28/07/2014
Fostering dogs is a key step in the process of keeping previously unwanted canines from being killed. While many potential pet owners are interested in adopting dogs that come from a shelter or other negative situations, many individuals are not equipped to help the dog make the transition into a normal home. By fostering dogs and using your skill, patience and understanding of a dog's unique needs, you can help the dog adjust to life in a healthy domestic setting and ensure that it will have a smooth and successful transition into the life and home of its new owner.
In the same way that kids sometimes have to be placed into foster care while a permanent adoptive situation is found, pets sometimes need a place to stay while a long-term care solution is developed. In some cases, this may involve a stay of only be a few weeks or it may be as long as three or four months.
Responsibilities
The ultimate goal and responsibility of someone who is fostering dogs is to see that the dogs are adopted into a home where the animal can thrive. There are several ways that rescue groups may come to have dogs that need foster care. The first is a direct placement. Sometimes families move and are unable to take their dog with them. In other instances, the dog may have come from the home of someone deployed overseas in the military. In these cases, long-term foster care may be required but with the owner wishing to reclaim their pet eventually.
The second way that dogs come to be in foster care is through the local pounds and shelters. When a dog comes into a shelter, it is made available for adoption, but it is also given a kill date. If the dog hasn’t been adopted by the pre-determined date, one of two things happens: It is either euthanized or it is picked up by a rescue group.
These rescue groups are the ones who place the dogs into foster care. Once the rescued dog has been placed, it is the responsibility of the family or individual fostering dogs to make sure that the dog is cared for and finds an adoptive family. The rescue group will generally provide the resources to make this possible and usually works to put adoptive families in touch with foster families.
How to Get Involved
If you think that you might be interested in fostering dogs, there are several ways to get involved. The first is to contact your local animal shelter or pound. Ask them what the local rescue groups are and whether they have any contact information. People who are passionate about dogs and saving the animals from euthanasia generally run rescue groups. When you talk to the people, they are going to try to get a sense about how passionate you are about dogs and the rescue cause. They want to be sure that they are placing dogs in a home where they will be well cared for and in good condition for adoption.