Opening your door (and heart) to a foster dog is a wonderful, rewarding experience. Your care will allow pups to flourish and be better prepared for their eventual fur-ever homes. Not only that, but you’ll also be blessed with treasured memories, new friends, and a whole community to support you throughout your fostering journey.
Below, we’ll guide you through how exactly to become a foster pup parent, covering the application process, eligibility, and responsibilities involved. We’ll also discuss how to prepare your home for a new canine friend.
Why Should I Foster a Dog?
Fostering is one of the most meaningful ways to help out the canine community. You’ll make a real, genuine difference to the pups you foster while giving the shelter more space to help other dogs in need.
Here are just a few ways you’ll help dogs flourish through fostering:
- Alleviate shelter stress and help them feel loved, safe, and secure
- Help them adjust to a household environment
- Assist with their socialization and training
- Help the shelter have a better picture of their individual needs, ensuring they can find their perfect forever families
Fostering a dog is an ideal option for people who wish to experience dog ownership but aren’t in the position to make a lifelong commitment just yet. It’s also ideal for people who want to hone their training abilities, have company in their day-to-day lives, or simply give back to their local community.
What Types of Dogs Need Fostering
Generally, rescue groups foster out dogs that require additional care or are overwhelmed by the unfamiliar shelter environment. For example, if a pup is recovering from an illness, he would need close supervision, medical attention, and a calming space — all things that can’t easily be carried out in a shelter.
Here are a few more examples of the types of dogs that need fostering:
- Puppies who are too young to be adopted
- Dogs with minimal background history; the shelter will foster them out to get a better idea of their personality, needs, and health
- Shy, nervous dogs who need some time to settle in before adoption
- Dogs with behavioral issues who require specialized training and/or socialization
- Senior dogs who would struggle in a shelter environment
- Mothers with litters of puppies
Dogs may also be fostered out if the shelter is overcrowded and there isn’t enough space to accept new pups.
Responsibilities Involved With Fostering a Dog
Fostering a dog involves less commitment than typical pet ownership, but you still need to provide high quality care. Your responsibilities will include:
- Feeding them nutrient-rich kibble that considers their size, breed, and activity level
- Exercising your foster pup daily
- Giving them plenty of love and attention throughout the day
- Keeping them mentally stimulated with the likes of training and interactive games
- Grooming their coat once to three times a week, depending on coat type and shedding tendency
- Taking them to veterinarian appointments
Most shelters will also require you to update them regularly on your foster pup’s progress, attend meet and greets with prospective owners, and participate in training classes. These activities may be remote or in-person.
How to Foster a Dog and Become the Paw-Fect Foster Pup Parent
If you’ve decided you’re ready to foster a dog, the first step is to reach out to rescue groups and shelters in your local area. You may be familiar with a few organizations already, but don’t worry if you aren’t — a quick Google search of “rescue shelters near me” should bring up plenty of options.
Once you’ve found a few rescue shelters, contact them regarding fostering and familiarize yourself with their policies, procedures, and the support they offer for foster parents. For example, some rescue shelters will pay for every expense involved in a foster pup’s care, while others will expect you to pay for costs like food and grooming supplies.
Here are a few questions you’ll want to ask the rescue shelter before committing to fostering a pup:
- Will I need to pay for the vet bills or do you cover them?
- Will you pay for care expenses such as food, treats, bedding, and other dog care supplies?
- Will I be expected to attend meetings? If so, how many and what will these meetings involve?
- Will I be expected to train, housebreak, or socialize the dog?
- What are the requirements for foster parents? Do I need a fenced yard and does the dog need to be closely supervised throughout the day?
- Will I need to administer any medication?
- Can I foster a dog if I have children or other pets in the household (if applicable)?
- How long will I be expected to foster the dog for?
- What are the protocols in place for accidents, injuries, or illness?
- Do I get a say in what kind of dog I foster?
- Will I be involved in the adoption process?
You should also reach out to foster parents who are currently (or have been) with the rescue organization. This will give you a better idea of what the experience is like, the responsibilities involved, and the shelter’s expectations.
Once you’ve decided on a rescue shelter with a fostering program that suits you, you’ll next need to fill out their foster dog application.
A Close Look at the Foster Dog Application Process
The application process can vary depending on which shelter or rescue organization you apply to. However, the process generally involves the following steps:
- Fill out the rescue shelter’s foster application. You will typically be asked questions about your preferences, living environment, previous dog care experience, and financial status.
- If your application is approved, you will then attend a face-to-face meeting with the rescue shelter. Some rescue shelters also conduct home visits to verify that your living environment is suitable for animals.
- You’ll next need to sign a foster dog agreement to confirm you will abide by any procedures in place as well as fulfill expected obligations.
- You may be expected to attend dog care courses, foster training sessions, and orientation seminars.
- The shelter will contact you once they have a foster pup ready for you to take home.
- Once your foster pup is home, you will be expected to provide weekly updates on their progress. You may also need to attend meetings or help with the adoption process (such as creating a pup biography for the shelter’s online website).
The process can seem a little daunting if you’re new to fostering, but rest assured that the rescue shelter will be there to guide you every step of the way. Rescue groups and shelters will also typically provide you with in-depth care guides, training resources, and information booklets about the fostering process.
Am I Eligible to Foster a Dog?
Again, eligibility can vary depending on the rescue shelter and what policies they have in place. Some common requirements include:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old
- Foster parents must be able to respond to messages from the rescue shelter promptly (within 24 hours)
- Any pets currently living in your home must be spayed or neutered. They should also be up-to-date on vaccinations
- Foster owners must live close to the shelter (usually within a 60-minute drive)
You will need to contact the shelter you’re considering fostering from for their specific requirements.
How to Prepare for Your Foster Dog
A foster dog is sure to liven up your home with his affection, companionship, and unconditional love. But before you begin your fostering journey, it’s important to be prepared. Here are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when welcoming a foster pup into your home:
- Create a safe environment: Creating a safe environment doesn’t just mean “puppy-proofing” the home — i.e. tidying up cables, keeping the floors clear, and ensuring the backyard gate is secure — it also means making the space comforting and safe for your pup. For example, if you know your foster pup struggles with loud noises, you’ll want to keep his crate in a quiet area of the house.
- Dog care supplies: If the shelter isn’t able to provide you with all the necessary supplies, make sure to purchase them in advance. Essential dog care supplies include kibble, toys, grooming tools, bedding, walking gear, and training tools. The American Kennel Club (AKC) has a handy, comprehensive checklist of all the supplies you will need.
- Introduce the foster pup to other fur members: If you have other pets currently living with you, it’s important to introduce the foster pup to them in a positive and calm manner. The first meeting should also be held at a neutral spot.
- Consider expenses: Always consider your budget and whether or not you can afford to take on a foster dog. This is especially the case if the shelter is expecting you to pay for expenses beyond necessities, like medical care.
- Be prepared to say goodbye: Saying goodbye to your foster pup, who you have no doubt seen grow over the time you’ve spent together, is always difficult. However, it’s important to remember that his new owners will love him, care for him, and give him the life he has always dreamed of.
Helping Pups Find Fur-Ever Homes
Fostering a pup is a rewarding, enriching experience like no other. It’s the perfect way to help out your community (and you get the perk of endless affection!).
We hope our guide has helped you gain a clear understanding of what fostering involves and how to prepare for a new foster pup. If you’re still not sure if fostering is right for you, it’s worth speaking to rescue groups directly and considering other ways you can help out the canine community.