How to Start Fostering Dogs and Who to Contact

Dogs are everyone's best friend, and unfortunately, the percentage of homeless animals - especially dogs - is staggering. You can go onto places such as petfinder.com or craigslist.com and see a plethora of listings for dogs and puppies alike that can no longer be cared for. However since laws prevent adopting hundred of dogs how does one help the terrible problem? Fostering is the answer to this issue. Fostering involves you becoming the guardian and that dog being your sole responsibility until a forever home can be found. Usually the group you foster for will help pay for vet bills as well so that ultimately all you are providing is the home, food, and lots of love.

Getting into fostering is not easy however. Most humane societies or shelters require you fill out paperwork and pass a background check just for starters. After this they usually will send someone to your home to inspect it for safety and cleanliness just to make sure that small dogs and large dogs would be content in your home. If your home is approved than they will want to contact your vet. Make sure that prior to getting into fostering dogs that you have met a good vet and have a rapport with him this will make things much easier. If they are satisfied with your veterinarian and the care you have with your home and any pets you own than they will start you with fostering.

Places to contact to start your fostering would be humane societies and shelters in your area. You can also contact animal lover societies such as Heart Bandits of America, which specifically takes care of American Eskimo Dogs. You will want to deal with only one shelter at a time so that there is less confusion and no overwhelming need that you cannot fill. This also allows you to specialize in one type of dog and their needs which makes you a better caregiver. Crest Care is another specialized group that only cares for Chinese Cresteds, and due to the severe skin care and eye care because they are hairless it is a good idea to only focus on that type of dog. On most websites for these types of groups there are applications for fostering which is your start. Calling the society is usually a great way to show you are truly interested instead of just sending in the paperwork.

Once everything is approved, you can usually choose what size of dog would be better in your home. Depending on the society they may pay for you to fly to different states and pick up certain dogs for fostering so that they are not euthanized. Other groups will only pay portions of airfare or gas for you. Once you have the dog in your home you are agreeing to take them out to adoption events, and update their petfinder.com pages as well. You may also end up driving or flying hundreds of miles to drop off the dog once they have found a forever home.

Fostering is a heart-wrenching but wonderful thing to do for the dogs in your area. Giving them the love and training needed is a bigger gift than you can imagine for both you and the dogs you foster.