What is Fostering? What Should I expect?
Dogs and cats that are rescued from the streets, from municipal shelters, or from abusive or neglectful situations must be safely, temporarily housed until a permanent home can be found. We cannot exist as rescuers without the support and commitment of our foster families. Without you, these animals would literally have no hope of a loving, permanent home. In many cases, you will be the first time they have been allowed indoors, or the first time they have had enough to eat. You are their first step to trusting again. Most of our dogs have come from municipal shelters (pounds) and we do not know their history. Although we endeavor to know as much as we can about our dogs, in most cases we have no immediate way of knowing if they are housetrained, get along with other dogs, children, or cats. This is why we rely so heavily on our foster homes and the updates they provide to us. For example, we need to know if their behavior indicates any issues with food or toys, if touching their collar or back causes a reaction, if they refuse to adjust to a crate, are having anxiety when left alone, etc. We are extremely careful to place dogs in appropriate homes and rarely will place a foster dog in a home with children unless the dog has been observed and evaluated around children. We have trainers and behaviorists that work with us (and YOU) to assure that the dog is social and well-prepared to go to a permanent home as a responsible member of that family.
Should you decide to foster, you will become responsible for the day-to-day care of the rescue dog placed with you. We will provide food, and will be responsible for any necessary medical care. If you have any out-of-pocket expense, you will be reimbursed accordingly. You will be responsible for housing, feeding, administering monthly heartworm and flea preventative, administering any medications, and will be required to make every attempt at housebreaking, leash breaking, crate training, and socialization where it is needed. Our dogs are placed in foster homes only after proper vaccinations (distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, rabies and Bordetella (kennel cough)), a heartworm test and a fecal test. We will provide a crate of proper size for your use at night (or an exercise pen or appropriate gate) whenever you are not around to supervise. Rescue dogs must not be left alone with your own dogs without supervision. In some cases, you may be required to have an adequately fenced yard, or may be required to walk the dog on lead. You certainly will be expected to provide a secure environment where the dog cannot wander off.
Our job (and yours) is to shape these dogs into dogs we can successfully place. This takes time and effort. Dogs are in foster homes for anywhere from two weeks to several months. Dogs are rarely in rescue for less than two weeks, and an average length of stay is three to four months. Dogs that need a great deal of basic training and socialization, or perhaps have physical disabilities may take longer.
Before you make your decision to foster, you should find out if everyone in your household is committed to the idea of becoming a foster family. Do you have pets of your own that would not do well with the addition of a foster dog to the family? If you have dogs of your own, do they get along with other dogs? Are they up to date on all their vaccinations, including kennel cough, and heartworm tested and on preventative? And are you really committed to this endeavor and are you willing to accept the added burden on your time? A foster family puts the long-term needs of the dog first. The day your foster dog is adopted is a combination of sadness and joy. You may miss them, but you have made the difference between life and death. This is no small accomplishment. If you have decided that, despite everything we said above, you want to join us as a foster family, we thank you and welcome you.
Should you decide to foster, you will become responsible for the day-to-day care of the rescue dog placed with you. We will provide food, and will be responsible for any necessary medical care. If you have any out-of-pocket expense, you will be reimbursed accordingly. You will be responsible for housing, feeding, administering monthly heartworm and flea preventative, administering any medications, and will be required to make every attempt at housebreaking, leash breaking, crate training, and socialization where it is needed. Our dogs are placed in foster homes only after proper vaccinations (distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, rabies and Bordetella (kennel cough)), a heartworm test and a fecal test. We will provide a crate of proper size for your use at night (or an exercise pen or appropriate gate) whenever you are not around to supervise. Rescue dogs must not be left alone with your own dogs without supervision. In some cases, you may be required to have an adequately fenced yard, or may be required to walk the dog on lead. You certainly will be expected to provide a secure environment where the dog cannot wander off.
Our job (and yours) is to shape these dogs into dogs we can successfully place. This takes time and effort. Dogs are in foster homes for anywhere from two weeks to several months. Dogs are rarely in rescue for less than two weeks, and an average length of stay is three to four months. Dogs that need a great deal of basic training and socialization, or perhaps have physical disabilities may take longer.
Before you make your decision to foster, you should find out if everyone in your household is committed to the idea of becoming a foster family. Do you have pets of your own that would not do well with the addition of a foster dog to the family? If you have dogs of your own, do they get along with other dogs? Are they up to date on all their vaccinations, including kennel cough, and heartworm tested and on preventative? And are you really committed to this endeavor and are you willing to accept the added burden on your time? A foster family puts the long-term needs of the dog first. The day your foster dog is adopted is a combination of sadness and joy. You may miss them, but you have made the difference between life and death. This is no small accomplishment. If you have decided that, despite everything we said above, you want to join us as a foster family, we thank you and welcome you.