FAQs about Fostering
How long will my foster dog be with me?
Most of the dogs stay with their foster parents for two weeks or less. One week is our minimum time period for fostering. Our dogs could need some medical rehabbing, but that will be disclosed usually before fostering. Our goal is to put a dog in a foster home, let you get to know and evaluate the dog for 2-3 days and then we post them to the website to generate the family list.
How much notice will I get before a foster is placed with me?
It is completely up to you when you are available. We never know when we are getting dogs into the group, however, we will never force you to foster or guilt you into fostering. All we ask is that you communicate with us when we contact you about fostering so we know your status.
What are my primary responsibilities as a foster provider?
We ask that you provide a safe, loving environment for your foster dog. You are responsible for feeding, shelter and exercise. We ask that you evaluate the dog's temperament and help determine what type of forever home would best suit this dog. We require that you bring your foster dog to the vet for any medical care the dog needs and provide periodic updates to the Foster Coordinator, either by phone or email. If you can't drive the dog to a vet, we can try to coordinate such actions with other volunteers. You as the foster home have the first hand experience with the dog and know the dog best. Your input is vital to a successful adoption. We ask you to talk directly to approved adopters about your foster dog and coordinate a meeting with the best matched candidate at your home.
Who is responsible for vet costs?
SCLRR is responsible for all approved vet costs. If you plan to get reimbursed for any expenses by SCLRR, you must obtain approval from your foster coordinator before any funds are spent. You may also be asked to use specific vets who have working relationships and/or discounts in arrangement with SCLRR.
What happens if the foster dog does not work out in my family?
Don't worry! Dogs, like people each have unique personalities and may not do well in new environments. Contact the Foster Coordinator and they will make every effort to move the dog to another foster home as quickly as possible. Please be aware that SCLRR is an organization run by volunteers who have jobs outside of rescue. It may take a day or two to move the dog. Don't feel bad -- this happens sometimes. If there is an emergency or a dangerous situation, we will move the dog into boarding immediately.
What if I need to go out of town, or have an event that interferes with my ability to foster?
Life happens to all of us, you just let the foster coordinator know. We often will transfer animals among different homes to help each other, and the animals!
What if I work?
Many of the animals that need fostering can easily be accommodated on a normal schedule, and is a factor we consider when looking at compatibility. Ultimately, most animals once adopted, will reside with people that have working schedules, and by becoming accustomed to these routines in a foster home, can make that animal much more adoptable.
Where do the dogs come from?
Our dogs are rescued from shelters throughout SoCal. We have volunteers that regularly visit these facilities and look for dogs that need our help. We also take in dogs directly from owners as well. All dogs are pre-evaluated for any aggression, health issues, etc.
Am I putting my personal pets in danger by agreeing to foster?
Because many of our dogs come from shelter situations, they have unknown histories and it's quite possible they haven't had their medical needs properly met. They often have kennel cough (the equivalent of a human cold) and worms, among other possibilities. Before beginning to foster, make sure your dog is up to date with vaccinations and has been given a Bordatella (kennel cough) vaccine (recommended every 6 months). We also recommend using a monthly heartworm preventative, such as Heartguard Plus or Interceptor, which helps to protect your dog from contracting other types of worms. The SCLRR volunteers are highly experienced and educated on fostering and will be able to help a new foster home through all medical issues. We have great relationships with vets in all our areas. You are not alone in the process of fostering. There is a whole network of people that will support you through the process with each and every dog.
What kinds of behavior problems might I expect?
All of our dogs are temperament tested before we take them into rescue. We do our best to eliminate the possibility of taking aggressive dogs. Still, some issues may arise. Possibilities include separation anxiety (i.e. crying or barking when left alone), marking (with urine), chewing, house training, barking, and dog aggression. We have many ways of managing these problems until they are resolved and our experienced volunteers are happy to offer advice. We also don’t expect our foster homes to be overwhelmed by a particular foster dog and will move them to another home if things are not working out.
How do you say goodbye to your foster dogs?
The hardest one to let go is the first one, but we promise it does get easier. Seeing the dogs go into a loving household is very gratifying and rewarding, and knowing they will have a good home will make it much easier to let go. Also, you will quickly see that there is an endless number of dogs in need, and those dogs all deserve their chance, too. Our foster volunteers have all been through "letting go", and we can help prepare you before, during and after.
Suggested Reading for Before Fostering Begins
- This two-page article talks about the necessities of fostering: Introductions Please (pdf)
- Here is an article about the rules that should be followed when bringing home a new dog to your resident dog -- this will help you minimize jealousy and conflict. (link to resident dog article that Jen W wrote)
- The web is a huge source for information for every pet issue you could both medically and behaviorally. There are many websites out there that offer fantastic tips on fostering and how to prepare for your first foster dog. This website has great information and 100s of tips for fostering dogs that you should take a look at if you are considering the foster experience: Pet Tips.
