Their house is never empty and never quiet but Michael and Katie Hicks say there is nothing more rewarding than giving rescue animals a second chance.
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The Cressy couple have fostered dogs, puppies, cats and kittens for the past three years for the RSPCA, taking in animals that needed the extra attention they couldn’t get at the shelter.
“Some people say they could never do it because they would never give them back, but I explain that we’re teaching them love for another family,” Mrs Hicks said.
“We don’t do it because its easy to give them up, but because where else would they go if we didn’t take them?
“Sometimes its difficult, but mostly its just fun if you’re not afraid of litter and smell.
“The neighbours must think we’re crazy with all these animals that come and go, but I love the sound of them running around the house.”
Mr and Mrs Hicks, and their son Jude, 8, all help out with the foster animals. At the moment, they have two cheeky, playful seven-week-old puppies, Becky and Baxter.
“I work days and Michael works nights so there is someone here the whole time, meaning we can take in animals that need a bit more work and attention.
“I start work at 5am so Michael looks after them during the day. It starts with breakfast and the cleanup begins. He follows them during the day and when Jude’s home from school, he plays with them.
“They’re fed a couple of times a day, and then we leave them overnight so they get used to it, because you don’t know where the new family will want them to sleep at night.
“Puppies are harder than kittens because they go to the toilet wherever they want, whereas you can teach kittens to go in a litter tray.
We don’t do it because its easy to give them up, but because where else would they go if we didn’t take them?
- Katie Hicks
“But we don’t mind taking some of the more difficult ones. Nothing’s perfect and we don’t mind putting in the work they need.
“I love to see them come out of their shells. We had three kittens who hid under the TV cabinet when they first arrived. They just needed patience and a calm environment.”
As well as the fosters that come through the doors, the Hicks have some permanent pets, including Steve the sheep, a dog, two cats, a dove, two ducks, chickens a guinea pig, rabbit, budgies, a quail and a galah.
“They all needed homes over the years from people who were moving and couldn’t keep them, or in the case of the galah, he just wandered up the driveway,” Mr Hicks said.
“We’ve never bought an animal – they all sort of found us.”
While the couple admitted some foster animals were harder to give back than others, they said the positives outweighed the negatives.
“By letting them go, we’re making room to save more rescue animals,” Mrs Hicks said.
“At foster homes, animals can learn all the normal stuff that goes on in a house – we don’t shelter them from anything. We do everyday things like cooking and cleaning, and we have the TV on.
“It’s great to see where they start and where they end up – that’s the best bit.”
Animal rescue groups across the state, including the RSPCA, Dogs Home of Tasmania and Brightside Farm Sanctuary, are always on the lookout for new animal fosterers to come on board.
After putting a call-out for greyhound foster carers earlier in the month, Brightside’s Emma Haswell had an overwhelming response, with a number of people adopting and many others fostering.
It meant that last week, she could go and rescue 12 more greyhounds.
“This was only possible due to the incredible public response on facebook asking for foster carers and adopters.”
RSPCA Tasmania uses its foster care program to offer injured and sick animals, animals that are too young to be desexed, and animals with behavioural problems, a chance to rehabilitate and learn in a home environment.
“Each year hundreds of dogs, cats, kittens, puppies, poultry, livestock, horses, caged birds, mice, rats and guinea pigs, rely on our wonderful foster carers for a second chance in life,” a spokesperson said.
“A home environment is far better for an animal compared to a pen or cage in the care centre. A loving foster family can provide a more stress-free and caring place where an animal can grow, thrive and recover.”
To enquire about fostering for the RSPCA, email foster@rspcatas.org.au.
For Dogs Home of Tasmania, email fostercare@dogshomesoftas.com.au.
For Brightside Farm Sanctuary, email info@brightside.org.au.
