Fostering

[loverocksalot]

I would like to know more about fostering. The basics. Like first how to get involved. Where do I go? Local shelter or rescue? Do I get to choose the dogs to foster? How long do they usually stay in your home? Anything you can tell me would be great.

[maryellen]

some shelters would kill for a foster home. some of the shelters up here do not have the resources to properly temperment test the dogs. you are better off with a rescue , a reputable rescue.. as they have the capability of evaluating the dogs properly better then a shelter..you fill out an application first to volunteer there, or at a rescue. this way you find out if the rescue is reputable, and if they have good ethics. once you volunteer for events, etc then you ask about fostering . the rescue or shelter will ask your experience with dogs, what your household is like , family, and then sit down with all family members to see if all agree to foster. once you are approved, you then tell them what type of dog/puppy you want to foster.. they will try to match up the right dog/pup for your house. you must follow their rules, use their vet, and any mistakes on your part you pay out of your own pocket.. dogs in foster homes can sit there for weeks to years.. yes years.... depending on the dog/pup and the rescue/shelter and the adoption rate you can have a dog with you for a short time or a very long time. foster homes get first pick at adopting the foster dog if they tell the rescue/shelter they want to adopt. you teach the dog basic obedience, crate training, housebreaking, and evaluate the dogs behaviors and report back to the shelter/rescue. any HA is an immediate euthanization. you also teach the dogs proper doggy skills about behaving in public, in the house etc... the hardest part for some folks is giving the dog to the new owners., i had friends of mine foster a pit pup for a few months and at the new adopters home they cried so much they couldnt foster for me again as they said it was too heartbreaking.. when i fostered i had no problem giving the dog to a new home as i knew there was one waiting in the wings that would die if not gotten in to a foster home..

[loverocksalot]

Yeah I have been thinking how difficult it could be to let a dog go. However I suppose if you are that in love with the dog you could always adopt it. But I think as long as I could visit the dog again some day and see how happy it is that would be rewarding enough. Ok with all that said where are these Rescues and how does one find local rescues. I am putting in application to volunteer at WMHS. They have a very strict volunteer application as compared to WHS. At WHS you just sign in and walk dogs. So I was thinking that WMHS would be better about their foster program. But I guess if I volunteer there I could get a better feel for it. At this time I am not sure if I would want to do specific breed foster. I did notice all they have at WMHS right now is all pit-bull. Apparently there was a recent hoarding case and 40 some odd dogs came in all or mostly pit bull. I guess most must be in foster. Right now I am just thinking about the idea and trying to find out more about it. I would like to get involved and volunteer. I could not just jump in as I first need to get a feel how my family would be about getting involved. I still wish I could have fostered Missy I asked they told me she could not she already had and did not work. Yet they were ready to adopt her out to me less than a week later. Now I have learned and want to learn more on how to help and keep this from happening to other dogs and the people who love them.

[maryellen]

the west milford shelter is very good, i have been there and they are a great staff.. they do like having foster homes. they got the dogs from a pit bull rescue in West milford that was keeping the dogs in BAD conditions, it was in the papers a few months ago. they do get other breeds in as well. the ones that are there are the only ones that were salvagable, as some of the dogs had issues..

once you adopt a dog out you normally dont keep in touch with the new adopters, the rescue is the one who would.. if you google /search on the internet for nj rescues for all breeds there are a ton that will show up.. the Warwick shelter doesnt do foster homes, they just adopt the dogs out normally.. if you volunteer at west milford you can see how they do their fundraising and adoptions and go from there.

if you search for all breed rescues in nj it should bring up a good amount ...

www.bing.com/search?q=all+breed+rescues+nj&FORM=MSNH11


you can also go on www.petfinder.org and type in your area and choose nj and it wil bring up every rescue and shelter in nj and then go from there..http://www.petfinder.com/awo/index.cgi?action=state

[mcgregor]

loverocksalot
It is hard when a foster is finally adopted out, heartbreaking yes but some people try not to get attached to the dogs ...I for one am too very sensitive, I would probably keep all the fosters ...lol ...Here is a website that might be of help to you

Pit Bull Rescue CentralFostering a pit bull can help a dog in need find his forever home. While each dog is different and each foster home is unique, the guidelines below can help ...
www.pbrc.net/foster.html - Cached - Similar

[loverocksalot]

OK I think I will start with volunteer at WMHS. I am going to fill out Ap now. Warwick does do foster. But think only to employees. The pup I had interest in was originally in foster but foster could not handle food aggression issues.

[loverocksalot]

Also to let you know I am actually in New York so not sure if that makes a difference for fostering.

[maryellen]

it shouldnt make a difference to the shelter.. you are not that far from the shelter . and you can look on petfinder for groups in ny too