Fostering a dog?

Question

I am about to foster a dog from our local Boxer rescue. I have a Boxer now, and really want to help these wonderful dogs. Has anyone ever fostered before? This will be my first time, and I am curious of how it goes, what to consider, etc.

Thanks!

Answer 1

ITS THE MOST REWARDING !!!!!

Its difficult to let them go sometimes but you have to think of the next one you can save!! Always remember the more you keep the less you can save.

My 15 yr old daughter has been doing it with me since she was six. Sometimes I think she is stronger than me.

Added:

Three of the five in the pic were fosters!!! The other two someone else gave me they didn't want them.

Added again:

Animal control officer. I noticed "former" obviously otherwise you in your field would know most do not have behavior issues. Many are perfect and many just need a little guidance.

Added again:

Don't listen to fizzy - GET ATTACHED!! I am brought to a new high when I see my rescues down the road happy with their new families. We went as far as starting our own calendar and having people send in pics every year for it. See something five years later or having someone come to you five years later and say hey you remember me I have such and such. They remember you because they remember the love and unconditional affection you gave their family memeber in its time of need. You should be attached so that an adopter has to prove themselves worthy of adopting your friend and convince you they are suitable. They can only do that if you are attached.

Answer 2

How wonderful! Welcome to fosterhood! I started fostering last year, and I can't think of anything I have done lately that is more rewarding. I started with the easier fosters, dogs who were social and pretty normal, but now I also take on puppy mill rescues, strays suffering from malnutrition and parasites, and dogs who have been abused in the past. It takes some patience, because rescued dogs usually do not come from very nice places, and they can bring some baggage with them. But they are so grateful for a stable home environment and regular meals! Some are independant and don't want alot of attention, and others are very emotionally needy. I have had three successful adoptions and I still get emails and pictures from the parents. I have to say, it was hard in the beginning, we have two "foster failures" whom we adopted, but we now remind ourselves that we can't adopt them all, and if we do, we won't be able to save more. We have our own dogs, so we set up "quarrantine" when we take in a dog, until the vetting is all done and we see how the foster reacts to our pack. So far we have had no issues at all here. My rescue group allows me to make the decision if the dog is right for a home or not, so I can make sure these homes are forever.
If you are fostering for a rescue group, they will probably have a fund to pay for vet expenses and you will have to get this done and be reimbursed. Food is donated by the home. I usually buy a collar and leash and maybe a bed to go with the dog when it goes home so the move isn't too traumatic.
You will need to make sure your dog is on a preventative that will kill parasites; you may see a surprising amount of worms cases.
All in all, it is a great experience for my husband and I, and we have expanded to doing rescue events as well to promote our group and get more dogs adopted. Have fun!

Answer 3

Fostering is just like owning a dog as far as time and commitment go. The only differences are that the rescue group will pay for vet care and you never know how long it will last. I must emphasize that point- it can be days, weeks or months before someone is interested in adopting your foster. You may get attached and have a hard time giving him up, or you may be stuck with an older dog with issues that no one wants.

Good luck, and thank you for opening your home to a dog in need.

Answer 4

I have done a lot of foster!! That's why I got so many animal, I could not give them up!!!!

1. Can you deal with a dog that has been hurt by other people and can you deal with a dog that is aggressive?

2. Do you have the time? This is a very importing if the dog is sick and need around the clock care!

3. Do you have kids? You have to weight the pros and cons of foster with kids. Not only the fact that some dogs my be aggressive to kid and hurt them.

4. CAN YOU GIVE THEM UP AFTER FOSTERING?This is the hardest!!

Fostering is very very good ideal. It help dogs from get tine killed in shelters! Hope you do Foster!

The Gift of see a dog go from a poor shape and then happy and living life to his or her fullest! This is the number reason to foster!

