This is an episode of the JoyProject podcast: ChristaAvampato.com/JoyProject
What could instantly elicit more joy than a puppy or kitten? This week we talk to Mary Talalay, an expert in fostering animals to get them ready to find their forever homes. She also mentors new fosters, especially first-timers. Mary offers advice to those new to fostering and potential fosters who are curious about what’s involved in the process. She shares stories of fosters that hold a special place in her heart and how she and her daughter initially got involved in their foster community in Maryland.
At the end of the episode I share two resources created by Best Friends Animal Society. They put together a foster program training playbook with an e-learning module, care manuals for dogs, cats, and kittens, and other helpful links. They also have free online recordings of webinars, town halls, online courses, and helpful tips on fostering.
This is a heart-warming episode for all the animal lovers out there and those who want to play a part in animals rescue and adoption.
Topics discussed in this episode: - What it’s like to be a foster as well as the commitment needed (it can be as a big or as small a commitment as you have time for!) - The community of fosters that Mary and her teenage daughter discovered and are now a part of - Memorable fosters that found shelter and safety in Mary’s home - Ways to get involved in the foster community even if you can’t take an animal into your home
About Mary: Mary Talalay has a BS in Journalism from Temple University, an MS in Organizational Dynamics from University of Pennsylvania, and an MPH from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
She enjoys photography (her work has appeared in the Baltimore Sun, Maryland Zoo Annual Report, and KIWI Magazine), writing children's books, travel, and kayaking.
One of her favorite overseas trips was spending Halloween in Transylvania. Her family fosters animals for the Maryland SPCA and they lost count after the 100th kitten.
