Considering fostering?

Question

Hey guys,
I'm considering fostering a dog for a local rescue (I haven't decided which one yet, but am looking into the CT Humane Society and Hot Water Rescue (hotwaterrescue.com). I know this is something I want to do, but it is a long time coming. I'm in the middle of learning to train my own dog (a 3 1/2 year old rescued Border Collie) but really want to put these skills to greater use once I have them down!

Really, the first step here is to convince my parents to allow me to do this, but I think it will be an easy sell once I've got everything down with the BC. What I'm really looking for is some personal experience stories from other fosters. Please share any and all information!

Thanks in advance!

Friend of Dog: Okay. Not sure what that is supposed to mean. Care to elaborate?

Fluffy Aliens: Understandable. The issue with the parents isn't exactly about the house being torn up, however. They are more concerned with the actual care of the dog. The reason I say this is a long time coming is because I realize I'm not ready to do it yet. I have A LOT to learn before I can work with problem dogs, but I'm willing to learn and do the work. I'm already on my way to becoming a trainer in basic obedience (soon I'll be committing more time to dog sports such as disc and agility). I'm going to be living with my parents for a few more years. I'm completely positive that they are willing to let me take in a dog if they know my time, money and self are all committed to helping that dog.

Anne B: Thank you! And I am worried about the adopting of the first foster thing as well. I have had a lot of practice giving up dogs I love to better homes. I volunteer at the CT Humane Society and see A LOT of really excellent dogs go to great homes, but it is still VERY hard. I guess you just have to keep thinking about what's best for them! Thank you, once again, for your response!

Nancy M: Wow! Thank you for all of that information as well. Some things I haven't considered, very much appreciated.

I am not a minor and I do already volunteer at a local shelter. I am a trainer for the Humane Society in Connecticut.

And yes. No more BC's. Mine is a handful as it is =].

Friend of a Dog: I am a trainer. I am training to become a trainer. By training to become a trainer I just mean I'm learning to teach my dog more than just basic commands. I train basic commands for hard-to-adopt-out dogs at the CT Humane Society. If I know how to train a dog basic commands and am asked to do it on a regular basis for a shelter who knows I am capable of handling animals with special needs, I'm fairly sure I'm allowed to call myself a trainer. I can't believe you're accusing me of lying when all I said was I was interested in fostering a dog!

Answer 1

I think you need to talk with your parents before you talk with strangers on the internet. They will most likely be the ones that will end up having to foot the bill if there are big vet bills -- rescues will help but most people who foster understand that rescues have little in the way of extra funds so often they have to be prepared to foot the bills and hope they get some of it reimbursed. If your parents are okay with that, then getting hold of several legitimate rescues that have good fostering programs wouldn't be a bad idea. You have to realize that you already have a committement to your present dog though and this will take some attention away from him/her and your training time. I don't know that I would recommend fostering another BC though -- maybe a little more sedate breed :) There are always needs for foster homes but you have to know yourself a bit and know if you could 'own' a dog for several weeks/months and then be able to let it go to its forever home -- this is not an easy thing to do. Also, dealing with potential issues that might arise is something you have to consider as well. What if the foster changes during the stay with you and becomes aggressive to your dog -- or to you or your family members -- how would you handle this? I don't know your age but I think if you are a minor there might be some legal issues with you, yourself fostering and it might be that your parents are the ones that need to be considering it with your help.... so I wouldn't necessarily recommend 'convincing' them as much as discussing it with them and seeing if they are up to it as a lot of the burden would fall on them even if part of it would be you caring for the dog -- I do think it is a wonderfully generous offer and it shows you have a good heart and all but there are some issues to take into consideration before making the step... An alternative might be to volunteer at a local shelter or rescue to help train, exercise or groom their dogs -- that way you could get your 'help animals' fix and not require your parents to make a big committement that they might not be willing to do... Good luck!!

Answer 2

Nice of you.

One thing you might consider, if you are really serious, is raising a puppy for guide or service work. They are VERY good about training, etc. and all the vetting is fully covered. The groups that do this are also well established.

