Fostering a dog is rewarding in many ways.  By providing a safe harbor for your foster, you help him on his journey to a loving, forever home. 

What’s a foster home?

Fostering a rescue dog means taking a dog into your home as if it were a part of your family. You give him or her all the love, attention, and training one would expect any responsible pet owner to provide. The dog lives with you until he or she is adopted into a new permanent home. This could be a matter of days, weeks, or sometimes months.

Do I have to know a lot about dogs to foster one?

Absolutely not. Knowledge of dog behavior or health would be great. But if you have patience, a sense of humor, and a sincere concern for a dog’s well-being, we can help you learn the rest. Your comfort and experience level will be considered in choosing a dog for you to foster. We want you to have a successful fostering experience, and are committed to doing everything we can to make that happen.

Do I need any special equipment?

Nothing special, just some basics for your dog such as drinking water, a separate food bowl, a collar, leash, and a couple of toys.  He’ll also need a private place of  his own inside your house for sleeping and relaxing. This would preferably be a crate, or else someplace warm and soft, away from the main household traffic.

What would I be responsible for doing?

· Providing a safe and loving home environment, including a bed or crate, quality food, and a few toys.

· Transportation to vet appointments. We pay for all veterinary bills and medication.

· Teaching manners, some basic commands, and housetraining if needed.

· Updating us about your foster dog on a simple form we provide.

· Bringing the dog to an adoption event, if asked.

· Contacting us right away about any problems  or concerns.

What about my own pets?

Animals can be a wonderful source of companionship and socialization for each other. Before choosing to foster, you’ll want to consider how your pets will adjust to having a new dog in your home. To help make the transition smoother, it’s best to crate a new foster or at least limit its access of the home until you’re sure of its behavior with your other animals and family members. We’ll work with you to try and match a dog that’s compatible with the other animals in your home.

Also, for the safety of your pets and the foster dog, it’s important you check with your veterinarian to make sure your pets are up-to-date on vaccinations. We recommend they get a Bordatella shot as well.

Will I have to find a home for my foster?

No. We have a process to locate, screen, and approve potential adopters, and to carefully match them with a dog that fits their family. However you’re more than welcome to let people know about your foster, and how to apply for adoption!

What happens if I have an emergency or need to go out of town?

It’s understandable that things can pop up unexpectedly. Contact us to discuss arrangement options for your foster while you’re away.

Is it hard to give up a foster? What if I get attached?

It can be tough to say goodbye because you *do* get emotionally attached. Many foster parents find that keeping a scrapbook with photos of the dogs they’ve helped is comforting to them.  Some adopters choose to remain in touch, sending updates and pictures to the foster parents as well.

One of the great rewards of fostering is knowing that you’ve saved an animal’s life and helped him or her find a permanent, loving home.  And just remember, by letting a dog move on, you’ve opened up a spot in your home for another dog that desperately needs your help.

How do I give fostering a try?

If you'd like to become a foster parent, please download a copy of our Foster Home Application (MS Word .doc) here . Fill it out, sign it, and mail it to the address listed on the form. We'll contact you as soon as we receive it.