Today we are continuing our pet series with Try Fostering a Dog Before You Become an Owner. In a world where so many pets go unloved and unwanted, there are many reasons why you should consider fostering a homeless dog.
A homeless dog is a dog that is considered unowned. They can be on the streets, left behind when someone moves, lost, or just not claimed by any owner.
These dogs are taken to the pound, they are given a few days for an owner to come for them, and if no one claims them, they’re either put to sleep or held in a kennel with cramped space and very limited human interaction. Animal shelters are meant to give the animals a place to stay for a short time before they are either reclaimed by their owner or taken into rescue. However, with the shortage of homes and the mass over population of animals many dogs do not ever get out of the shelter. Litters of unwanted puppies and senior dog who the owners no longer want them are top of the list when it comes to dogs in shelters and rescues. One way to help is to Try Fostering a Dog Before You Become an Owner.
A. Reasons to Foster a Homeless Dog
1. Gives you an Idea of Life as a Pet Owner
Fostering a dog before you become a pet owner is a great way to see what dog ownership entails, and which breed you feel will be a good fit for your family. It is like a trial run to see what you are getting into and to become comfortable with a dog in your house. Fostering will give your family and other pets, is you have any, time to adjust to having a new family member.
2. Saves Lives
By fostering a dog out of a shelter or rescue, you are also making more room for other homeless dogs to get rescued. They say if you foster or rescue a dog, you are saving two lives, the one you take home and the one who takes that place in the shelter. As time and space are both limited in animal shelters, everyone who moves out is one more that can move in or stay a bit longer. Most animal controls will euthanize when they run out of space. This means when they are full and can not take in any more dogs, they will start killing the ones that have been there the longest to make room for new ones.
B. What Does Fostering Really Mean?
Fostering a dog means you take them into your home, feed them and care for them as if they were your own. With this time you can figure out their temperament, their special issues, if they have any, and their likes and dislikes. Once you have become familiar with the dog, you will have a better understanding of the dog and how it should be handled. This will help an adoptive family know what the dog is like and whether or not it will be a good match for their home.
Some foster arrangements have a specific period of time, while others are undetermined – depending on when and if the dog gets adopted out. Some rescue groups are low on space, and every foster parent frees up room for another rescue animal.
The dogs can be of all ages, from puppies who are too young to be adopted, to senior dogs who have been left behind or neglected. Some will be in good health, while others may have injuries they’re recovering from, or medical issues that require ongoing treatment.
If the dog is a stray or has been abused, a foster parent might help the animal get socialized around humans and other pets, such as other dogs, and even cats. This helps the potential adoptive family make the best future decision based on the information the foster can provide.
C. Things to Ask Before Fostering
When you foster a dog, make sure you ask some basic questions to see if the dog is a good fit for you.
1. Kennels Issues
You may want to know how long he’s been at the shelter and if he’s showing any signs of frustration, such as intense pacing or restlessness. Some dogs do not do well confined to a kennel for long periods of time and they can get what is called “cage crazy”. Sometimes this condition can get fixed by getting the dog out of the shelter and giving it a real home. After the dog has adjusted to the new home, they can become happy members of the family.
2. Vaccinations and Treatments
You definitely want to make sure the animal has had all of its vaccinations and that a thorough exam has been completed on the dog to see if it has heart worms, etc. There may be good reason to delay the fostering or keep the dog separate from your pets.
3. Medical Issues
You’ll want to know if he has any medical issues – especially if you have other pets in the home and it might affect them. Rarely will a dog be released from a shelter with a disease that can be transmitted to other pets but do be sure they have been given all their vaccinations, deworming, and tests to assure that they are healthy.
Some dogs may have long-term medical issues such as diabetes, thyroid issues, or heart conditions. These can be treated with daily medication but it will be daily and for the rest of the dogs’ life. The dog may need special food for other problems that can be controlled by diet. If you are not comfortable with doing daily meds, you may want to pick a dog with no medical needs.
Another thing to consider is that dogs can have the same problems that people can develop as they get old. Older dogs may need arthritis meds or special food for old age issues. Seniors make great dogs, even if they do not have the energy level of a puppy. Senior dogs are generally calmer, more relaxed, better trained, and just want a soft bed, a good meal, and love.
If you do not want to deal with puppy energy, potty training, and puppy chewing, think about fostering a senior instead. People are less likely to foster or adopt a senior so they are always more in need that puppies or younger dogs.
4. Who Pays for Fosters
Ask the rescue group who pays for the medical procedures and medications, because they often have vets who pick up the tab as volunteers, or the rescue pay for it themselves. Be sure you know what vet the rescue will require you to take your foster to and who will be paying if an emergency occurs while you are fostering.
