Initial Assessment

Dogs come into one of our experienced intake foster homes to assess their health, temperament, begin treatment for known illness and to start any needed behavior modification.  If no intake foster home is available due to them having existing foster dogs, new dogs are put on a waiting list or are boarded until a foster home becomes available.  Shelter dogs are priority, as shelters often do not have the luxury of being able to hold dogs for us.  When shelters call we do our best to take in the dog or network for help.

During the first few weeks we are observing the dogs carefully to see how they react to people, dogs, cats, and children.  The dog is also assessed for any prior training and some retraining usually takes place.  

After Assessment - Foster Care

After evaluation is complete, the dog is ready to go to a foster home to await adoption.  If a foster home isnt available, the dog will often stay in the original intake foster home.  This prevents the intake foster home from bringing in another dog in need, thereby limiting the dogs we can directly assist.

We do our very best to match foster dogs with foster families.  If a dog is found not to be cat friendly, we do not place that dog in a foster home with cats.  Our goal is to make fostering as easy and as enjoyable as possible.

The most important role foster homes have is to help ready the dog for adoption.  They do this by getting the foster dog used to a normal household routine and providing structure.  While in foster care the dog is one of our own  and is given love and affection like any other.  Perhaps most importantly, the foster home is a safe, stable environment from which dogs can make a positive new start.  We dont wish to bounce the dogs from home to home, so fosters are a very critical role in the rescue process.

Foster homes are provided with everything they need for care of the foster dog including crate, food, leash, collar, toys, veterinary expenses, and any needed medication.  Foster homes are not expected to be financially responsible for a foster dog.  While fostering, volunteers are ready to assist the foster home should any questions or concerns arise.  While being a foster home takes a lot of commitment, the rewards far out weigh the work.

Perhaps the hardest part about fostering is letting go.  It can be difficult to watch a dog leave our care and go to their new adoptive home.  Knowing that we have saved a life, created a happy family, and always keeping in mind there is a new dog that will need our help can ease the sadness of saying good-bye.

Typical time frames for fostering are from a few days to four or more weeks at a time. Sometimes our regular foster parents need a short break for family, work or other responsibilities that a temporary foster home could provide.

Fostering can become a very important part of your life, please consider helping us to help dogs in need.  

A Poem to my Foster Dog
By Diane Morgan --- Basset Hound Rescue
In Memory of My Shawn 1974-1988
© 1999