Apply to foster here!
Fostering will be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do.
You can watch a shy, timid dog blossom into a confident and loving companion. You can help rehabilitate a basset hound with an injury or illness so he can make it into a forever home healthy and happy. You can help give a lonely senior hound a secure future.
Fostering takes dedication and patience. Rescued dogs may have been abused or neglected, and need special care and attention before their true personalities emerge. We do not always know their temperaments because we usually know very little about their histories. Foster homes must undergo the same application process as potential adopters, including a visit from a Belly Rubs volunteer and providing references.
We rely on our foster homes to gauge the temperaments of the dogs, provide a loving home with socialization and housetraining support, and help us provide accurate descriptions of the dog to potential adopters. Foster homes must provide food for the dogs they foster; we cover medical expenses.
Some things to consider…
- Foster homes must be prepared for the unexpected.
- Only dogs that have lived comfortably with children previously will be sent to foster homes with children under 10.
- Your pets may be agitated by the arrival of a foster dog, but this transition is usually easy if you continue to give your pet lots of love and attention.
- Accidents can and do happen, and we can never guarantee that any of our dogs are housetrained.
- Foster dogs will thrive on routine and consistency, including regular feeding times and exercise.
- Never be afraid to ask questions.
- There will be an adjustment period where the foster dog may be scared or nervous; that is normal.
- Letting your foster dog go to a forever home can be difficult because you will grow to love your foster dog.
- By fostering, you are saving a life!
Our foster homes have saved countless dogs from uncertain fates in shelters. Without them, we would not be able to save so many.