1.Will you get attached?
 Yes.

2. Will you feel like you want to keep the dog?  
Probably.

3. For how long is a dog fostered?
Days, weeks, even months. It all depends on the needs of the dog and our ability to find the appropriate permanent home.

4. CAN you keep the dog?  
Not if it has been matched to an approved family.

5. Will this dog feel like I am another person abandoning him or her? 
No way!! While this dog has been living with you, whether it has been days, weeks or months, it has learned many things. He or she has heard his name used with kindness, and he has learned to be a part of a family. He has learned confidence and has come to expect each day of his life to be better than the day before. Dogs live “in the moment”.

6. So then what happens?
The day your foster goes to his or her forever home, YOU will be the one crying, and a new family will be the ones who are happy and excited. Your foster dog  won’t be thinking of you or missing you, but will be thinking. “WOW ….how much better does it GET?”  That night you will swear that you will never foster another dog. Within a day or two, you’ll want to know how your foster is doing, and you’ll let us know that you’d consider fostering again. And suddenly, you’ll be anxious to do it again. Although it’s hard to believe, those separations become easier with time. Your heart will swell with pride and satisfaction for the lives you’ve saved and the families you’ve helped to complete.

The Foster Family - by Pam Scherzer

Fostering IS the greatest NEED, and greatest ASSET, contributing the most to a smooth transition and continually proves to be responsible for the greatest percentage of successful, permanent re-homing of adoptable dogs.

Fostering is NOT an opportunity to “test” yourself, your family, or your existing pets as to how well you will co-exist with another bulldog in your household. You cannot judge an interaction with a traumatized dog and use it as a basis for your decision as to whether you should or should not add another dog to your household.

Dogs entering into a rescue program are being re-homed for any number of reasons. For some of these displaced dogs, we have up-to-date health and behavior histories, and very truthful backgrounds provided by families who are reluctantly surrendering a” family member”, wanting only the very best for them. The circumstances vary and are generally heartbreaking. In general, we can confidently place these dogs quickly into approved adoptive homes.

 In direct contrast, a greater percentage of dogs coming into rescue have either been strayed, surrendered to shelters with no histories, or surrendered by families who want only to “get rid of” the dog for their own selfish and loveless reasons. It is these circumstances that present  the dogs who need our careful assessment before they can be appropriately re-homed. Why? Aside from the obvious lack of information (not provided by shelter and strayed dogs), many surrendering families lie to us. They will purposely NOT disclose a temperament issue, or  they may lie and say the dog HAS been aggressive if they think we will be sympathetic and act more quickly in their behalf.  It is for these reasons primarily that a fostering arrangement is so important. It is an opportunity to interact with this dog and to learn the truth about him or her.

The Most Common Reasons for an Owner/Family to Surrender are:
1) Behavior issues they cannot or will not learn to manage.
2) The arrival of a human child, displacing their spoiled bulldog to the role of “pet”, something they expected the dog to understand.
3) The reality that a Bulldog really IS more high-maintenance than any other breed they have known.
4) Health issues, especially skin and allergy problems and sadly, those related to age.

The Foster Family's Responsibilities.
Your assessment of this dog is the most critical responsibility. You will be expected to carefully introduce him to normal daily life experiences  ( i.e. leash walking , playing with toys, interacting with new people, manners, housebreaking habits, fears, aggression, food issues, reactions to unexpected noises and new things). You will not be responsible for housebreaking or training, but anything you can do to help will be appreciated. If the dog is on a normal dog food diet, you will be asked to provide that if we don’t have abundance. If the dog needs a vet visit (to OUR vet) you may be asked to go for that appointment if it is possible. Vet appointments, medication, and special foods are paid for by Heavensent Rescue. They are NOT your financial responsibility. If you chose to lavish your foster with new toys or beds or treats, that is your choice.

Your Opinion Matters
Whenever possible, we encourage the foster family to meet the approved adoptive family so that information about the dog and his or her habits can be passed along. You are the ones who have gotten to know him, and you will know the many little things that will make his transition easy. You are not required to participate if this meeting would be too emotional for you. We find, however, that is most cases it provides a sense of satisfaction for the foster family, or at least for the primary care giver. You have been an important part of somebody’s life and you deserve to see and to know that everything will be ok.

↑ back to top