First some background information:

• Our shelters are overcrowded with stray and owner surrender pets.  The reasons are to numerous to discuss here, but suffice to say, for reasons that are not the dog's fault; they end up in shelters and humane organizations. 
   

• There are not enough homes for all of these pets waiting for adoption. 
   

• Shelters and humane organizations are overcrowded with more pets arriving nearly every day. 
   

• With so many pets in need of homes, shelters and humane organizations simply cannot keep them all.  Room must be made for new arrivals.  Those pets that have been there the longest or have serious issues like aggression, illness, or advanced age are at risk of being euthanized.  It is a sad reality -- dogs and cats are euthanized by the thousands in the United States every day simply because there are not enough homes for them.  

Why become a foster home/parent/family?

 

Foster Homes Save Lives!

 

When a dog (or other pet) has become a shelter pet, they normally have so much time to be adopted.  Some shelters can keep any given animal for as long as the administration chooses.  However, shelters with open door admissions such a most all municipal shelters and most other humane organizations, must make room for incoming animals.  Those that have been there the longest or those that are the least likely to be adopted; when there is no place for them to go, some must be euthanized. 

 

Any shelter, rescue, or humane organization with a network of foster homes is able to give many of the otherwise more difficult to adopt animals another chance of not only living, but a chance of being adopted and having a second chance for a good, happy life.  

 

What do foster homes/parents/families do?

 

Foster parents welcome a foster dog into their homes and lives just as if the pet were their own.  They give him or her all the love, attention, and training one would expect any responsible pet owner to provide their own pets. 

 

Houston Pekingese Rescue provides the necessary medical attention and medications.  The foster provides food and shelter, love, treats, toys, and training.  The foster also takes their foster dog to the vet when necessary. 

 

Foster families also observe their foster dog for any difficulties and report them to their Houston Pekingese Rescue Foster Coordinator.

 

However, if at any time Houston Pekingese Rescue asks that the foster dog be returned, for any reason, the dog must be returned immediately. 

 

What do foster homes/parents/families have to have available for their foster pets?

• Foster homes must have a stable home environment, preferably with at least one adult at home most of the time.
   

• The physical space in their home and yard to provide their foster dog with needed space.  This includes the indoor space to not only participate in family activities, but to have a safe "get-away-from-it-all cubby".  Just as people sometimes need a bit of alone time, so do many dogs.  This can be accomplished with an appropriately sized crate with the door left open, away from the main traffic patterns in the home or even a "cubby" that is already formed by the furniture arrangement.
   

• A securely fenced yard (electronic or electric perimeter fencing is not considered as secure) is normally essential.  Some dogs can be securely contained with 4-foot fencing; others require 6-foot fencing to prevent fence climbing.  The fence is to protect the dog from getting loose as well as protect the dog from other intruders, human, and animal alike.
   

• The heart and dedication to love a dog that will only live with you for "just a season".   The ability to take your foster dog into your home, life and heart knowing that, hopefully, soon, he or she will be going on to a forever family.
   

• The ability to transport their foster dog to and from the veterinarian as well as to meet-and-greets with potential adoptive families.
   

• Willingness to communicate and work with their Foster Coordinator as frequently as necessary.

What if a foster home/parent/family decides that they just have to adopt their foster dog?

Should a foster family decide that they want to adopt a particular foster dog, the normal adoption process must be followed.  The foster family will of course, normally, have first option to adopt their foster dog. 

How long will a foster dog be in a foster home?

The reason for the dog needing foster care will normally give an indication as to how long foster care will be needed.  Some dogs will only need a couple weeks of observation and stabilization time before they can be adopted.  Others will need longer to overcome an injury or illness.  Some dogs with long term special needs or older, especially mixed breed dogs may need more time in foster to allow a good forever home to be identified.
 

The expected length of foster care is normally discussed on a case-by-case basis between a potential foster home and the Houston Pekingese Rescue Foster Coordinator. 

 How does someone become a foster home/parent/family?

• First of all, anyone interested in becoming a foster home should contact the Houston Pekingese Rescue Foster Coordinator by e-mail. 
   

• A Foster Home Application must be filled out, signed, and submitted.  Everyone in the household must be in agreement to becoming a foster home.
   

• Interviews will then be conducted with all household members.
   

• If everyone is still in agreement to becoming a foster home, an in home visit will be conducted with all family members present.  This is to assure that everyone is in agreement and capable of the proper care and treatment of foster dogs and that the home and fencing is appropriate for the type or types of dog or dogs being considered for fostering.  This is not a "white glove inspection" of the home, but rather an informal on-site interview.  It gives the foster applicant as well as the Houston Pekingese Rescue Foster Coordinator the chance to interact and assure all involved of reasonable expectations as to the foster process.  
   

• Once the foster application process is completed, all adult household members and the Houston Pekingese Rescue Foster Coordinator must sign a Foster Home Contract.  The contract specifies what the foster home is responsible for, what Houston Pekingese Rescue is responsible for as well as the disposition of any fostered dogs. 

Click here to fill out our Foster Home Application

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Copyright © 2007 West Kentucky Rescue, reprinted and reformatted with permission, West Kentucky Rescue

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