Have you ever fostered a dog and would you recommend it?

Question

Thank you everyone for all the great advice! I really want to do it, but need more time to convince my wife. She is afraid she will get too attached and won't be able to say goodbye. I'm sure we'll both feel that way, but it would be overwhelmed by the sense that we saved more lives than if we just adopted one.

Answer 1

Yes I have but any yeah or nay recommendation depends on you (and I don't know you ). It can be very rewarding but can also be frustrating. Many foster dogs have ingrained habits that can cause problems. Will they be quarantined first so no diseases are introduced to your own environment? Will you have the time to train them (the vast majority of homeless dogs are homeless due to lack of training and training them makes their adoption more likely and more likely to last)? Can you say no (less you get more fosters then you really want)? Is it legal where you live (some cities allow only one or two dogs thus ensuring masses of adoptable animals being killed)? If you rent, is there a limit on number and size of pets?

Its a wonderful thing and we need more foster homes but I have seen well meaning people get them selves into trouble by not thinking it through.

Answer 2

yes and i would reccomend it for myself. fostering can be rewarding, but also time consuming. it's not just bringing a pet home to play with. a good foster home usually is to help a dog become accustomed to a home life. these are usually dogs that either have behavior issues or have no idea how to be a dog or live in a home. chewing, potty training and training are all part of the daily routine. it is a lot of hard work. also make sure you are working with a group that is available to help you with questions and issues should you need it. you should never feel stuck with a foster dog or alone and searching for answers on your own. it's very rewarding, but the only reward you get is knowing all of your hard work has paid off so the dog's new forever family has a good start with a new dog.

Answer 3

I've fostered plenty.

Make sure you trust the organization. Some are just trying to pass off an unadoptable dog.

Find out how long an average foster is for the organization. Again, some places are just trying to get rid of a dog.

Make sure the resuce is paying for expenses. If not, keep track of all costs and write them off on taxes as a charitable donation (assuming the rescue has 501(c)(3) status)

Answer 4

I've fostered 7 different dogs for RocketDog Rescue in
SFO, its has been a great experience. for the most part.
The second dog I fostered was a mess - a small corgi
mix that had been abused. I was the 3rd try at fostering,
the first one he tried to bite the boyfriend, the 2nd he got
into a fight with a larger dog and got his nose munched,
the first thing he did with me was scramble out of a
car window that was practically closed, after somehow
unwinding the leash that I had looped over the parking brake.
I spent a couple of frantic hours searching for him and when
I did get him back (thank goodness for a hiker that grabbed
the leash as he flew by) I seriously questioned whether I
could do any good for him. But I decided I had to try, as he
was running out of chances. He was very fearful the first
week, if my husband moved, he would freak out and bark,
but after a while he started to calm down and his personality
started to come out. He was really funny and very mischevious, he started to get into things, when I would
catch him, he would leave things alone, but look for something I hadn't said "no" to. He started to chase tennis
balls and really started to have fun at our local dog park.
I ended up having him for almost a month and he really
turned into a funny little dog= such a change that the regulars
at the dog park noticed, and one of them actually found his
forever home, with a retired doctor whose dog had passed
the year before. Now Pogo is one happy dog, when he
comes to the dog park when I am there, he bounces over and
covers me with kisses, but he really loves his owner. I see
3 of the other fosters every so often, they are all doing really
well. You do get attached, but when you find a good home
and a loving owner, its easy to say goodby. Try it, it is a
great experience, but do research any rescue group first to
make sure they are llegit.

Answer 5

yea i fostered a 3 yr old male pitbull the only thing i recomend is be completely willing to keep him worse case senario. the lady i was fostering him for kind of up and left me with him i already had another pitbull it was awesome that my sister wanted him and adopted him but it is very rewarding to know you're saving a dog. he's 4 years old now and is doing great and my dog and him are best friends.

Answer 6

Fostering dogs is great. The only bad part is sometimes you get very attached...makes it hard to let go. One thing to remember is....for every one you let go and take another to foster...that's one more dog saved from dying on the streets or being killed at the pound.

Answer 7

fostering can be a wonderful and rewarding experience but also be ready for the heartbreak of having the dog go to a new home,it is the same as fostering children,shower them with as much love and affection as you can try to teach them right from wrong for the short time they are there then let them go with a sad but fulfilled heart knowing you did something wonderful

Answer 8

I'Ve had to foster dogs myself cause i'm a vet. Its hard but remember its fun!

Its really hard to say good byes but its harder to see them die or be accepted by a horrible onwer that hits them.

I recommend it to everyone. My dog right now was a 2 day old puppy i rasied see?

Once you fall for a dog you adopt it and you have a friend.

I have a foster dog on my lap right now. And trust me she's beautiful.

She's a brown spotted dalamation puppy. she's very rare, But beautiful.

And once you have fostered a dog you want to keep going!

good luck

hope my advice works!!!!

Answer 9

I've fostered two dogs however I failed because I ended up keeping one. Some people can do it, some can't, but it is a great thing to do.

Answer 10

yes i have...its great to know that a life has been saved and thrived upon the nurturing and love that you offered to it...i named mine "courage" for actually surviving through the very fragile first few days of his life...he is now adopted to a great family and is very happy...it was hard to let him go though!

now, i have another foster at the moment...its great!