When Oscar, a black kitten, died unexpectedly, 12-year-old Lucas Sweeney was devastated. He had nicknamed Oscar “VGK,” short for “Very Good Kitten.” His mother, Laurie, later decided that fostering kittens could give the family a constructive way to care for animals while Lucas was coping with the loss. Their experience, reported by Lindsay Hutton for Best Friends Animal Society on March 23, 2021, shows what fostering looked like for one grieving family—not a guaranteed treatment for grief, but a practical project that this family found meaningful.
The Sweeneys eventually fostered three kittens, adopted one, and continued helping others. Their story also offers a useful starting point for anyone wondering whether fostering, volunteering, or adopting through a local shelter is right for their household.
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What happened to Lucas and his “Very Good Kitten”?
In fall 2019, the Sweeney family adopted a black kitten named Oscar. Lucas was 12 and formed a close bond with him, calling him VGK. The nickname captured how central the kitten had become in Lucas’s daily life.
Oscar died unexpectedly the following fall. The loss was especially hard for Lucas. “Our hearts were broken for him,” his mother, Laurie Sweeney, says in the Best Friends feature. The account does not diagnose Lucas’s grief or claim that his reaction represents every child who loses a pet. It records one family’s response to a painful event.
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At the time, the family was also dealing with pandemic-era school quarantines. Laurie decided to foster kittens through Best Friends Animal Society. Fostering would let the family provide temporary care without deciding immediately that they were ready for another permanent pet.
Read the original account by Lindsay Hutton, published March 23, 2021, at Best Friends Animal Society.
How fostering changed the family’s routine
Best Friends brought the Sweeneys three kittens: Walter Werewolf, Manfred Mummy, and Vincent Vampire. The kittens arrived in a crate, and Best Friends staff reviewed the necessary information and supplies with the family.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesLucas was excited, but he was also cautious about opening himself up after losing VGK. That hesitation matters. A new animal did not erase the old relationship, and the family did not expect a kitten to replace Oscar.
The family adopted Walter, a black kitten, and renamed him Romeo. They continued to foster other kittens after that adoption. In the story, fostering became an ongoing way for Lucas to participate in animal care while the family decided, one kitten at a time, what they could handle.
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What Lucas actually did as a foster caregiver
Lucas was not merely watching the kittens play. The feature describes him taking an active role in their care and in the relationship with the rescue team.
- He observed behavior. Lucas noticed changes in each kitten’s personality, an important part of telling caregivers when an animal was settling in or might need attention.
- He watched for illness. Paying attention to appetite, energy, and other changes helped the family communicate concerns to Best Friends staff.
- He gave medicine when needed. Medication was provided as part of the kittens’ care, with the family relying on guidance from the organization.
- He attended appointments. Lucas took part in veterinary visits rather than leaving every responsibility to an adult.
- He communicated with staff. Questions and updates went back to Best Friends, giving the professionals information about how the kittens were doing at home.
These tasks show that fostering is both affectionate and practical. A foster home supplies attention, observation, transport, and follow-through. The exact duties, medical support, and time commitment vary by organization, so a local shelter should explain them before a family agrees.
Can fostering help a child after pet loss?
For the Sweeneys, caring for kittens gave Lucas a meaningful project and helped the family move forward, according to the Best Friends account. That is a description of this family’s experience, not evidence that fostering is a universal remedy for bereavement.
Children grieve differently. Some want to talk about the animal; others prefer routines, creative activities, school support, or time with trusted adults. A foster animal also has its own needs, and a child should never be expected to carry the emotional responsibility for the household’s recovery.
Fostering may be worth discussing when:
- the child is interested in caring for animals rather than being pressured to “replace” the pet who died;
- an adult can remain responsible for feeding, medication, cleaning, transport, and communication with the shelter;
- the household can tolerate uncertainty about a foster’s health, behavior, and eventual placement;
- the rescue organization provides a clear contact for questions and emergencies; and
- everyone understands that the foster may leave for adoption or another placement.
If grief is seriously disrupting sleep, school, safety, or daily functioning, speak with a pediatrician or qualified mental-health professional. A foster placement should not be presented as counseling or medical care.
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Fostering, volunteering, or adopting: which option fits?
The article’s closing invitation is simple: foster, volunteer, or adopt through a local shelter and help save lives. Those choices involve different commitments. The feature does not compare programs or establish universal requirements, so use this table as a decision framework and confirm details locally.
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| Option | What it can involve | Questions to settle first |
|---|---|---|
| Fostering | Temporary in-home care, daily observation, possible medication, appointments, and updates to shelter staff. | How long might the placement last? Who supplies food, litter, medication, and equipment? Who pays for veterinary care? What happens if the household cannot continue? |
| Volunteering | Helping a shelter or rescue without bringing an animal home; duties depend on the organization. | Are there age limits, training sessions, scheduled shifts, or tasks suitable for children accompanied by an adult? |
| Adopting | Taking permanent responsibility for an animal, including future routine and veterinary care. | Is the household ready for a long-term commitment, including after the initial grief has changed? |
For a family still unsure about another permanent pet, fostering can create a defined, temporary commitment. It can also be emotionally demanding when a kitten leaves, so ask the program how it prepares families for transitions.
