebreaker when welcoming children and young people.”
Our other runner up, foster carer Sue’s Pembrokeshire Corgi Ffion, joined their fostering team just after lockdown. Sue shared:
“She has been very popular with all our children, bonding with them. She gives them pleasure, a sense of belonging helping to care for her, and to feel a part of the family.”
Cllr Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member of Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council, comments:
“The National Pet Month competition has given us a wonderful opportunity to recognise another member of many fostering households; the pets of foster carers. They are yet another example of the unsung heroes that make up foster families and provide a loving, caring home for vulnerable children from our city.”
“I’d like to take this opportunity to not only congratulate the winner, runners up and honourable mentions for their well-deserved rewards, but also to thank all the pets, foster carers and every member of their household and extended family for the contribution they all make to changing the lives of children and young people.”
The winner of the competition won a £30 voucher and the two runners up a £20 voucher each at their choice of Vue Cinemas or Pizza Express. However, most importantly, to go some way to say thank you to these hard working members of our fostering community in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas, Foster Portsmouth will also be sending a treat bag to the winner, each of the runners up and, all four honourable mentions to enjoy.
For more information on fostering, people can contact the fostering recruitment team on 023 9283 4071, visit www.foster.portsmouth.gov.uk or email fostering@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
For details on the forthcoming drop-in fostering event on 18 May, please visit www.foster.portsmouth.gov.uk/fcf-event.
To read on about the National Pet Month competition winner, runner-ups and honourable mentions and their owners, please visit: www.foster.portsmouth.gov.uk/foster-portsmouth-paws-to-recognise-the-vital-contribution-of-pets.