How About Fostering?

  • Have you been thinking about adopting another dog but just aren’t sure if you're ready?

  • Is a life-long commitment just not possible for you right now?

Perhaps fostering a dog would be just the thing! 

We need loving homes to care for several of our dogs until they find their permanent homes.  By fostering a dog, you have an opportunity to make a huge difference in the life of that dog and eventually it's new family/person. Fostering can be hard work, but it is also extremely gratifying!  It definitely can help you focus on what's really important in life.

Which dogs need foster homes? 

  • A dog has been on the adoption floor too long.
    For whatever reason, some dogs are overlooked by potential homes and the longer they sit in a cage here, the more likely they are to become bored, depressed, lose weight, etc. We like to get these dogs out to foster homes to help them as well as to gain more information about their personality. This is also a great opportunity to get a head start on basic training.

These dogs tend to be 1-2 years old, and medium to large in size. We ask that our foster parents bring these dogs to various adoption events whenever possible. We also have a bulletin board in the shelter showcasing these foster dogs as well as pictures and descriptions posted on both of our websites for all prospective adopters to see.

  • A pup, or litter of pups, which is too young to have spay/neuter surgery.
    These little ones usually require 3-4 weeks of foster care until they have had a booster vaccine and are old enough for surgery. Once the pups are old enough, they return to the shelter and are spayed or neutered. They generally are adopted the very next day.

  • A dog is sick or injured.
    These dogs will need treatment if they are ill or bed rest/ limited activity if they are injured. Whether sick or injured, there is generally a set time period where the dog goes into foster care until they are cleared medically by our vet. Then they are placed up for adoption. We have found that the dogs heal much faster if placed in a home environment.

Here is how our foster program works:

  • We provide all foster homes with food, a crate and any necessary medicine or medical care.

  • We believe in crate training as well as using positive reinforcement training methods.

  • All dogs that are in foster care remain the property of the shelter until adopted. 

If this sounds like a program that you would be interested in, please complete a foster application. You are welcome to submit applications in person, by e-mail, or fax: 462-6658.

For further information, please contact:
 
E
rin Frost, Foster/Rescue Coordinator, 462-5357.


A Poem to My Foster Dog

I am the bridge
Between what was and what can be.
I am the pathway to a new life.
I am made of mush,
Because my heart melted when I saw you,
Matted and sore, limping, depressed,
Lonely, unwanted, afraid to love.
For one little time you are mine.
I will feed you with my own hand
I will love you with my whole heart
I will make you whole.
I am made of steel.
Because when the time comes,
When you are well, and sleek,
When your eyes shine,
And your tail wags with joy
Then comes the hard part.
I will let you go -- not without a tear,
But without a regret.
For you are safe forever -- A new dog needs me now.

-- Diane Morgan