Fostering

Hello!

Thank you for taking the time to consider fostering for Tattered Paws and Golden Hearts Rescue.

We truly appreciate your interest in fostering one of our rescued dogs! With the help of you opening your home to our foster, you are saving more lives and providing our dogs with the love and home life they deserve! When you open your home to one of our dogs we are able to avoid the cost of a boarding facility which allows us to use those financial resources towards rescuing others. This is just one of many reasons why fosters are so valuable to us. Without fosters we are limited to how many more we can continue to remove from deplorable conditions, overcrowded shelters and even more urgent than that, those whose time has run out and our now on the euthanasia list

Once you have completed the foster application, one of our foster coordinators will get in touch with you to discuss the dogs that are currently in need of foster homes. During this conversation we will learn what type of dog (age, breed, size, etc.) would work best in your home, as well as ensure that our dogs go to the correct home. If everything is agreeable for both you and the rescue we will then request a home visit. The home visit allows us to know where the dog will reside and whether it is an environment that we feel the foster dog will be able to adjust to. We also use this opportunity to make recommendations for preparing your home in ways that you may have not considered. Keep in mind that this is not meant to be invasive but instead a responsible step to ensure success for the foster dog and you. Remember, we value our foster homes and want to help the transition go as smoothly as possible.

Our foster homes are asked to provide love and care for our dogs, as well as transportation to any veterinary appointment when needed, and transportation to any adoption events if we have one scheduled for your area. General care we ask you to provide our fosters with include, feeding them according to the diet they need, provide a constant supply of fresh water, exercise them with walks and outdoor time, lots of love and play time, assistance with training if needed and of course positive socialization with other animals, and to keep them safe at all times. If you are unable to provide them with play items such as balls, toys or chew items we will provide them.

Fostering is an extremely rewarding experience and by you participating in our foster program, you are saving a life and giving a dog another chance which they desperately need! You are also a valuable step in introducing them to a new culture if they are from another country and helping them gain the skills and confidence that they will need to prosper in their adoptive home. Re-homing a dog multiple times is hard on everyone but it especially hard on the dog.

Some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about fostering are found below.

What do foster families have to provide?

· First and foremost, you provide a safe, patient and healthy environment for the dog · Transportation to and from Vet apt or adoption events (if needed) · Positive socialization with other animals and people to teach the dog what a good relationship is between humans and other pets. · Exercise that is appropriate for the dog’s health.

What does the rescue provide?

· Supplies such as toys, puppy pads and food (unless you want to feed them something different that is approved) If you prefer to pay for these expenses yourself as a way to further contribute that is also always appreciated but not expected. These saved expenses allow us to rescue more dogs. · Veterinary care for the time the dog is in your home. We will be financially responsible for these medical visits as long as they are preapproved or to provide emergency care. In some fostering situations the dog might need a surgery to be spayed or neutered depending on how long the foster will be with you. Again, all veterinary visits must be pre-approved unless they are for emergency care services. · Training tips and support to help you with anything you need along your fostering journey.

How long will the dog be in foster care at your home?

· A foster dog stays in their assigned foster home until they are adopted. We do not have a full boarding facility for our rescue, so foster dogs rely on their foster homes to be safe and prepared to have them for as long as it takes to find them a suitable home. If for any reason the dog needs to be assigned to a new foster home we will certainly work diligently to make that happen but please know that it could take time. We might be required to transport the dog to an entirely different state if there is not a foster available near you and boarding is not always available.

Can my foster dogs be with my personal pets?

· Of course we do want your personal pets to be able to play with our foster dog, but we do have a few guidelines regarding this. We ask our foster homes to ensure that your own personal pets are up to date on all vaccinations. Rescue dogs can be susceptible to catching diseases while they build up strength in some situations, so for this reason we want to ensure that your own personal dogs are fully vaccinated and we will ensure that our foster dog is also as fully vaccinated to the fullest extent that its age allows making them safe for your home. Keep in mind we strongly suggest considering and using our guidelines on introducing your pets to our rescued dog while keeping in mind that they are only suggestions that we have had success with. But if you have true concerns we suggest that you consult a professional trainer and make safety a priority!

What if I fall in love and want to adopt my foster?

· If you decide that you want to give your foster a forever home, then you will need to complete the adoption paperwork and follow the full adoption process and rescue contribution fees. Because our dogs are posted for adoption almost immediately, we do ask that you contact one of our foster coordinators as soon as possible, as we cannot hold her/him for anyone. This will allow us to remove the dog from the list of dogs available for adoption and begin making them a part of your family.

What if I’m fostering but make plans to go out of town?

· We do understand that things come up in life or that plans are made ahead of time. We do ask that you give us a one week notice that you will be going out of town so one of our foster coordinators can contact a boarding facility in your area to house our dog until you return. However, if your trip does fall within a holiday, we need a 2 week notice due to difficulty of finding open boarding during the holiday season.

· You are not authorized to leave one of our dogs with anyone that is not authorized to care for our dogs whether it is in your home or theirs. This includes a person or a pet sitter. All individuals that care for our dogs need to be approved by us to ensure our dog’s safety and theirs. Approved daycare facilities can be considered and in most cases will need to be paid for by you unless agreed to by us prior to the foster dog attending.

What if my home is not working for my foster?

· We do understand that sometimes things do not work. You will not be required to continue to foster our dog if you feel it is not working out. We do ask that you give us a bit of time to move our dog, as we may not have an immediate alternate foster home open. As stated above, we do not have our own boarding facility so we rely on our foster homes. We will work as fast as we can in order to move the dog. Keep in mind that we will need to find an available foster which could be in an entirely different state and require transport. These things can take days or weeks to arrange so please consider this when agreeing to foster. At no time will the foster dog be rehomed by you or given to a shelter. We will react as quickly as possible but your patience is necessary. Please contact one of our foster coordinators immediately if such a situation arises.

Regardless of whether you choose to be a foster or decide that it’s not something you are ready to move forward with, we thank you greatly for taking the time to consider it and to learn more about us.

Tattered Paws and Golden Hearts rescue.