NWR: Question for those who Foster Animals

Tiffany618

I saw that a few of you do this on this FFF board and wanted to ask a few questions.   

1. How long do you usually have them?
2. How many do you have at a time?
3. Do people come to your home when they are intersted in adopting them?
4. I'm afraid I'd get really attached to them, how do you handle that?
5. How do you get started?

seujoanne

I'm curious about the attachment issue as well.  We're not in a position where we can foster currently, but we would be interested sometime in the future.  (Right now, we have two cats, a dog, and a horse!)

balfour00

1. How long do you usually have them? It depends..puppies go pretty fast, older dogs can take a while.  BUT puppies you'll have to train and are more of a handful.  With Paws you have to take them to the adoptino events which really helps get them in homes faster since people can interact with them.  If you don't then you hope someone sees them on our website.
2. How many do you have at a time? As many as you want.
3. Do people come to your home when they are intersted in adopting them? I've had people come ot my home and I've actually taken the dog to their home.  We like to do house checks on potential adopters just to ensure the home is good and that our dog won't end up back on the streets or in a shelter again.  You can also just meet at a dog park.
4. I'm afraid I'd get really attached to them, how do you handle that?  It does happen.  Our last puppy my FI loved.  He would put her on his stomach when he laid on the couch and they'd fall asleep.  If you do get attached you can always adopt them!  Otherwise, you just find comfort knowing that they are going to a good home where they are loved.  I always offer to dogsit so I still see past fosters from time to time.  Fun to see them grow!
5. How do you get started? Paws has a foster form on the website www.pawsinthecity.org.

I'd be happy to answer any more questions you have!  I love working with paws and have been doing it for about 3 years.  Great group with a big heart!

Tiffany618

We don't have any animals (flame flame flame, I know).... but we don't have a back yard for dogs and I'm deathly allergic to cats.   So we are waiting until we get a house (just a few months) and will rescue 2 dogs together.

That's why I was thinking fostering might be good for us... because I love dogs!!

mseale

The way balfour described it is pretty much right on. 

I've had dogs from 2 weeks to 4 months.  It really depends on the dog and finding the right owner.

I always miss the dogs when they leave, but I know I have worked to find them a great home, and they will be loved SO much!  IT will be way better than where they came from.  I almost kept the last foster I had, but she was a 7month old puppy, and I knew I didn't have the time to exercise, entertain, and train her.  Oh, but she was so adorable. 

btweety04

DFW Pug Rescue also has pug fostering.

tc1016

In addition to Paws in the City, you can find breed-specific rescues too. We work with the American Brittany Rescue... they're desperate for people to foster in DFW.

jsauer74

Hi you all! I'm not trying to jack this post, and I usually don't post at all...I just like to lurk but this got me thinking that you all could help. My daughter and her friend were headed back to Huntsville from Waco (she is a student at SHSU) the other day and found the most precious kitty on the side of the road. She is injured and the no-kill shelter in Waco is maxed out. I'd love to get her healthy and maybe adopt her (def. foster her), but II'm affraid the expense of rehabilitating her may be quite high. Do the organizations you work with offer any type of assistance at rehabilitating animals that are brought to them? Or do they normally euthanize injured animals and re-home the healthy ones?

Thank you!
Jennifer