Hannah Benjamin: Building a New Home for Pets
When Hannah Benjamin first started school at Elon University, she felt a void. She desperately missed her loyal and endearing pets at home and the companionship that they offered.
“I felt like I was missing something in my life, and it was definitely animals,” Benjamin said.
Benjamin and her family have been fostering pets since she was in kindergarten, so she craved the feeling of fulfillment and pride that she experienced whenever she raised pets. Since animals are not allowed in Elon dorms, Benjamin knew she could not immediately satisfy her pressing desire to feel whole.
Once Benjamin moved to an off-campus apartment her senior year, she considered fostering animals again. Benjamin visited local animal shelters and gave them her contact information so that the shelters could notify her when an animal needed a temporary home.
In the fall, the Burlington Animal Services contacted Benjamin about fostering two kittens, whom she named Penelope and Stormi. Benjamin happily agreed to watch them, so she transitioned from a full-time college student to a part college student, part animal caretaker.
Since then, Benjamin has fostered five cats and three dogs for about one to two months each time.
The animals in the shelters came from broken places without adequate love or care. At the shelter, they were either sick or waiting for surgery, or the shelter was not suitable for them. Benjamin wanted to volunteer her time so that she could mend the animals and bring them back to a healthy and happy place.
“They come from so little and have never experienced love before,” Benjamin said.
After watching Penelope and Stormi for two months, she cared for a lonely cat named Sweet Pea and then two other cats named Piper and Poppy who were in need of support. Then, Benjamin transitioned to watching dogs. She fostered an abused dog named Willow and a dog with cancer named Brody. Now, she is looking after a puppy named Stella who arrived timid and overlooked.
Since these animals needed social support and proper care to become physically and mentally stronger, Benjamin had to give them constant attention.
Every day, she would provide the cats with food and water, clean their litter boxes and give them medicine if needed. The dogs required more hands-on care because Benjamin also needed to potty train them, take them on walks and play with them.
“You have to make sure someone is with them for most of the day,” Benjamin said. “You can’t really leave them alone.”
Although Benjamin explained that the process of caring for animals is time-consuming, especially as a college student, she said fostering animals is worthwhile and rewarding.
Not only does Benjamin provide the animals with affection, but also, the pets reciprocate that companionship. For Benjamin, the love that the animals provide is humbling and fulfilling.
Benjamin also said watching the animals grow and progress both physically and emotionally is rewarding.
“It’s really cute to see them grow in so many ways, like their personality and size,” Benjamin said. Benjamin is proud to know that she is making a difference by improving these animals’ lives.
After Benjamin graduates from Elon and enters the workforce, she will continue to foster pets and build them a loving home.