I had a conversation with a friend recently (one I have had many times before) about whether or not she should foster a dog. It is no secret that my love for photography grew as I fostered more and more dogs. Each dog became a new opportunity for me to hone my craft, but more importantly, I was helping the rescue to bring in another dog and therefore save a life. While fostering isn’t for everyone, I still suggest everyone at least TRY it to learn whether or not it is right for them. In this article, I can hopefully address some of the questions you may have if you have ever considered fostering a dog.

Isn’t it hard to give up the dog?

Yup. I don’t try to sugarcoat this question because it is for me, the only negative to fostering dogs. It sucks every time a foster gets adopted. If you love dogs, it is nearly impossible not to bond with your foster dog. These guys need love as they are not usually in the ideal situation, and you are obviously going to give the love they need. In doing so, you become close, and when they get adopted, you will feel the loss. It is sad. The good part though, is that this feeling goes away quickly. It helps to realize that you are doing this for a fantastic reason and that you did exactly what you needed to do. If you have a dog of your own already, it will make you love it even more and appreciate that it is already in a safe, loving home. If you still struggle after your foster gets adopted, you can always get another foster dog to make it a little easier on you =).

How do I become a foster?

The process is usually the same as adopting an animal. this involves filling out the rescue’s paperwork, doing a phone interview, and passing a home inspection. Once these actions are complete you will be free to foster as little or as much as you want.

How long will I have the foster dog?

This varies greatly, depending upon the type of dog you foster. Puppies are usually adopted very quickly, often within a couple of weeks. Senior dogs usually take a very long time to get adopted (Sometimes even more than a year). Some breeds are harder to adopt out than others. In my past experiences, I have averaged about a month for each foster dog I have had. I have had dogs for as little as 4 days and as long as 8 months.

Have you had problems with any of your foster dogs?

Sure. My first foster was very aggressive towards other dogs. I had a foster dog once who was very timid and scared. One foster just wouldn’t take to potty training. I worked on all of these issues with each dog. Your goal is to get the dog adopted, but your ultimate goal is for it to get adopted and stay with this home forever. To achieve this, you want to work on any issues that you can with the dogs so it is easier for them to find a home. Work on some basic obedience training. Analyze the dog’s personality and see if there are any traits that need work. If you are not willing to work with a foster dog you may want to consider doing another activity. Fosters don’t always come in as perfectly behaved dogs, and some have never even lived in a house before.

What if I am a foster failure?

Awesome! If you end up adopting your foster dog then you have given a home to an animal in need, and you have a new best bud. There is nothing wrong with this. Just make sure you know your rescue’s policy on this. Some rescues will not allow you to foster anymore if you adopt a foster dog.

Can I pick the dog I foster?

For the most part yes. Many rescues will be understanding of your situation and not place a dog with you that does not suit you or your lifestyle. If you have another dog, you won’t end up with a dog who is bad with other dogs. You may not be able to pick the exact dog, but you should be able to get one that matches your situation.

Is it worth it?

Yeah, it really is. It’s pretty awesome. You get to hang out with adorable dogs who need love. It surely sucks at the end but this sadness goes away quickly. Fostering a dog lets you have some fun, hang out with awesome dogs, and save a life. No brainer.

Note on fostering in the Spring/Summer:

If you want to foster, it would be AWESOME to do so during these seasons. Rescues often struggle to find fosters in the Spring and Summer as people are often on vacation. If you really want to help out not only an awesome dog, but the awesome rescue that is saving lives everyday, try and foster during these months.

My current fosters:

8 week old chow mixes. Fluffy and adorable. The boy (Titus) is already spoken for and will be adopted this week. The girl (Punky) is adoptable and her profile can be found here (listed as Lace).