FAT is the Portuguese acronym for Familia de Acolhimento Temporário, which, translated roughly into English, means ‘We Need More Foster Families’ at the animal shelter Cadela Carlota.
Fostering is a temporary solution that is beneficial to all involved. You may have loved and lost a beloved pet, but you are unable (for various reasons) to house another permanent friend. Nevertheless, there is now a big hole in your life, and you have a lot of care left to give. Why not consider fostering? Many of our volunteers foster one of our animals simply because they return to their country of origin to see family on a regular basis and cannot commit to a more permanent arrangement.
What does this entail?
A temporary foster family, or FAT, is someone who makes themselves available to help a rescued animal, offering their time and space for a period of time – be it long or short.
What is involved?
A FAT takes on the role of carer for the dog or cat, showing them affection and instilling in them the necessary routines that will make it easier for them to be adopted. For example, walks, feeding, getting used to being handled and resting. Some of the rescued animals will need medication and veterinary care.
How does it work?
After an agreement between Cadela Carlota and a FAT, the animal will be housed in its own home and provided with food and accessories, such as bowls, beds, toys, covers, medication, etc.
All expenses relating to the animal’s accommodation at the FAT’s home are the sole responsibility of the association. Becoming a FAT does not incur any personal charges to you in relation to the animal’s stay or recovery. This includes travelling to and from routine appointments.
How do I apply?
Simply send an email to info@cadela-carlota.com or contact +351 917 448 583 and leave your contact details and address. You will then be contacted to discuss and agree to the type of animal that you can accommodate. Plus, and most importantly, you will agree the length of time that this will be possible, be it for a week, a month or even longer.
Becoming a temporary, furry foster family is more than just an altruistic gesture. It means being part of the Cadela Carlota team, with all the support that this entails. Together, we all work tirelessly to improve the lives of all the animals in our care.
Talk About Tomorrow
WORDS Sophie Sadler
For the first of this month’s podcasts, Talk About Tomorrow visited the Cadela Carlota animal shelter. We managed to tear ourselves away from cuddling puppies long enough to record a fantastic interview with president Ruth and treasurer Konstanze.
If you want to learn more about how the charity operates and the fantastic work it does, make sure you tune in. The Cadela Carlota story is truly inspiring and a great example of how the local community comes together to help animals.
During our chat, we learned how many people help in so many different ways and heard some tear-jerking stories of how animals and humans found their soulmates or soul pets through the shelter!
They now need our help to rehome their cats to their new permanent home and to prevent puppies from dying of a fatal virus. In this podcast, you will find out how you can do so much more than just donate money, as we came to the conclusion that we can all make a difference.
Don’t miss our latest podcast, available on Spotify, Apple podcasts, YouTube and tomorrowalgarve.com/podcast-talk-about-tomorrow/
