Foster
As a foster based rescue, we would not be able to rescue without the help of our amazing fosters opening their hearts and their homes to animals in need. We do our best to pair fosters with the ideal match for you.
You don’t have to have experience in order to be a good foster. All you need is some compassion, patience, and the desire to learn… we will teach you everything you need to know, and provide you with all of the supplies that you need.
Are you ready to open your heart and your home to an animal in need? Fill out our foster form and get ready to fall in love!
Foster FAQ
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO FOSTER FOR?
Ideally we expect you can foster the dog until it is adopted, but we require a minimum of two weeks. Interested in short-term fostering only? We can add you to our respite foster list!
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME AS A FOSTER?
We expect fosters to be patient and understanding, using positive reinforcement only and never excessive force or physical punishment. Your job is to help your foster become their most adoptable self. Please know that this will not be the same for all dogs.
We ask our fosters take lots of pictures and videos of their dogs so that we can promote them for adoption. Open communication from fosters is extremely important for the success of the foster, but also important so that you can have a good experience as a foster, too. We may also ask you to set up meet-and-greets with potential adopters.
WHAT IS A QUARANTINE PERIOD?
Shelters especially are notorious for the spread of diseases. As a result, we require our fosters to isolate/quarantine their new fosters away from household pets for 7-14 days to ensure that the health of all pets involved.
DO YOU COVER VET CARE?
We cover all necessary vet expenses for the dogs brought into our organization. All veterinary concerns must be expressed with a Barks Without Borders team member first.
Please note that if you have a foster dog that requires a quarantine period coming out of a shelter, and you break quarantine by exposing your household pets, you will be responsible for the medical costs assocatied to the care of your dog. We require quarantine periods for the safety of our foster dogs and your household dogs.
DO YOU PROVIDE SUPPLIES?
We provide all necessary supplies for your foster. All supplies must be returned when your fostering period is over.
DO I GET TO PICK MY FOSTER DOG?
Not necessarily. We do our best to match you with a dog that fits your household, experience, and lifestyle, but that does not mean that you will get to pick your dog if we believe there is a better match.
WHAT IF I WORK FULL TIME?
No problem! We have lots of fosters who work full time. We'll help you find a lower-activity adult or senior dog that's a good match. A dog would much rather be left alone in your home while you're at work than left in the a shelter or on the streets.
WHAT IF I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT?
Many of our fosters live in apartments and have discovered that fostering a dog has helped them get outside more. A foster dog doesn’t need a huge farm to thrive; he or she is simply happy for a warm bed and a caring person. Yards don't exercise dogs, people do!
WHAT IF I WANT TO ADOPT?
If you fall in love, and you and your foster are a good match, we would absolutely love for you to adopt! “Foster fail” is a great outcome for our fosters because they are moved around less, and can stay on the routine they have become accustomed to.
WHAT IS FOSTER-TO-ADOPT?
Foster-to-adopt is essentially a trial period for you and your new friend to make sure that fur-ever is a good match. This allows your dog to decompress in a safe space, and allows them to come out of their shell. This will also give you time to make sure that you are really ready for all that comes with being a dog owner. Please be open and honest with the process! We do not expect things to be perfect, but we hope that if there are any red flags that you will communicate with us so that we are setting you both up for success.