General Overview of the SCLRR Fostering Guidelines
We appreciate the fact that you are considering the idea of fostering a dog with SCLRR. Every foster home volunteering for SCLRR enables us to save that many more dogs. However, we do have guidelines for those who foster with us.
SCLRR requires that a foster home have prior experience with Labradors. First time dog owners will have enough hurdles, but fostering really needs to be with people who have experienced a few dogs in their home so the little issues are not overwhelming.
SCLRR is not viewed as an organization that is "fixing" dogs and then finding them homes. We do rehab our medical cases back to good health, but the behavioral issues that a dog might display will normally be worked on long-term by the new adopter. The foster's job will be to evaluate their foster dog to see what sort of family is required. We do teach the dog some concepts like crate training, manners in the house, etc. However, we do not expect our fosters to train a dog to heal perfectly on leash, sit and stay on command, etc. That is what the new adopter will work on.
Normally, we also require that a Foster home have a fenced yard though there are some exceptions to this rule. From time to time, we get dogs in that are accomplished escape artists. In order to assist our new foster parents with having the best set up possible for their foster dog, SCLRR will do a home check on all new SCLRR Foster homes.
It's important to remember that a fostered dog remains in SCLRR's custody. The dog does not belong to the Foster home. SCLRR recognizes that a foster home is involved and concerned with the dog's future, therefore, foster homes have an equal say in deciding which home a dog goes to. If a foster home feels that a proposed adoptive home is unsuitable for that dog, that opinion will be given serious weight as the foster home has the best evaluation of that dog. Assuming the foster home has the facilities, more than one dog may be fostered, but no foster home will foster more dogs than they are willing to take. Foster homes with the approval of the foster coordinator and prior notification to the Board of Directors also have the right to decide that a dog is entirely unsuited for placement due to biting, temperament, or other factors. Foster homes may also determine that they are not suited toward fostering a particular dog and move him out to another home. Foster homes may also stop fostering for SCLRR at any time. However, Foster homes are expected to make the necessary transfer of the dogs as smooth as possible.
SCLRR, has the right to move the foster dog to another home. This is done in some cases to bring the dog closer to a region with more prospective adoptive homes interested in the dog. Because SCLRR operates in all of Southern California, a four hour by four hour region, this can become a consideration when looking to adopt a dog out. SCLRR may also decide that a particular dog is unsuitable for placement and remove it from the foster home for a professional evaluation. We recognize that in these cases, the foster home may not agree with such an assessment. In this case, the dog is turned over to the foster home, becoming the new custodians of the dog, and the foster home can then place the dog as a private party not associated with SCLRR. The usual disclaimers of liability will accompany such a transfer of ownership, and no fees or other monies will be involved between SCLRR and the foster home (now the owner) of the dog under dispute. Finally, SCLRR may terminate the use of a particular home as a foster home at any time.
Should a foster home wish to permanently adopt a dog they are fostering, they must separately apply as a prospective adoptive home. If the intent is to adopt from the beginning, the Foster With Intent To Adopt form should be used.
SCLRR reimburses limited expenses involved with fostering dogs. Routine veterinary care involving spaying or neutering and vaccinations are covered without question. SCLRR provides bulk medications for treatment of routine illnesses. Further veterinary care is approved on a case by case basis and is approved by the Board before the expense occurs. SCLRR occasionally has extra equipment (crates, kennels, xpens, leashes) that the foster home may use in the care of the dog. Dog food is also covered and SCLRR is working on donated dog food and will pass any such obtained food along to foster homes. Other expenses are expected to be covered by the Foster home. Other reimbursements can be negotiated on a case by case basis before the purchase takes place.
SCLRR requires that the Foster home's dog(s) be up-to-date on all of their vaccinations for the protection of all the dogs in the household. In addition to DHLPP, rabies and corona vaccinations, bordetella (kennel cough) vaccinations are required. SCLRR recommends that a Foster home has their dog(s) vaccinated with the nasal spray vaccination for bordetella every six months to help insure the continued good health of their animals.
Paperwork on a foster dog is important. Copies of all paperwork (shelter release, owner release, veterinary records) should be maintained, for eventually turning over to the dog's new owner. Originals should be sent to the Palmdale address as soon as possible. When the dog is adopted, the Terms of Adoption and the adoption fee should also be sent to the Palmdale address.
Here's our /online volunteer application form.
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