Patti Beck was volunteering at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona's thrift store, sorting clothes, when another volunteer told her that she fostered animals.
"I said I'd love to do that," said Beck.
That was four years ago. She's since opened her home to countless kittens. "They call me when they have a litter," said Beck, noting the need usually goes up in March and goes through October or November.
Beck, 71, was raised on a farm and worked as a journeyman plumber. She enjoys volunteering. But there are frustrations.
"Nearly all (the litters) that we get are owner release — it's not like they’re feral and wild," she said. "If you’re going to have animals you have to be responsible, which is getting them neutered and spayed."
The Humane Society always needs fosters, she said. "They especially need fosters for the adult dogs and cats. I would take an adult if I didn’t have my grumpy old lady (cat)."
In Beck's home, the kittens learn to use a litterbox. "When I take them back they aren’t scratching furniture. They aren’t jumping up in the food areas, and they learn really fast," she said.
They also get to be kittens. "They love to play. They love affection. Can you image spending all that time in a cage? It would be horrible.”
The kittens stay with Beck until they are 2 pounds, which is when they can be neutered and spayed. She returns the kittens on a Friday, and they are up for adoption on Monday.
After so many kittens over the years, something unexpected happened with the last litter. "I adopted one," Beck said. "I fell in love with him. I can’t even explain it. That was my one and only 'failed foster.'"
