I have been giving a lot of thought lately to the issue of fostering.
This time last year, Sox and I were fostering blind greyhound, Fred, who was adopted in mid-February and has settled well into a loving forever home. New Zealand has always had a homeless pet population – you don’t have to look far to find an adoption group (or two, three, or more) that operate in your area. And now, with a greyhound racing ban confirmed, our country has the responsibility to re-home the 2,900 hounds that the industry says it has it in its possession.
Fostering is the gift of life for dogs needing homes; it also has many benefits for the foster carer and the adoption agency.
Benefits of fostering
- Fostering frees up space in shelters/kennels for another dog in need
- For the fostered dog, it gives them a chance to de-compress (kennels keep dogs safe and fed, but they can also be noisy and negatively reinforcing – think of having roommates that you really wish would leave!)
- For some dogs, they simply can’t cope in a shelter or kennel environment and these special dogs need to be cared for in a home before they are damaged from long-term kenneling
- A fostered dog benefits from one-on-one attention and, if the foster carer/family own a dog (and/or other pets), then the fostered dog has the opportunity to learn the ‘house rules’ and how to interact with other companion animals
- Fostered dogs often need to learn skills such as toilet training, walking on lead, and basic skills like wait, leave, and down (depending on the skills of the foster carer and the dog, of course) – a dog with life skills is less likely to have a failed adoption (returned to the adoption group)
- Re-homing and adoption groups benefit from feedback from their foster carers; they learn about a dog’s likes and dislikes, behaviour, and areas for training – all of which enable them to give clearer information and support to adopters and to make a good and lasting match
- Re-homing and adoption groups also benefit from the enthusiasm of their foster carers, who can help publicise the adoption group simply by taking the dog out for walks, promoting the dogs on their social media, and acting generally as a partner for the re-homing effort
- An experienced foster carer is worth their weight in gold for the adoption groups they work with; some carers offer specialised skills that adoption groups often cannot afford to access on a commercial basis
- For carers, fostering gives you the joy of companionship without necessarily the commitment of full-time ownership
- There is huge satisfaction to be gained from giving a dog a second chance; the emotional reward is hard to describe
Setting expectations and standards
To be successful, fostering works best when the adoption agency and the foster carer are clear about expectations and standards. If the adoption agency isn’t clear about boundaries, it’s hard for the foster carer to know what a good job in fostering looks like.
Questions to ask if you are interested in fostering
Ask yourself why you want to foster – and be honest.
Most people I meet have the best of intentions to foster but can be emotionally unprepared for the experience. A foster dog is not your pet; some attachment to your foster dog is expected – it’s easy to bond with a dog in your care as you learn their personality. Some positive self-talk is a good idea – remind yourself that at some point you will need to farewell the dog, knowing that you gave them a head start for pet life.
What type of dog are you qualified to handle?
If you have breed-specific experience, it’s best to consider offering your skills to a breed-specific rescue group.
In more general terms, most previous dog owners will have experience with adult dogs; puppies are typically fostered only by those with puppy experience (and the availability to monitor them more closely throughout the day). If a dog has special needs such as behaviour issues or mobility or other physical impairments, then they will ideally need a special foster carer with some experience in these areas.
What support can you expect as a foster carer?
Most adoption groups will supply the basics for their foster carers: dog food, leash, collar, crate and bed.
Ask what process to follow if the dog is unwell and needs veterinary care, for example.
If you are experiencing behaviour problems and want to talk through training, what assistance is available? Some adoption groups have a dedicated person who will follow up with foster carers just to see how things are going – if this isn’t possible in your area, is there someone else you can bounce ideas off of?
All adoption agencies should be prepared to give you background on your foster dog. Some agencies will, of course, have very little information on the dogs that come into care. Others will have more information.
Foster agreements should be in writing
Agreements with a foster carer should be in writing and set out the responsibilities of each party; every adoption group should act as a business in this regard.
If foster carers are expected to be available for certain weekend adoption events, for example, then these should be clarified in the agreement.
Foster carers should be dealt with respect and, even if they are not being paid for their services, their in-kind time and efforts should be recognised as if the person was an employee. There should be no bullying, harassment or discrimination and the foster carer should have an avenue outlined in the agreement if a problem requires escalation. If the adoption agency has concerns about a foster carer’s competence or performance, then the agreement should outline how such situations will be handled.
What if you can’t manage it (for whatever reason)?
Life can throw us curve balls. Your situation may change. Perhaps the dog is higher needs than you anticipated and you are not coping; perhaps you are ill; perhaps there’s a family emergency. If you can’t manage to see your foster commitment through, then the foster agreement should outline the process to follow to return your foster dog. Depending on the circumstances, you should de-brief with your adoption agency, particularly if you’d like to foster again in the future.
Make a lifetime commitment only when it is right for you both
It’s natural to form a bond with your foster dog; affection for the dog is normal. After all, you are caring for a sentient creature who needs your help and who is living in your home…
While some dogs end up as ‘foster failures’, you must be sure that you can make the lifetime commitment to your foster dog if you are considering adopting them. Can you afford their care? Do you permanently have the time and space to give the dog its best pet life?
Note: If your intention is to add a dog to your home, ask your adoption agency about a ‘foster to adopt’ arrangement which means that you are providing foster care for the purpose of taking the dog on trial.
Fostering a dog in need can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
If you are interested in fostering, please contact your local adoption groups for information on their needs – most will publish information on their website to get you started.
Kathleen Crisley, is Fear-Free certified dog massage therapist and canine fitness trainer. She has a particular passion for working with dogs and their families to ensure injury prevention and quality of life. She specialises in working with anxious and emotionally damaged dogs. Her mobile practice, The Balanced Dog, is based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
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