Good Luck

Answer 5

Fostering is sooo rewarding, but so hard. Yes they are in rescue for a reason, but most are so happy to have a home with someone that loves them, even if it is temporary. Beware, many of the foster homes I know if, mine included, have @ least one foster fail. Just remember, as much work as new dog is, YOUR dog needs special time with you as well. Also, with Bullies (and this includes boxers) I would recomend your first foster be either puppy of oposite sex. Also, would recommend rotating if you are fostering an adult dog, until both dogs are ready to meet each other, and keep them seperated when not @ home.

Answer 6

It's probably the most rewarding thing you will ever do. Be cautious in introducing the two dogs to each other, do it on "neutral ground" if possible. Once they have each other all sniffed over, be prepared for a great play session!

I prefer to crate my fosters at night, I think they feel more secure with their own private bedroom. It also stops any uproars with your own dog when you aren't there to keep an eye on both of them. If they are really insecure, I put the crate in my bedroom, so they can see me and know they haven't been deserted.

It takes a few days for them to get their positions sorted out, and to learn what signals the new dog has for going out. We have the odd growl and lip curl, but I stop that immediately.

The really hard part is letting them go to their new home. But the joy of seeing them with their new owner outweighs that. I will admit to having cried all the way out to the car with a couple of really special ones who had been badly abused before I got them. The best part is the notes and photos from the new owners, and seeing them so happy in their new homes. That more than compensates for any little inconveniences along the way.

Good luck with your new foster!

Answer 7

I have been fostering dogs for over 3 years. I have fostered close to 350 dogs so far. This has been such a rewarding experience. You are saving a life and giving back to society I feel. Introducing your dog to the new foster will be important. The first few fosters are the hardest to let go. It made me cry many tears and I thought wow how can i do this. But as time went on I became unselfish and cried tears of joy that my foster was getting his or her forever home. We get updates from the families who adopt our foster dogs and Christmas cards and vacations they went on. Its just awesome for me anyway. Let me know if I can be of any further help to you. We need more foster homes out there. Thumbs up to you :)

Answer 8

I have fostered many dogs for several groups, and it is SO wonderful. In most cases I never wanted to see the dogs go, but when they find their perfect forever home, it is the most rewarding feeling! Giving up my first foster dog was by far the hardest, but I just looked forward to being able to foster a new dog.

I have to say, with all the dogs I have fostered it is rare that I had any behavior issues. I have had several dogs passed on to me because they couldn't be housebroken, and I just stayed on top of it, and within a week or two they were.

Answer 9

That is a wonderful thing you're doing. I was considering fostering a dog but then I got a beautiful bulldog through a rescue and he doesn't do well with other dogs. Just remember, dogs in foster programs often have some emotional problems, so he or she will need extra love and care to open up to you. Also, since it is a foster program, there will come a day when you will have to give him or her up, so try not to get too attached (though I know that's imossible at best.)

Answer 10

I have been a foster home for a couple years now. Most groups work the same. They pay for all vet care, and food, you provide the love and socialising. Some give you the choice to call the references and talk with the potential adopters to see if they are right for the dog. Just be prepared that sometimes it is hard to adopt out certain dogs and you will have them in your care for a very long time. If the dog chews up your house it is not the rescue groups responsibility to pay for damage. It is a very hard job but very rewarding. One more thing if you have children it is very hard on them to get a new animal and then have to give it up. But they get used to it when another shows up and they know there will be another after this one goes and they start to have fun with it. Good luck.

Answer 11

My foster experiences have been great but a few caused me to have to return the dog for other foster home placement. This was due to these few fosters getting comfortable after the first day or two and then starting to be very aggressive towards my dogs and one was threatening even to my spouse. Had I had no dogs, I would probably not have noticed anything and if I had, it would have been easier to work with. Nothing bad happened because they were closely watched those first few days as I do all the fosters I have had.
These weren't "bad dogs" they just needed more socialization and training in a foster home without other dogs for awhile because it was more than just a working out of who would be dominant dog.
Also, sometimes one of my dogs reacted by getting withdrawn and even threw up a few times at first when I started fostering. She was fine after the first few days, but fostering was a challenge for her, so now I mostly work with orphaned newborns, pups or kittens and just on occasion.