What is a Foster Home?
- A foster home provides a safe haven for a rescued dog. The foster home is vital to the socialization and training necessary to help our WAG Rescue dogs become adoptable.
- The most important requirements are time, patience and compassion. You must be willing to include the dog in family activities and provide some daily one-on-one time and walks on leash.
- We ask that the foster family commit to keep the foster dog until there is an adoption, but we understand if this is not possible. The more a foster dog is moved around, the harder it becomes for the dog.
- Do not leave the dog outside overnight. Dogs must be contained in a fenced, secure back yard and at no time are our dogs to be chained. A fenced yard of appropriate height (5-6′, as some dogs are jumpers) is required with almost all foster dogs. Exceptions are apartments with small foster dogs.
- The foster will need to administer heartworm preventative, flea and tick preventative and sometimes prescription medications. We count on our foster homes to evaluate temperament and observe behaviors in a variety of situations, and we welcome those updates so we can assess the dog and enhance the description on the web site.
- The dog may not be completely house-trained; in which case we will count on the foster family to work on this. We recommend using a kennel and taking the dog out on a leash regularly, giving praise and a treat reward when the dog is successful.
- Kennels are available from WAG Rescue for each foster dog as needed. Kennels can be a cozy den and a place of refuge for most dogs. Please never use the kennel as punishment.
- All Wag Rescue foster dogs are taken to the Vet, examined, vaccinated and dewormed. WAG Rescue requires that all resident dogs in a foster home be fully vaccinated, and spayed or neutered and on heartworm prevention medication.
What WAG Rescue Provides to our Foster Homes
- WAG Rescue provides all food, medical care and medication, collar & leash, grooming, bedding, kennel, toys and treats. We ask that you feed the food provided so our dogs have a consistent food regime.
- WAG Rescue provides behavior assessment for our dogs and training resources available for each foster dog.
How Expenses Are Handled
- If you provide toys, treats, etc., we are happy to provide a donation receipt for expenses and will reimburse for professional grooming and any additional purchases for the dog; please keep your receipts for all expenses. Requires prior approval from the foster coordinator.
- Finally, WAG Rescue will reimburse you for approved emergency veterinary care and medications (again, save all your receipts). Requires prior approval from the foster coordinator.
Adoptions
- If a prospective adoptive family comes to see your foster, we will get your permission first, only after we have reviewed their application. The best place to meet will be determined. If a family and dog are a match, the family signs the adoption agreement form and provides WAG Rescue with the adoption fee.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
"Don't you get attached to the dog?"
- Yes, and that is what we want for both you and the dog. It’s fun to get to know new dogs, and for your foster dog and resident dogs to make new friends, too. Often, your resident dog will be revitalized in the presence of the rescued dog, and you will witness amazing developments in both dogs.
"How can you give him up?"
- This is probably the number one reason why a lot of caring people do not offer their homes for foster care. This is a dog that ultimately belongs to someone else, who is in our care for only a short time. When you give him or her up, it will be to a ‘forever home’ that this dog has been waiting for–and you will be opening a space for the next rescue that needs you so desperately. There is nothing quite as moving as seeing your beloved foster dog happy, healthy, loved, and cherished by the forever home.
"What if I don't think I have enough room for a foster dog?"
- Our rescued dogs come in all sizes. If you lack living space, you can foster a small dog. Small dogs take up very little space, and are usually adopted quickly.
"What if I want to adopt my foster dog?"
- “Foster fails” happen. Sometimes the perfect dog comes along, and everyone in the family just seems to agree that theirs is the perfect home. Fortunately, qualifying as a Foster Home usually qualifies you as an Adopter as well. Should this happen, and we all agree, then the foster home will complete the Adoption Agreement, pay the adoption fee, and assume ownership of the dog.
