“Why did nobody tell me this about fostering a dog?”
Fostering a dog on your own is VERY DIFFERENT from growing up around and playing with them. You might think you’re a Dog Expert, but fostering is so chaotic for beginners, and the first few months can literally feel like the sky is falling down.
During your two-month foster period, you may not be able to eat your snack in peace or have a clean floor in your house, but fostering is full of surprises, both rewarding and challenging, so at Path of Hope Rescue, from a lifetime’s experience of raising and helping dogs, we want to share with you what every foster wishes they knew before getting a dog.
1. Only Foster From a TRUSTED Rescue, Instead of Random Posts on the Internet.
As a beginner, you need all the help and knowledge you can get, and fostering a puppy from a stranger on the internet or someone you barely know or trust is rarely a good decision.
To foster a dog from a trusted rescue organization like us means they work with other reputable shelters, rescue groups with a better screening procedure and transparency on how they run things. You can begin your search on the internet or ask around in your area, and once you’ve identified a few potential rescues you like, you can reach out to learn more about the resources available for the fosters if you were to foster with them.
Once you’ve agreed to become a foster, be prepared for a potential home visit, because the rescue you’re working with would likely want to check if your lifestyle and environment are a good fit for the foster dogs.
2. Ask About The Dog Before You Foster.
This is a common mistake from beginner fosters, so we want to make sure you see this first. Before you even think about taking in a dog or a puppy, make sure you ask about the foster dog’s behavior to see if you’re a good fit.
Secondly, always ask about the known medical history of the dog or puppy you are fostering, including any current treatment they are receiving or medications.
3. Fostering Takes A LOT Of Time!
Fostering a dog requires a significant time commitment; if you’re working a full-time job, it can feel like working another job after your shift. Always consider the time needed for feeding, training, letting the dogs exercise, and most importantly, socialization.
It’s absolutely possible to foster while working full-time. Here at Path of Hope Rescue, we will take into account your ‘away from home’ time when deciding which foster puppy to put with you. For example, we wouldn’t put an 8-week-old puppy with someone who is going to be gone for 8 hours a day!
4. Think Twice Before You Adopt Your Foster Dog.
Yes, it’s normal to foster a dog with the intention of adopting them later, but adopters have to pass the same requirements and screening as fosters do. I mean, there’s a reason why most rescues we know don’t allow fosters to adopt their first placement, including us.
Of course, dog rescues like us would happily let fosters adopt, but we’ve also seen too many give up their dogs once they are in a new relationship and when priorities change, so please understand the adoption requirements are ridiculously strict for a good reason.
Foster homes are also such a limited resource in America, and the likelihood of someone being available for continued fostering goes down the more pets they have. So if a rescue is not happy to see a ‘foster fail’, hopefully you can see where they’re coming from.
5. Making Your Home Foster-Dog-Friendly!
Is your home safe for a foster dog? Because making them feel welcome is one of the most important things you need to worry about. To ensure their home is safe for the foster dogs, many of our fosters would remove or secure any hazards, like breakable items, toxic substances, electrical cords and wires, etc.
It’s always good to check for danger zones in your house and consider blocking and making them off limits to your new foster dog if they ever get too curious.
6. Bringing A Foster Dog Into a Multi-Dog Household.
So, how do you successfully foster a dog when you already have one? Introducing a foster dog to resident dogs might require some additional considerations when you’re trying to make the process as smooth as possible.
It’s no surprise that sometimes they don’t get along, since they both require love and attention, and when a foster dog gets nervous and anxious, they could be barking and growling all over the place, so as a foster, you play a significant part in when and how you bring a foster dog into your house to ensure they and your resident dog can coexist peacefully.
7. Taking Vacations While Fostering.
Well, you need vacations, and we can’t say no to that! It’s actually fine for foster to take trips without bringing their foster dogs.
Depending on the rescue you work with, they would likely transfer the dogs to other temporary fosters or help you host the dogs at other places before you return.
Be sure to reach out to the rescue you’re fostering through as soon as possible to go over your travel plans and look for any arrangements for your foster dogs.
8. Becoming Too Attached To Foster Dogs.
Saying goodbye to a foster dog is never easy. You know it’s going to happen one day, and frankly, you’re glad they found their forever home, but it doesn’t change the fact that when you become too emotionally attached to your foster dogs, it’s tough to see them venture off to their new life.
But how do you learn to let your foster dog go? I won’t lie, it’s going to be hard, probably the hardest thing in fostering a dog. Will they feel like you abandoned them? Will they assume you don’t love them anymore?
Dogs do experience complex emotions the way humans do; they also have feelings of uncertainty, but we do want to believe, or at least pray, that your foster dog will never forget about you, and they’re always happy to see you again, the same way you do.
The joy of fostering is to help other dogs in need, giving them a temporary home and care while they wait to be adopted. It’s a rewarding experience that our fosters will always cherish, and hopefully, it will be as wonderful an experience for you as well, if you do decide to become a foster and help us save more dogs off the streets of Texas.
But How Do You Foster With Path of Hope Rescue?
It’s actually quite easy if you head on over to our Foster Page on our website to learn more about things like how to sign up for fosters, and what to expect when you foster with us.
And if you decided that fostering isn’t your thing, it’s OK! We know fostering dogs isn’t for everyone. That’s why we have another program called the “Hope Heroes” as an easier way for you to support our mission directly and help us forecast how many dogs and puppies we can protect.
You can head on over to our guide on How to Become a Hope Hero!
