fostering?

July · 02-26-2007, 02:53 PM

We currently have two dogs, both rescued from the same shelter last fall (about a month apart). We also have two cats, though they mostly live outside and kill mice. (Or at least that's what their supposed to be doing -- more likely they get fat on dog food scraps!)

Anyway...recently my boyfriend has been browsing the animals on PetFinder for this particular shelter.

I keep telling him we don't need another dog, but it's really hard for me to say that when there are so many dogs in need and we have the space...however, we won't have this particular space forever, and I'm a little nervous about adopting another dog and then having it end up back in a shelter in a year when our lease runs out. (I'm sure those of you who rent know how difficult it is to find landlords willing to accept any animals, much less two cats and two dogs, one of them rather large.)

I'm a sucker for animals in need and this particular shelter, which is the most well-run and honest shelter I've seen (and I spoke to almost every one in the area before adopting from Pet Connection), and despite my (vague) reservations, I find it hard to say no to animals in need.

So, fostering seems like it could be a good solution. We have the room *now*, and probably will for another year, so we could foster animals for that time. I think the only reason Aaron wants another dog is that he is also an animal lover and can't say no to the 5 pages of animals available from this one shelter alone. He loves his dog to death, but both of our dogs came with sad stories and we know how much need there is for homes, even temporary.

I know some of you have fostered so...what is your experience with that? Would you reccomend it? In what situation would you *not* reccomend it?

Thanks!

APHANutmeg · 02-26-2007, 03:04 PM

Fostering is wonderful, I have done it before with kittens (lots and lots of kittens at one time). It makes you feel important to bring home an unwanted pet, be able to raise and train and love it. Shelters rely on your feedback when they have potential adopters for this particular animal and most appreciate the help.

The only problem is that you get sooo attached to the pet that it can be very hard to let go when the time comes

.

But it does benefit the pet in the long run as it help the shelter find the right Forever home for the pet

.

I would foster again in a heartbeat given the chance, just not so many at the same time

.

husker_girl7 · 02-26-2007, 05:22 PM

I think fostering would be a great idea for you. If the shelter is well run it's usually a win-win situation. You get to help a great animal for a while and the animal gets time attention and training that they probably won't get in a shelter. It is hard to let them go because you do get so attached but I've found if you take in another right away it kind of fills the void and makes it easier. I say go for it and it's great that you're considering doing this!

A J · 02-26-2007, 05:27 PM

We've so far fostered two dogs, besides taking in some rescues with the idea of finding them new homes (same idea basically).

Fostering can be a very rewarding experience, and I highly recommend it, but there are a few things you will need to be prepared for: many of these dogs will have little to no training, so part of your "job" is to get them more adoptable (obedience, general manners, crate training, etc).

Some of the dogs have a very vague history, that may have included past abuse - this can take a lot of time and patience, socialization, etc to help them overcome those issues.

Be prepared for the extra costs involved in fostering: basics like dog bowls, leashes, food (many dogs are underweight, so require extra food). Things like crates, etc (we've had foster dogs chew on, and through a plastic crate, destroy the pan in a metal crate, etc). Toys will be needed - most likely, you may need more expensive toys like Kongs.

Foster dogs may destroy your house - we also rent, and have some tore up carpet by our door, and have to replace at least one mini blind due to foster dogs. We've also had to beef up the fence in our yard, and will need even more once tax returns arrive.

Time involved: you may have to bring the dog to "meet and greets", training classes, meet with and screen potential families, etc.

When screening potential adopters, you need to be honest about the dog, and any issues they may have. Behavior problems, seperation anxiety, housebreaking, activity level, size of dog, etc are all things YOU need to consider when someone contacts you. For example, a friendly but excitable med-large dog is most likely NOT appropriate for a family with small children - you don't want the dog to end up back at the pound, and finding that perfect match sometimes means feeding an extra mouth longer than you had hoped.

Overall, it is a wonderful experience! There are times when it is stressful and may even make you wonder why you're doing it, but seeing that dog finally go to a home where you know they will be loved is SO worth it!!

ttldr · 02-28-2007, 10:53 PM

I did alot of fostering when I lived in Michigan. We once had a litter of puppies that we had to bottle feed as mom was put down at the shelter when pups were a week old. It is a great thing to do as then the animals become more adoptable as you will have a better idea of thier manners in the house (i.e. get along with other dogs/pets, good with kids, housebroken, etc) and you can teach them a few things to make them more adoptable like housebreaking. This being said when you foster you don't know what you are getting so you have to be prepared for puddles on your carpet, scuffles breaking out, etc. You also have to be prepared for adding to your own brood. I have yet to meet a fosterer that doesn't fall in love with one (or two, three) of thier charges and can not let them go so they adopt them for themselves.

We ended up with one that we could not stand to let leave our house. He was a shepard/collie mix that had been returned by one adopter because he was "too bosterous (sp?)" around thier 2 year old. He didn't have a mean bone in his body, but he followed you around so closley that if you turned around too quicly you would trip over him. We would show the dogs at a movie theatre on the weekends and "Gomer" would see the cages being loaded and go hide in the basement because he didn't want to go. We had him for 12 years and he was a really good dog. Not the sharpest tool in the shed (if you asked him to sit he had no clue and would cower) but he was completely housebroken and did learn how to play baskeball with a tire and a tennis ball. I don't think he was beaten in a previous home but maybe locked in a hot car, he acted as if he had brain damage.

