Fostering - How does it work?

[showpug]

I am asking this out of pure curiosity and to gain some clarity.

When someone fosters a dog, what exactly do they do? I understand that you take the dog into your home/care and then what? Do you pay the vet bills, feeding bills etc.? What happens if it doesn't work out? Can you send the dog back?

Any information would be great!

 

[fillyone]

From what I have heard it depends a bit on the rescue group.
Many pay all vet bills but food is responsibility of foster.
I would only work with a rescue group that could work with me if a dog didn't work out.
With a dog already in my home (soon to be 2! ) they would always come first.
That said though, I would expect the foster to really work with the rescue to come up with a way to move dogs, meaning I would be willing to take in a different dog that would work out better.

Of course there is also the fact that some foster dogs, never find other homes and I think people that foster need to be ready for that possibility as well.

 

[Saintgirl]

Definatley depends on the rescue. Some foster families pay everything while some pay for absolutley nothing except love and care. Generally the group that places the dog in foster will attempt to find a good foster match, however it doesn't always work out. Each group handles things differently. I saw my foster pup from last year a couple of days ago it made the entire process worth it X 10000000000!!!! She went from being an insecure and extremely anxious pup to super confident, obedient perfect family pet!

 

[Brattina88]

When someone fosters a dog, what exactly do they do? I understand that you take the dog into your home/care and then what? Do you pay the vet bills, feeding bills etc.? What happens if it doesn't work out? Can you send the dog back?

It really does depend on the rescue... Some are based out of a shelter, and some are based solely on foster homes, and IME they are typically run very differently. The one's I've fostered for have offered to give food (often from donations) for the foster dog to eat, but I've always turned them down because a foster in my home will eat the food that my dogs are on. Some rescues reimburse you for vetting fees, etc and others don't, but they may have certain vets they recommend you to take the animal to, and those vets may offer a real decent discount for that rescue. When I fostered, I almost always took the dogs to my vet, because I am comfortable with him and I trust them, and he often gave me a discount on foster dogs regardless.

Some dogs are in a foster home for a certain reason - house training, socialization, manners training etc. So, other than caring for the dog those are some things a foster home might have to work on until the dog can be placed into a loving home. As for not working out, and sending the dog back that also depends on the rescue. If its shelter based then there is a place to "send a dog back" however, I would think that hopefully foster families are screened well enough to prevent that. Having a dog go into a foster home before a permanent home is a bit of a juggle for the dog, and we don't want to make the process bumpier than it should be, if you know what I mean lol. When I was fostering through a group that was foster families only I've heard certain foster homes communicating with each other (which is good) on problems, for tips and suggestions, and if it REALLY wasn't working out, another family would offer to take the dog or whatever. I've seen some "trade" foster dogs, though that's not really my thing, but they have to contact the rescue and make sure its okay with them as well. It can be, at times, a lot of paper work. But, maybe I'm biased simply because I hate paperwork LOL

 

[joce]

When I say foster it can mean a few different things

If its through erie shores you are the foster home because they do not have their own shelter(looking for someone to donate land to bulid one). You take the dog in as your own and they cover vet expenses(to an extent) and will repay you for food if you save the receipts(who remember to do that?!). They have a lot of vets who do work at a reduced fee for them so basically every time you go to a new vet. the only problem we had was when the las litter had parvo there was a question as to if the rescue would pay for a litter of seven parvo pups-they ended up doing it but the vet was shocked. They do all the vet checks and home checks for placing the dog and they have been good with letting us have final say on placement.


Our pound is a high kill pound so if we see a dog we can't let get gassed we go pull it. that means we are responsible for every cost the dog incurs and screening homes. This can add up quick and take a lot of time. Its really a gamble because the dog could have heartworms and cancer or be perfectly happy and healthy and adopted in a week-you can never tell by just looking.We are very lucky that my vet will give us a low rate since we are in so much.

We also take in dogs we get calls about since everyone knows we take them. Our last was the havaneese and he went to a great family yesterday-I think I may regret giving him up but he will have a great life!

I also will take some in just till a longer lasting foster can be found.

I prefer pulling the dog myself because I know I have final say over who it goes to but then again my budget doesn't allow for this all the time

 

[Maxy24]

My rescue group (that I will hopefully be fostering for this summer) works like this:

You fill out the foster form and they approve you to foster, then when we get new dogs in the owner of the group sends us e-mails asking if anyone can foster. You pick the dog you want to foster (they stay at her home for 48 hours so you can ask how they are with dogs, cats, kids etc.). then that day or the next you go to her house and pick up the dog. She will give you what you need for free including food, bowls, crate. blankets. collar and leash, if you can take care of any of that yourself though then you can do that. Vet bills are payed for by the rescue. you must get the dog to vet visits and meet and greets (where we show off the dogs to the public since they are all fostered) and if you cannot then you must tell ahead so another volunteer can do it. The dog is with you until he gets adopted which is usually about a week but for some dogs as long as a month. If the dog ends up being not suitable for your family (to rough on other pets, jumps on small kids etc.) then the dog will go back to the rescue owner and she will get him a new foster.

ALL our dogs go into foster not just injured or too young, we have no facility so if there are no fosters they have to stay at the owner of the rescues house which can't hold very many dogs.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

showpug do be careful if you foster. ALWAYS request and offer to pay for a Brucellosis test. That can KILL a breeding programme...it's bad juju and something to always think about when bringing any new animal onto your property. Even total separation isn't enough to guarantee. A negative test should be a high priority!

 

[showpug]

showpug do be careful if you foster. ALWAYS request and offer to pay for a Brucellosis test. That can KILL a breeding programme...it's bad juju and something to always think about when bringing any new animal onto your property. Even total separation isn't enough to guarantee. A negative test should be a high priority!

Oh, I won't be fostering, lol! I think it's a great thing to do and may be something I look into someday, but my hands are totally FULL right now.