Being A Foster Dog Mom

I am a doggie mom and I am a foster doggie mom. Fostering a dog - taking a dog into your home and providing it with shelter and care for a predetermined amount of time or until a forever home is found - is one of the most rewarding things a dog person can do.  I admit I am a little biased: I have never met a dog I did not like.

April Ash 

Which Shelter Dogs Go To Foster Homes
Shelters typically foster out dogs who are too stressed out by the shelter environment or need more individual attention than the shelter can provide (including puppies who are too young to be adopted).

The most common reasons foster homes are needed are:

The shelter is overcrowded, and placing dogs in foster care frees up space to save more dogs.

Shorty Dog 

• The rescue group wants to learn more about a dog’s personality and behavior in a home setting.
• A young, energetic dog needs to learn some basic manners before being made available for adoption.
• A shy or timid dog needs a safe place to come out of her shell.
• A dog is recovering from illness or injury.
• A senior or sick dog needs loving hospice care.

Of course, there are also foster-based rescue groups that don’t work out of a facility, but instead rely on foster homes to shelter and care for dogs. For these groups, foster homes provide the necessary caregiving, training, and assessment to help dogs find forever homes, and are a vital aspect of their lifesaving work.

Suzie Q

What Will I Need To Do As A Foster Mom
The main function of a foster home is to provide a safe, loving home environment. For the most part, this entails caring for your foster as you would care for your own dog: offering food, affection, socialization, and exercise to keep the dog happy and healthy.

As a doggy foster parent, you may also be asked to:

• Transport the dog to and from adoption events.
• Participate in obedience training at home and/or in classes.
• Report back to the shelter/rescue workers with information about the dog’s personality and behavior.
• Speak with potential adopters to tell them about your foster dog and help determine if they are a good match.

Your time and commitment level can vary depending on your schedule and the rescue group’s needs, and when you start fostering, the rescue will help match you with a dog that suits your lifestyle and home. First-time fosters can get their feet wet with “easier” dogs; the more invested and experienced in fostering you become, the more willing and able you may be to take on challenges. No matter what kind of dogs you foster, all foster homes provide the valuable service of socializing a dog and getting to know its personality. Your relationship with the dog is key information in helping the dog find its ' forever home.

Why Do I Foster Dogs
Why is fostering a dog so great? For starters, fostering is one of the most direct things you can do to save lives. Fostering:

Bobby 

• Makes room for other dogs in the shelter, freeing up space to help more dogs in need;
• Builds on your canine expertise;
• Gives you those warm, fuzzy feelings only volunteering can provide;
• Brings the fun and companionship of a dog into your life. There’s nothing like seeing a shelter dog blossom into a loving companion, and sending her off to a happy family who found their forever buddy, thanks to you.

Of course, fostering comes with one big hazard that can also be one of its biggest rewards: you just might fall in love! “Foster failures” abound in the dog rescue world, and I know because I am one myself, just ask, Honey Bunny, Coco C, Peggy, Shasha Grace, Chrissy D, Itsy,  Precious, Hope, Shorty, Crystal, Suzie Q, Amy Jo, Bobby, April, Gidget, Clinnie Bell, and Clowie.

~ ConnieKayA ~
A Southern Girl sharing her passion for living an abundantly blessed life.