02-26-2007, 02:53 PM
July Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 298	fostering? We currently have two dogs, both rescued from the same shelter last fall (about a month apart). We also have two cats, though they mostly live outside and kill mice. (Or at least that's what their supposed to be doing -- more likely they get fat on dog food scraps!) Anyway...recently my boyfriend has been browsing the animals on PetFinder for this particular shelter. I keep telling him we don't need another dog, but it's really hard for me to say that when there are so many dogs in need and we have the space...however, we won't have this particular space forever, and I'm a little nervous about adopting another dog and then having it end up back in a shelter in a year when our lease runs out. (I'm sure those of you who rent know how difficult it is to find landlords willing to accept any animals, much less two cats and two dogs, one of them rather large.) I'm a sucker for animals in need and this particular shelter, which is the most well-run and honest shelter I've seen (and I spoke to almost every one in the area before adopting from Pet Connection), and despite my (vague) reservations, I find it hard to say no to animals in need. So, fostering seems like it could be a good solution. We have the room now, and probably will for another year, so we could foster animals for that time. I think the only reason Aaron wants another dog is that he is also an animal lover and can't say no to the 5 pages of animals available from this one shelter alone. He loves his dog to death, but both of our dogs came with sad stories and we know how much need there is for homes, even temporary. I know some of you have fostered so...what is your experience with that? Would you reccomend it? In what situation would you not reccomend it? Thanks! __________________ DON\'T PANIC.

02-26-2007, 03:04 PM
APHANutmeg Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 682	Fostering is wonderful, I have done it before with kittens (lots and lots of kittens at one time). It makes you feel important to bring home an unwanted pet, be able to raise and train and love it. Shelters rely on your feedback when they have potential adopters for this particular animal and most appreciate the help. The only problem is that you get sooo attached to the pet that it can be very hard to let go when the time comes . But it does benefit the pet in the long run as it help the shelter find the right Forever home for the pet . I would foster again in a heartbeat given the chance, just not so many at the same time .

02-26-2007, 05:22 PM
husker_girl7 Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 720	I think fostering would be a great idea for you. If the shelter is well run it's usually a win-win situation. You get to help a great animal for a while and the animal gets time attention and training that they probably won't get in a shelter. It is hard to let them go because you do get so attached but I've found if you take in another right away it kind of fills the void and makes it easier. I say go for it and it's great that you're considering doing this!

02-26-2007, 05:27 PM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,479	We've so far fostered two dogs, besides taking in some rescues with the idea of finding them new homes (same idea basically). Fostering can be a very rewarding experience, and I highly recommend it, but there are a few things you will need to be prepared for: many of these dogs will have little to no training, so part of your "job" is to get them more adoptable (obedience, general manners, crate training, etc). Some of the dogs have a very vague history, that may have included past abuse - this can take a lot of time and patience, socialization, etc to help them overcome those issues. Be prepared for the extra costs involved in fostering: basics like dog bowls, leashes, food (many dogs are underweight, so require extra food). Things like crates, etc (we've had foster dogs chew on, and through a plastic crate, destroy the pan in a metal crate, etc). Toys will be needed - most likely, you may need more expensive toys like Kongs. Foster dogs may destroy your house - we also rent, and have some tore up carpet by our door, and have to replace at least one mini blind due to foster dogs. We've also had to beef up the fence in our yard, and will need even more once tax returns arrive. Time involved: you may have to bring the dog to "meet and greets", training classes, meet with and screen potential families, etc. When screening potential adopters, you need to be honest about the dog, and any issues they may have. Behavior problems, seperation anxiety, housebreaking, activity level, size of dog, etc are all things YOU need to consider when someone contacts you. For example, a friendly but excitable med-large dog is most likely NOT appropriate for a family with small children - you don't want the dog to end up back at the pound, and finding that perfect match sometimes means feeding an extra mouth longer than you had hoped. Overall, it is a wonderful experience! There are times when it is stressful and may even make you wonder why you're doing it, but seeing that dog finally go to a home where you know they will be loved is SO worth it!! __________________ Try not, do. Do or do not. There is no try.

02-28-2007, 10:53 PM
ttldr Halter broke Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 112	Fostering I did alot of fostering when I lived in Michigan. We once had a litter of puppies that we had to bottle feed as mom was put down at the shelter when pups were a week old. It is a great thing to do as then the animals become more adoptable as you will have a better idea of thier manners in the house (i.e. get along with other dogs/pets, good with kids, housebroken, etc) and you can teach them a few things to make them more adoptable like housebreaking. This being said when you foster you don't know what you are getting so you have to be prepared for puddles on your carpet, scuffles breaking out, etc. You also have to be prepared for adding to your own brood. I have yet to meet a fosterer that doesn't fall in love with one (or two, three) of thier charges and can not let them go so they adopt them for themselves. We ended up with one that we could not stand to let leave our house. He was a shepard/collie mix that had been returned by one adopter because he was "too bosterous (sp?)" around thier 2 year old. He didn't have a mean bone in his body, but he followed you around so closley that if you turned around too quicly you would trip over him. We would show the dogs at a movie theatre on the weekends and "Gomer" would see the cages being loaded and go hide in the basement because he didn't want to go. We had him for 12 years and he was a really good dog. Not the sharpest tool in the shed (if you asked him to sit he had no clue and would cower) but he was completely housebroken and did learn how to play baskeball with a tire and a tennis ball. I don't think he was beaten in a previous home but maybe locked in a hot car, he acted as if he had brain damage.