FACTS ON FOSTER - thoughts and information on offing a dog a temporary home

Having recently taken up fostering (on my third foster baby now). I’ve put some information together to try to explain the in and outs of being a foster and hope that if anyone is considering doing this it will be helpful for them.

STEPS TO BECOMING A FOSTERER

If you’re interested in becoming a fosterer, I would recommend your first step should be to contact your local rescues, however, some larger rescue centres foster dogs all over the UK. On many of the rescue dog sites you will find adverts asking for fosterers, we’re in great demand.

From there they’ll talk you through what being a fosterer involves. They’ll explain what they would like from you and take information about yourself as they will always try to match the right dog to your needs and abilities. Some fosterers have children, cats, even chickens so they are careful which dog they place with each family.

Obviously different rescues work in different ways, all that I am aware of cover all vets fees, some cover the cost of food. Most will do a home check, not just for the dogs sake but also so they get to know you better and ensure, again, that they can match you with the right dog for your home, lifestyle etc.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM BEING A FOSTERER

Expect the unexpected. Expect to be on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Expect to laugh, expect to cry. I’ll be totally honest and say it’s not easy, you’ll have your heart broken and you’ll find yourself sometimes at your wits end. Bringing an unknown entity into your home can be difficult. We learnt very quickly that you can’t just walk into the house with a new dog and expect them to all play nicely. Taking them all out for a walk on their first meet we found worked out much better and then all entering the house together. However even with this it took about a week with the first two dogs before we felt comfortable leaving them all alone together whilst we were out. It takes hard work, a lot of stressing, hair pulling (yours not the dogs) but it can be done. But then our third dog just settled with the ‘pack’ immediately. There’s just no guarantee with these things.

You also need to assess the dog on it’s behaviours and keep up with or even start training. Most off these babies that come to us have had a very hard time before they arrive and need special attention and lots of TLC.

REHOMING

Again I’m sure this will be different for each rescue but when you and the rescue feel the dog is ready for it’s new forever home then they will usually advertise them on rescue sites, at the kennels if they have them and speak to people who contact the rescue looking for a dog.

NEW FAMILY AND HOMECHECK

Obviously each rescue will have their own rehoming policy, some stricter than others, but most carry out home checks. It’s really important I believe at this point that you, the fosterer, are involved. You’ve put a lot of time and love into these dogs and it’s important you feel comfortable with the policies of the rescue you work for and the family that the dog is going to. If you feel you won’t be happy as they would not, for instance, let you have a say where the dog goes, then look for a rescue that will.

The rescue I foster for does have basic policies but it’s about what’s right for each particular dog, not a blanket policy for rehoming. Also the foster gets final say if a family want to adopt the dog. Personally I could not bring myself to hand over one of the dogs to a family if I simply felt something wasn’t right, even if I couldn’t quite put my finger on it You’ve got to know the dog better than anyone else and you are the best judge of whether he or she will be happy with the people who want them.

SAYING GOODBYE

The hardest part – by a long way. You’ve cared for them, loved them, they’ve become part of your pack and now they’re leaving!! It’s heartbreaking, and it doesn’t get any easier. I make a point of not crying until the dogs are out of sight, don’t want to upset them. If you foster, you’ll cry, it’s a given. Someone said to me the other day ‘I don’t know how you cope’ to which I replied ‘please don’t be under the illusion that I do cope’. The one thing you have to tell yourself over and over again ITS ABOUT THE DOGS – NOT YOU.

THE GOOD POINTS – YES THERE ARE SOME

So just before you start thinking there’s no way you want to foster. Here’s the good bit and it’s oh sooo good! You save lives! You take in some unwanted dog and make them happy, possibly for the first time in their life. When you see them responding to your kind words and touch it’s the most amazing feeling in the world. To have a dog sat on your knee knowing that possibly only a few hours ago they were due to put to sleep or to have a dog who’s been beaten and battered show you love and trust – what can I say the feeling is almost indescribable. I makes all the above melt away into insignificance. The sheer joy of saving one of these sad babies, turning them into a healthy happy dog and then sending them on their way to start a new happy life is the best feeling I’ve have ever experienced – ever - with bells on!!!!! And you know because you’ve worked with this dog, loved this dog and it’s now gone onto it’s new life you have the opportunity to save another poor dog.

Many people say they couldn’t foster because they could never let the dog go. I was one of those people!

I really hope this inspires some to consider fostering. These poor little blighters really do need us.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.