I foster (as well as rescue) and have a 7wo pit x pup right now, Kacey, He was a shelter doggie only avail to rescue because of his young age (he was younger when I got him). He is on three types of meds right now, and is getting better by the minute. But sometimes, things don't go so well... so prepare yourself if doing injured/young animals.

Many times rescues are VERY good about their rescue fosters and other times not. Depends on the group.

One thing you must insist on is a contract from the group to you stating the rules: e.g. you cannot arbitrarily take a dog to the vet without permission. Make sure someone is available 24hours/day in the eventuality of illness or injury. This one particular thing can (and has) caused a huge amount of problems if not put in writing letting everyone know where they are, and the rules.

Ask others about good rescue groups or foster for a shelter.

I think it's marvelous you would like to do this.

Answer 3

Fostering can be a very hard thing to do. It is very rewarding but it can take a toll on you.

If you're living with your parents still you really need to consider them in this too. A lot of foster dogs come to their foster homes with problems, some of them quite serious. Some of them are just plain awesome dogs who you will fall in love with just to give them up again.

I suggest waiting until you're not living with your folks to foster. It's their house that the dogs will be tearing up and peeing in.

Edit: If you think you can do it, then go for it. Take on one dog at a time. Be VERY firm about what you will and will not take. If you don't want dog aggressive dogs then NEVER give in and take one. If all you want are big dogs or small dogs then never deviate from that unless you really feel ready for it. It might seem like you're being too picky sometimes but it's really for the best for you to stay inside your bounds. Some rescues will walk all over you if you let them in order to get dogs into their foster programs. It's a good way to get burnt out on fostering.

Answer 4

I have been rescuing and placing dogs for years. It is very rewarding when you find a good home for a dog you have rehabilitated. I have one dog (blue heeler) who has come to accept these temps - sometimes he makes friends and sometimes just tolerates them. When he sees me bringing in another dog, I see that look in his eye which says, "here we go again." I could write a book with all the different experiences we've had - mostly happy but some with sad endings. Having an organization to support your foster care endeavor will be very helpful. I admire your noble intentions, and I hope you will get support from your parents and your Border Collie. Oh, by the way, that is wonderful breed of dog - so much fun and very intellligent!

Answer 5

Please don't worry about people who DON'T foster or help making comments to you about ...?
Fostering is a very rewarding experience. It is, however, sometimes heartbreaking and time-consuming.
I have been fostering for over a year now, and I enjoy it immensely. I didn't take the advice of all the other members, and I ended up falling for our first foster, who now lives with us. (Oops!) She broke our hearts because she looked like she had been used for pitt bull bait.
After that we just kept repeating to ourselves "If we adopt another one we won't be able to help any more"!

We have had many successful adoptions since then, and no returns-knock on wood.
The part that breaks my heart the worst is the condition of some of these dogs when we get them. You will become very familiar with parasites, emaciation, immune deficiencies, mange, dental disease, tumors, you name it.
The only advice I have to give you is make sure the shelter you foster for is willing to foot the bills for treatment. And of course don't adopt your first foster!
But then you wouldn't be in the "foster failure" club!
Good luck and have fun!

Answer 6

I look forward to seeing the answers you get here. I am planning to volunteer my time with a local Border Collie rescue and hope to foster eventually. Good luck in your fostering!

Answer 7

i might want to yet regrettably I even have only moved to a farm without backyard as such, in basic terms open fields. At my final abode 6 feral cats accompanied me so I introduced them with me, they are actually not feral now yet nonetheless terrified of folk and extremely Territorial if yet another cat comes close to the abode, I even have slightly Pekingese dogs who's amazingly spoiled and that i think of it could be merciless to him to convey yet another dogs into the abode. i don't think of countless human beings be attentive to approximately fostering animals, perhaps the society ought to promote in supermarkets and so on.

Answer 8

You shouldn't foster anything until you mature.

No need to elaborate.

Which one is it your are a trainer or you are training to become one. Another lie I thought you posted earlier but I wasn't sure now you have it all in one question. I am a trainer but I am training to be one?