Lend a Paw and Foster a Dog –– “Every year, thousands of dogs need to go into foster homes during their transition from rescue dog to family dog”

Have you ever thought about fostering a pet, but are unsure if you have what it takes? We assure you – YOU DO! Fostering a dog is a very tangible way to make a difference. Everyone benefits.

So Why Foster?

Aside from that rewarding feeling of knowing you are helping a dog out here are some other great reasons:

• Don’t have a dog and thinking about getting one? Fostering can be a great trail run. Or if you do have a dog and are thinking about adding a second or third fostering is a good option to see how they will interact.


• Are you on tight budget? Then becoming a foster parent you get the benefits of adding a pet to your family without the added expense. Most rescues will cover all of the medical expenses and some may even reimburse you for the food. Plus, think of all that money you are saving the rescue on boarding fees that it can use to save other dogs!


• How great is your foster dog? Help the rescue and potential families learn about the dog’s unique personality. When you see a dog in a shelter environment for 10 or 15 minutes it’s hard to determine what that dog is really like. By being in a foster home you are helping the rescue learn if the dog is good in a crate, with kids, other dogs, chases squirrels and any quirks or special needs that he/she might have. Does he know basic commands, what ‘s his energy level is like, is he/she afraid of anything? Knowing these upfront decreases the chances of the dog being returned to the rescue or shelter because they weren’t a good fit for a certain family.


• Do you love animals? Fostering is a great way to give back to your community and many rescues can’t function without foster homes. Most rescues do not have shelters to keep the dogs so they rely on the generosity of families who will to open up their homes.


• Afraid of being a foster failure? Don’t be! Being a foster failure is not a bad thing. Many fosters (at least once) realize that the dog they are fostering is a good fit for them and their families. This is a good ending for you AND the dog!

What to Consider When Fostering?

You will want to make sure you do your homework before signing up to foster a dog. Some question you might want ask the rescue or shelter:

How did he come to be with the shelter or rescue group and how long has he been there? Can they give you an estimate as to how long you will have the dog for? Will potential adopters be coming to your home to view the dog? Will you provide food, litter, supplies (such as a leash or a litter box), medications, etc., or will I be expected to? What should I do if there’s a medical emergency? Will you be able to give that dog up after when they find their forever home and is that something you are able to handle?

Just think, if you never foster, you will never know what you are missing and you might never meet that special dog who’s life you’ve changed and who changed yours for the better. It's also true that there’s nothing more satisfying than knowing you helped bring a dog and a family together forever.

So how about it … can you take one on?