Some rescues will give the foster dog food, special bedding, monthly flea and Heartworm meds. But other rescues expect the foster home to provide these things. Make sure to ask if the rescue will be giving you these things or if you have to buy them yourself. Knowing what expenses you are in for with a new foster is something you want to know upfront.
5. Get as much information as you can about the foster before you bring it home.
The group may be able to tell you if the dog is house-trained or if he has any aggression issues you need to watch out for. If the dog has been abused it may be fearful and you may need to take things slow. Some dogs have personality quirks that you will have to work with or make accommodations for. Dogs who have been starves or had to hunt for themselves on the streets may be food aggressive and you will need to keep the separate from other pets while feeding or chewing on toys. These are the kinds of things you need to ask the rescue or shelter about.
If the dog is a stray there may not be any info known about the dog. In this case you will just have to use common sense and go slow and careful with your new foster until you learn more about the dogs personality. Sometimes, the foster parent is the one who finds all of this crucial information out.
Do not just take any dog that you think is cute home to foster and act like it is already a member of your family. The dog can become a member of your family but do not think that it will just automatically be familiar with your, your family, your house, and your schedule. Jumping blindly into a foster is a good way to have a disaster.
6. Foster to Adopt or Short-Term Foster
If you are thinking of getting a dog, Try Fostering a Dog Before You Become an Owner.
Many rescues will allow foster to adopt situations so you can take the dog home and see how it goes before you decide to adopt and keep the dog for your own. But as there is a shortage of homes, short term fosters are also needed.
There are people who foster a dog and do not plan to keep the dog. Temp foster gives the dog time out of the shelter to adjust to being in a home and gives the foster time to figure out the dog. This helps the dogs and the rescue. Being a short term foster helps the rescue learn about the dog and gets dogs out of the shelter. Again, if you foster or adopt you save two dogs, the one you take home and the one who took the place in the shelter.
D. Your Responsibilities to Your Foster
As we said above, a foster take a dog home and treats this dog as if it is their own for the time they have them. So having a foster dog is just like having your own dog but for a short time.
1. Proper Housing
You will need to be able to provide your foster dog with proper housing. Most rescues require that fosters are kept as house dogs not just yard dogs. So be sure you are able to accommodate a dog in the house. This includes “dog proofing” your house. Yes, that is similar to “child proofing” but for dogs. Believe it or not dogs can get into thinks that kids can not. Dogs will chew or eat anything they think is good. They will tear up stuff that you would not even think they would have noticed. Keep that in mind.
2. Foods and Water
You will have to give your foster dog proper food and clean water. If your foster has special feeding requirements, you will need to be able to get that special food.
3. Special Accommodations
Older dogs may need special bedding for arthritis or hip dysplasia.
Other dogs may need special shampoo for skin issues or may need bathing more frequently.
Smaller dogs will need smaller toys and treats, whereas large dogs will need larger toys and treats that they can not swallow.
4. Safety
Safety should be first on your mind when you bring home a new foster dog. Yes, you want to be sure the dog will not become upset and hurt someone or another pet. But you also need to be sure the dog can not hurt itself.
Have a proper fence so you can walk your foster dog. The last thing you need or the dog needs is to come to a new home, freak out, and run away. The poor dog will be on an unfamiliar street, it will know no one, and it will be afraid. Not to mention the danger of cars, other dogs in the area, and getting picked up by animal control again.
Have a secure kennel in your house where you can put the dog to feed it and at night so it does not wander around in the dark. Let the dog be with you in the house during the day and put it into a crate at night.
After your foster dog has been with you a bit and your comfortable with the dog and the dog with you then let it stay out at night and see how it goes. Many dogs will do fine sleeping in the house at night as long as you make sure to give them a bed, blanket, or space of their own.
Try Fostering a Dog Before You Become an Owner is by no means a total list of things involved in fostering a dog but it is a place to start. There are always exceptions to any rule so be prepared for stops, starts, quirks, and oddities. As we have said in several of our other pet series talks, every animal has its’ own personality and what works for one may not work for all. Be ready to go with the flow and be flexible with your foster. A bit of time, patience, and love will do wonders for any rescue dog.
We hope you have enjoyed this talk, Try Fostering a Dog Before You Become an Owner. Please consider these things when you are thinking about fostering a rescue dog. And please do consider fostering the world has a terrible shortage of good homes.
If case have missed the other talks in this pet series or need more info on pets, please check out some of our other talks below.
Thank you for visiting and please come again for another edition of Out Standing in the Field.
