So, I Suppose you’re considering becoming a first-time foster dog parent. That’s wonderful!
With so many dogs living in shelters and needing a home, fostering a dog before they’re ready to be adopted is one of the best things you can do to help.
But the idea of fostering can seem a little daunting, and there are so many things you’re worried about if you’re fostering a dog for the first time. Hopefully, here at Path of Hope Rescue, we can help you figure that out. In this article, let’s go over the top 10 questions a foster would ask before becoming a foster parent and what to know before your first foster puppy.
1. What is fostering?
Fostering a dog means providing temporary care for a dog in need while we or other rescues look for a forever home for them, or until they’re adopted. As a dog foster parent, you’ll help with the dog’s daily needs like food, tidying up and teaching them how to socialize with people or other pets.
By providing a safe and loving environment, you can also help them cover and build more trust for them to become more adoptable when the right adopter comes.
2. How long will I have to foster? What if they don’t get adopted?
Maybe you don’t plan to foster forever and you’re wondering if the dogs will ever get adopted. Well, worry not because even though we do have dogs that take longer to find their families, your commitment is only for two months, and after that, we will offer to move your foster puppy or you can commit to an additional two-month period.
However, at Path of Hope Rescue, we’re glad to say that most of our dogs do get adopted before two months.
3. I have a vacation planned, can you work around that?
What if you’re fostering a dog but a vacation is on the horizon? Well, we know you can’t plan your entire schedule around your foster dog, so no worries, the Path of Hope Rescue has your back!
Just let your Case Manager know ahead of your vacation and we will find you a temporary foster while you’re away for the vacation. Or if you’d love to bring your foster dog with you, we’d be thrilled to see your foster dogs being included in your family adventures.
4. I have other pets. What if they don’t get along?
Sometimes dogs or cats just don’t get along with each other, or your foster dog might get anxious around other pets. But in our experience, the majority of our dogs slide right into an existing pack with little to no problems.
It’s a testament to how amazing dogs are. They are social animals and they get to get along with everyone. We always suggest a couple of days of separation initially, just to let them decompress from their long trip. No one wants to go right to a party after days on the road from the shelter.
Additionally, we will always be honest about what we know about a dog’s personality or potential issues with aggression. We also have a Behavioral team that will come in to help you. But after all of that, if the foster dog is not a good fit, we will move them to a different home. Your family’s safety is our number one priority, humans and pets.
5. How much will fostering cost me?
No, fostering a dog usually doesn’t cost money for the fosters.
At Path of Hope Rescue, we provide everything you need from crates to toys, treats, blankets, food and medical care. We have an entire stock of supplies to make your experience as easy as possible, and if we don’t have something, just ask!
6. Can I choose which dog to foster?
Yes and no. We will take into account your age preference for your foster dog, but we don’t allow our fosters to choose which specific dog they want. Frankly, because that would be so hard to honor for everyone.7. What are the responsibilities of a foster?
As a foster, you play an important role in caring for dogs in the already overloaded foster care system, especially in America. But the things you have to do are actually quite simple.
Provide food and clean water daily. That’s it!
And if you could socialize with them and help them exercise, that would be great! And you’re probably going to want to potty train them, you know, for the sake of your floors.
8. What are the different types of fosters?
Good question, because we do have several types of fosters. From permanent, to temporary to medical.
A permanent foster is our most popular and most needed foster. Permanent fosters typically foster the puppies until they grow up and get adopted.
We also have a handful of temporary fosters. These fosters step in when there is a short-term need. For example, when our permanent foster goes on vacation, that’s why you don’t have to worry about taking vacations when you foster.
Lastly, we have medical fosters. They step in when we have sick puppies that need a little extra care and support.
9. I work full time, can I still foster?
Absolutely! You probably read about the advice on fostering dogs as a busy working professional, and this really depends on the ages and needs of the dog.
We will take into account your work hours and time away from home when deciding which dog to put with you. For instance, we wouldn’t put an 8-week-old puppy with someone who is gone eight hours a day.
10. How am I going to let them go when they get adopted?
Letting go at the end of a foster period can be the hardest part of being a foster. Every dog that comes into your home is going to take a piece of your heart with them. It’s unavoidable.
We accept the hurt of letting them go, so we can help more. Because there’s another dog in Texas sleeping on the streets right now, just waiting for a family like yours. And that next one is going to give you a piece of their heart too. So after a while, your heart will be composed of all of the dogs that you saved.
But now you’re wondering “How do I foster with Path of Hope Rescue today?”
It’s pretty easy, all you need to do is to check out the Foster page on our website to know more about things like how to sign up to foster, why you need to foster, and what other things you need to check before fostering.
Here at Path of Hope Rescue, we take dogs from the streets of Texas and place them into the comforting homes of fosters like you. In the past couple of years, we saved over 1,400 Dogs from euthanasia in Texas, but we couldn’t do it without our fosters!
