What is fostering and how to become a fosterer

Foster care consists of providing a safe, loving, temporary home for a dog until a permanent adoptive home or rescue place can be found.

We provide basic supplies, veterinary care and guidance. You provide the love, training and home. The dog provides you with love, joy, and the satisfaction of having saved a life.

The time involved is usually from two weeks to several months depending on the dog's needs and circumstances.

To become a Friends of Ben Dog Rescue fosterer, you will need to pass a homecheck.


Foster home responsibilities:

• Provide a temporary home for the dog.

• Have suitable experience with the type/needs of the dog.

• Be patient. Understand that all dogs are rescue dogs and their behaviour can be unpredictable. Be prepared for some adjustment in the beginning. It can be stressful for both you and the dog to be in a new situation.

• Be willing to foster your dog from the time of its rescue to its adoption or time it can go to a rescue place. The amount of time needed to find a permanent home or a rescue place for a dog can vary from weeks to months.

• If you are working full time, provide a safe place for the dog to be while you are gone. If the dog will be outside while you are away be sure to provide adeguate shelter for the dog. A fence of at least 6 feet is recommended to prevent a dog from jumping over. If the dog is to remain indoors we highly recommend crate training to keep both the dog and your home safe and secure. We will provide a crate if requested.

• Assist with the possible adoption of the dog by meeting with potential owners (your contact details will be passed to potential adopters with your permission only).

• Foster homes agree to abide by Friends of Ben Dog Rescue fostering guidelines.

• Keep Friends of Ben Dog Rescue informed about your foster dog's personality, quirks, behaviour, etc. Your input is invaluable for describing the dog on the website and to potential adopters.

• Treat the dog as a member of your family.

What does fostering do for the dog?

The dog learns manners and socialisation and is much less stressed than he/she would be in a shelter environment. Dogs who learn to bond and be confident in a consistent environment are able to do so again in a new home. By teaching them manners and basic obedience skills, you assist them to become the sort of companion that most families want. Often they have come from a difficult situation, and restoring their confidence and trust is an important step in developing a dog who is well mannered, tolerant, loving and responsive.

Parting with the first foster dog is very hard, but the rewards for saving more lives is beyond measure.
Remember that fostering a dog saves a life and that we can only rescue as many dogs as we have foster homes!

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If you would like to help us by fostering please email friendsofbendogrescue@gmail.com and a member of the Admin team will contact you to arrange a homecheck.

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