Questions about foster caring for dogs

S

Sliverfox

Well-known Member
Location
Northwest PA. Fifty miles south of Lake Erie.
Filled out an application to become a dog foster care family.

Husband & I had our beloved dog pass away few months ago.

We are in our 70s,, don't plan on traveling much in 2021.
Thought this would be a good way to handle the loss of our dog.
Get us out & about our property,, excising the dog & ourselves.

Would like read about others who have done animal foster care.
 

Our animal shelter does not give you a choice of animals. You could end up with a cat, or a turtle, you just never know.
 
I have not done it, but I personally think it's a great idea.
It would give the dog a more pleasant place than the shelter can provide, for the time being. It's a better temporary home, and who knows from there.

I don't know if it would help with the grieving process or not.
Though, it often does help people to deal with losses, when we find something positive to do, so I would try it, if I could manage it.
 
I don't have any direct knowledge, but my one of wife's friends does it and she loves it. She takes in the dog and works with it to make sure it is ready for adoption. Once the dog is ready she keeps the dog until it's adopted. Sometimes she gets attached to a dog, but knows that their new owners will have more time for the dog than she does. She has two other dogs already that are good with unfamiliar dogs.
 
We adopted our dog from foster care. She's a dream now but was a handful when I began training her. She was totally confused since she had been abandoned in Kentucky and finally wound up in NJ. We do not have any idea how long she lived on her own, and when in foster care was always walked on a leash. When I began training her, I was teaching her to walk alongside me without a leash. In the evening, she'd start digging a hole under a bush to settle down in for the night. It was awhile before she got the message, that she was to come in the house every night. All turned out very well.
 
Sliverfox said:
Looking forward to hearing from the rescue.
Afraid our age might be against us.
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First of all, god bless you for deciding to give dog foster care. Your age may be perfect for an older dog, I know several people who only adopt the senior dogs... We have two "rescued" dogs, when they pass we'll adopt again, prefer dogs of at least 2-3+ years, who are socialized and know -the-ropes. I would consider a senior dog, so many are abandoned in their old age, they deserve better.
 
My daughter was a vet tech for some years before she became a stay at home mom, much of it while she was still living at home. We fostered many dogs and cats, and she went on to continue to foster for quite a while even after her babies started coming, until it just got to be a bit too much.

Typically rescue organizations are very grateful for any help they get. Fosters are typically always needed, and as long as you are able to care for the animal, age is immaterial. A lot of rescues do try and match animal and foster so as not to create further issues e.g. dog is afraid or males, or dog pulls way too hard on/is terrified of leash (an older person may struggle with that) dog is a flight risk so yard must be fenced etc.

Don’t be surprised if the rescue wants a home visit. Some rescues pay all medical and food costs, only requiring you to care for the animal and transport them to their vet appointments. Some want you to foot some of the bill. Sometimes a litter of kittens or puppies have lost their mama and they need someone willing to feed tiny helpless animals round the clock. It’s such a mixed bag depending on the organization so just be prepared for anything and don’t be afraid to voice any concerns or bottom lines. The worst thing you can do is take on an animal that you have misgivings about for whatever reason, and then there’s trouble.

All that said, kudos to you!! You’re doing a good thing! 💕👍
 
Sliverfox said:
Filled out an application to become a dog foster care family.

Husband & I had our beloved dog pass away few months ago.

We are in our 70s,, don't plan on traveling much in 2021.
Thought this would be a good way to handle the loss of our dog.
Get us out & about our property,, excising the dog & ourselves.

Would like read about others who have done animal foster care.
Click to expand...
My condolences on the loss of your dog, I know how that feels and we never forget or stop loving.....hugs. đź’™ That is a wonderful option to let a rescued doggie into your loving home. I've met a few very sweet Boston Terriers, if that's the breed you're going to foster. I've never done animal foster, but did keep a neighbor's dog for a couple of weeks after he passed away alone at home, his son was appreciative but had interest to pick up the dog as soon as he could. That's the closest I've come, but when our young dog is no longer with us, and if we're able to care for another one, that seems like the way to go. Please keep us posted.
 
Thank you all that replied.

I wouldn't mind getting our own puppy,, but we are in late 70s,, hate to die ,leaving a dog behind.

Our youngest son has a Boston Terrier now.
Told him IF we do get a pup,, I'd try to train it well.
When we would die,, he would get our dog.

Got a rather nervous chuckle from him.

Oldest son has a cockatoo,, any dog we get sooner or later will get introduced to that bird.
The bird/dog reactions would depend on if he wanted the dog.
 
Looked at fostering a grown or older dog...but the big issue is most of them (on the stats of the specific animal) said they didn't like cats. We have one cat. Our cat doesn't like other cats, but was ok with a dog where we got her from. Would do it if we could find a nice dog that got along with cats.
 
Nathan said:
First of all, god bless you for deciding to give dog foster care. Your age may be perfect for an older dog, I know several people who only adopt the senior dogs... We have two "rescued" dogs, when they pass we'll adopt again, prefer dogs of at least 2-3+ years, who are socialized and know -the-ropes. I would consider a senior dog, so many are abandoned in their old age, they deserve better.
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My last two dogs have been senior rescue dogs. As I get older, I don't want to try to take care of a puppy and all that entails. Senior dogs (here senior dogs are over 7 or 8) so deserve homes in their later years, and are passed over by many because of their age. Senior dogs are less rambunctious, generally require less vigorous exercise than younger ones, and are less likely to eat your couch. Many, if not most, of them are housetrained and if they are not, it's easy to housebreak them

They are also SOO grateful to find a home and the two I've had before have both been very affectionate and loving. My present dog, Henry, is also a senior and he is absolutely wonderful. He might not always be the brightest bulb on the string, but he thinks I hung the moon and he came to me with impeccable house manners, learned the doggie door in a half day, and never has an accident. His funny quirk is that he wants me to hold his paw when it thunders. He is also a 70+ pound lap doggie. We had an instant connection when I met him in the shelter. He looked at me and said "THERE you are -- what took you so long?!" And the rest, as they say, is history.
 
Some of the cats and dogs that are called seniors at a shelter, are simply adults, and not puppies or kittens.
Many are approximated to be 7 or so, and have good healthy years left, and as said above, would not be as rambunctious (and not teething, etc) as the young ones.
 
Sliverfox said:
I found a nice Boston Terrier that would be a good fit with us.
BUT they don't adopt this far East.
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That's what's hard sometimes. You seem to find the perfect fit and then it either gets adopted or fostered out or something. We like "hound dogs". Had a beautiful German Shorthair Pointer that we
so enjoyed for almost 14 years. He was a Christmas gift for hub.
 
Kaila said:
Some of the cats and dogs that are called seniors at a shelter, are simply adults, and not puppies or kittens.
Many are approximated to be 7 or so, and have good healthy years left, and as said above, would not be as rambunctious (and not teething, etc) as the young ones.
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Thanks for the tip Kaila!
 
Nathan said:
First of all, god bless you for deciding to give dog foster care. Your age may be perfect for an older dog, I know several people who only adopt the senior dogs... We have two "rescued" dogs, when they pass we'll adopt again, prefer dogs of at least 2-3+ years, who are socialized and know -the-ropes. I would consider a senior dog, so many are abandoned in their old age, they deserve better.
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I agree and have been trying to adopt a small dog. Maybe I will try the Fostering. I've always had dogs my little one passed away couple years ago. So I'm ready for another.
 

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