How to explore fostering through a local shelter
The Sweeneys worked with Best Friends, but the feature does not provide a nationwide list of requirements or local program details. Contact a shelter or rescue serving your area and ask for its current process.
- Describe your household honestly. Mention children’s ages, other pets, work and school schedules, housing rules, and any previous animal-care experience.
- Ask what types of placements are available. Kittens may need frequent feeding, socialization, monitoring, or medical care. A program should match the animal’s needs with the foster home’s capacity.
- Clarify supplies and costs. Ask whether the organization provides food, litter, medication, bedding, cleaning materials, and a carrier or crate. The Sweeney story says Best Friends reviewed supplies when the kittens arrived; other programs may handle this differently.
- Get veterinary instructions. Confirm which clinic to use, how appointments are authorized, what symptoms require an urgent call, and who is responsible for transport.
- Establish communication. Save the staff member’s phone number or messaging route. Find out when routine updates are expected and who answers after hours.
- Discuss the placement’s end. Ask how adoption decisions are made, whether foster caregivers can apply to adopt, and what happens if the match is not working.
- Agree on adult responsibility. A child can observe, play, help with gentle routines, and report changes, but an adult should own the care plan and final decisions.
Preparing a safe foster space
Before a kitten arrives, follow the shelter’s setup instructions. A quiet, easy-to-clean room can make observation simpler and gives the animal a predictable place to settle. Keep doors and windows secure, remove hazards the organization identifies, and separate the newcomer from resident pets until the shelter says introductions are appropriate.
A carrier or kitten crate is useful for transport and temporary containment, but do not assume you need to buy one immediately. The Sweeney family received kittens in a crate, and the organization went over supplies. Ask what your shelter lends or provides, what size and style it requires, and whether equipment must be returned. If you purchase anything, choose equipment that the program approves rather than relying on a generic shopping list.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePrepare a written care sheet with feeding instructions, medication times, staff contacts, appointment information, and observations. A simple log helps a child contribute safely: record what the kitten ate, its energy level, notable behavior, and any question for the foster coordinator.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical daily routine for foster kittens
Morning check
Look at the kitten’s general condition and follow the organization’s feeding plan. Note changes in appetite, energy, breathing, stool, or behavior. Do not diagnose a problem yourself; report concerns using the shelter’s instructions.
Gentle interaction
Use the handling and play methods the rescue recommends. Let the kitten approach at its own pace, especially if it is frightened. A child can read quietly nearby, offer an approved toy, or tell an adult what the kitten is doing.
Medication and appointments
Give only medication authorized by the organization and use the exact dose and schedule supplied by its staff or veterinarian. Record each dose so adults do not accidentally repeat it. Keep appointments and tell the rescue promptly if transportation or timing becomes impossible.
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Review the day’s notes and send the required update. Clear, timely observations help staff decide whether the kitten needs a veterinary check, a change in care, or a different placement.
Helping a child without turning the kitten into a replacement
Use the foster experience to make room for memories of Oscar rather than trying to remove them. Lucas continued to have his own history with VGK even as he cared for new kittens. Adults can invite a child to talk about the pet who died, keep a photo or memento, and say plainly that a foster kitten is a different animal with a different personality.
Set expectations before arrival: the kitten may be adopted, become ill, need medication, or return to the organization. Let the child choose age-appropriate tasks and stop if participation becomes overwhelming. The adult remains responsible for making sure the foster receives care even when the child needs a break.
Questions to ask before saying yes
- What is the expected placement length, and can it change?
- What medical, behavioral, and feeding needs are common for this group of kittens?
- Which supplies are provided, and which would the foster home need to supply?
- Who authorizes treatment and pays veterinary bills?
- What signs require an immediate call?
- Can the organization provide a replacement placement if this one is unsuitable?
- How are adoptions arranged, and what support is available when a kitten leaves?
- What supervision is required when children handle the kittens?
Written answers reduce surprises and help a family decide based on its actual schedule and emotional capacity.
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What this story can—and cannot—tell you
The Sweeney family’s experience establishes several concrete points: Oscar was the kitten Lucas called VGK; Oscar’s unexpected death preceded the fostering period; the family fostered Walter Werewolf, Manfred Mummy, and Vincent Vampire through Best Friends; Walter was adopted and renamed Romeo; and Lucas participated in observation, medication, appointments, and communication with staff.
It does not establish a success rate, a clinical outcome, a standard supply package, or a universal rule that fostering resolves grief. It also does not tell you what a shelter in your area will require. Those details must come from the organization offering the placement.
A careful next step
If your household is considering fostering after losing a pet, start with an honest conversation about readiness and responsibilities. Then contact a local shelter or rescue and ask for its current foster orientation, supplies policy, veterinary procedures, and support contact. You can also ask about volunteering if bringing an animal home feels too soon, or about adoption when your family is ready for a permanent commitment.
For Lucas and his family, caring for kittens did not erase the pain of losing VGK. It gave them a way to care, notice, learn, and keep moving while honoring that bond. Your household may respond differently; the right choice is the one that protects both the people grieving and the animals depending on them.
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