A Different Kind of Foster Parent
I would love to foster a dog. It would help me get that “new dog” itch scratched but not truly tie us to having 4 dogs full time. I *think*.
It would also be really hard for me to let go if I got attached. And I don’t see how I wouldn’t get attached. 
I get attached to the dogs at Agility and they don’t come home with me.
Ginger’s Pet Rescue is looking for volunteers to foster small and large dogs. She will be getting 10 small dogs (under 20 pounds) and several larger dogs (over 50 pounds) this coming weekend. Can you help?
Most of the dogs are under three years old, are spayed/neutered, and up to date on shots. I’d really like to foster one or two of the larger dogs. I need to talk to hubby about it first though.
We’ve never fostered a dog. We have rescued a couple of dogs off the road and held them until we found their owners…but we’re talking hours not days, weeks, or months. Fostering a dog is a big responsibility, but is something that can mean life or death to a dog stuck in a kill shelter.
Have you ever fostered an animal? Or do you know someone who has? What are some tips that you can share?
Do you think it would be traumatic for our other dogs to have a new adult dog enter the pack, only to leave it later?
July 1st, 2008 at 10:05 am
I think dogs adjust easier than humans, so it would not be hard on the dogs. I had a foster dog for only one day because she turned out to be a very special dog who could not be left home alone at all or she would destroy the place. She could break out of any kennel (really). So I would say find out as much about a dog you are considering fostering and stay home from work at least one day when it gets to your house so you can make proper adjustments and get to know the dog.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 am
I have often thought seriously of being a foster dog parent, but 2 things keep me from doing it. First, I already have 2 dogs and 3 cats, and I’m afraid of upsetting the balance we have going around here. I feel I’ve been lucky that everyone gets along reasonably well as I have added to my zoo, but how many is too many - I don’t know. My neighbor is a foster parent and has as many as 10 dogs over there (3 are hers) I know she has had problems with them squabbling and peeing in the house, but that could be that they weren’t kept separated when they should have been, or watched carefully enough. My other concern, and it’s far less important to me is how would I give them up when it’s time. I have a feeling I’d be adding to my pack permanently.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I served as the foster location for Australian Cattle Dogs for a tri-state area for more than 10 years. That was when I was a stay-at-home mother and a licensed child care provider. The parents and dog agencies knew I was serving a dual-purpose, and thus I never received a dog with a remotely dangerous history, and my state licensing agency had this listed in my stipulations (this was quite a while ago).
The best possible option for this individual-focused breed was someone such as myself who was totally willing to take the focused time to acclimate them to a group of children in a controlled environment with a behavorial specialist (I worked with, and now work for, a Vet School, and thus had a reciprocal relationship in this area for student training purposes, as well as an agreement for basic vet care). This was truly a mutually beneficial relationship for both the children and the animals. The children were compelled to use their language skills while the dogs received positive and joyous reinforcement on their own level.
Tips:
One animal per enclosed area (kennel, run, etc).
Plan to be at home all the time.
Avoid looking your new animal directly in the eyes for awhile.
Make sure you are around the dog when it gets fed, and don’t let kids around until you are sure it won’t bite you at feeding time.
Keep the dog outside or in a kennel; don’t allow any foster animal on your furniture or on your bed.
No human food. Period.
Provide only specific toys, and don’t tussle with the dog. If it seems aggressive at all it won’t be adoptable.
Be careful about hugging your dog, since this can be seen as aggression.
Try to help the dog minimize exposure to behaviors the ancourage barking (for us it was people moving in a herd and really loud noises when they were kenneled. I had to build a privacy fence).
Try to use their name and touch them whenever you can.
Let me stress again — I didn’t have foster dogs unattended at any time — in my house or in my yard, ever. I heard too many horror stories of bad things happening to dogs, foster parents, children, strangers …
Good luck to you. It’s a lot of work but well worth it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Oh and reinforce, reinforce, reinforce any positive behaviors. A lot are coming from less-than-ideal situations, and thus need to be reminded of their inherent goodness.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:19 am
[...] About Fostering by Megan Casto As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve applied to be a foster dog parent. I talked to hubby about it and while he’s not [...]
July 5th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Every time we have a new foster come in the home there is a rearranging of the pack hierarchy and comfort level. We’ve done it so much that it’s expected and understood. Dogs can handle it, they are tough! And my regular dogs are not upset when a foster leaves. In fact, I think they are happy the foster is gone. Especially Levi and Chase, my boys who really don’t like having fosters around but I tell them they have to deal with it because without us, the dog would most likely die.
And Levi I got as a puppy, and I tell him he’s never had a hard day in his life, so he just has to suck it up!