So I'd like to foster...

[borderlicious]

After our local animal shelter went through a change of management, I don't feel particularly comfortable volunteering there anymore. Long story, but there are some practices going on that I don't want to get involved with. I'm still interested in helping dogs in need, particularly with training, and have been exploring different options. I was considering contacting the state's Border Collie rescue to apply to foster for them in 5-6 months.

 

I'm a little hesitant to apply, though. I'm 17 and I don't expect anyone to be comfortable with my age. I'm a bit conflicted on whether or not they will want my help. I have a few years' experience working with shelter dogs, but the former manager at this shelter left while she was still upset with me for taking a few months off to raise my puppy. I don't feel comfortable contacting her and asking her to be a reference.

 

All that aside, I have a pretty dog-friendly home. We have a big house, a huge fenced yard, a swimming pool and two very dog-friendly BCs (and one not-so-friendly Papillon who prefers to keep to himself). I do my schoolwork at home so I am with the dogs all day. When I go out, if they don't come with me, my parents are usually home. My parents aren't particularly dog-savvy but they love the dogs on good days and kindly tolerate them on bad days. I would say that I am the primary caretaker for them, though. I currently am not involved with stockwork, but I love obedience and agility training and I'm pretty good at teaching dogs to behave politely. Objectively speaking, I think I'd be a decent foster home. I'm just concerned about the age thing.

 

I think I will apply no matter what, but I have a question first. To those of you who have fostered or are active in rescue, do you think I would even have a chance of being approved? I ask because I tend to take rejection very personally. It stings no matter what, but if I get an idea of what to expect, the blow is usually lessened.

 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Grace

[kelpiegirl]

First, good on you for helping!!! I think when it comes to fostering, you need to ask yourself, will you be able to part with a particularly cute, needy, and wonderful rescue BC (could even be a pup)? Then, talk with your parents about this, and go over all the details. Once you are all in agreement in the spirit of fostering, then get details from the rescue organization as to what is expected/required of foster carers. Once you have all that sqared away, then I would say go for it! One important thing to remember is that all foster dogs should be quarantined from your dogs (and where they play/roam/relieve themselves) as you need to ensure that nothing is transferred from dog to dog. I have fostered several dogs and with one dog, learned the hard way about quarantining. I am not sure fostering a dog right now with your young pup is the best option- it might be good to wait. In the meantime, are there any other rescue groups around you that you could help out? I know what you mean about shelter issues. The local shelter here has such cranio-colonic inversion, that most sane dog folks steer clear of them. There are also non hands on ways to help rescues- home checks, web page updating, temperament evals- the list just goes on!

Julie

[Kyrasmom]

I think it's great that you want to foster and sound like a very good foster mommy however I do think that most rescues, unless they know you very well, will not allow you to pull/foster dogs unless you have your parents completely on board and most likely participating in the initial stage of approval.

 

I think you present yourself very well but there are a lot of things in play, including financial burdens that may arise over which your age makes you dependant on your family for assistance...some even as simple as feeding. When I foster dogs, I pay for the food. The organization covers medical but funds may need to be advanced (usually with pre-approval) and they may question whether or not you're able to do this.

 

Then of course there is what you plan to do with your time, now you're in school, but then there is summer vacation. Most foster programs want you to keep the dog until it's placed. Is that something you are able to commit to? Will your family take a vacation and only pay pet-sitting or boarding for your family dogs and not the foster dog etc etc etc. And what if he needs ot be available for viewing during that time?

 

There are so many variables....

 

 

Your age, unfortunately, is a liability, but if you can get your parents active consent/participation as you get through the first hoops, then it might be easier. I think that the burden of proofing yourself will rest upon your shoulder, and you need to remember that while rejection does sting, the rescue operation really does need you (and other foster homes) and saying no is probably more difficult for them than it is you.

 

So, if they are hesitant, don't take it to heart. And keep trying...I think it's great. I have a 17 year old girl here in the area who is not allowed to foster officially and she wants to focus on Pit Bulls and we are an all-breed/mixed breed rescue...but she's a great girl and so there is an unofficial arrangement in place with the local Animal Control that she actually adopts, fee and all, nice Pit Bulls with her parents by her side, then through our vet, she is able to speuter, get shots, microchip, etc etc and then place the dog herself. It's one or two a year...not a lot....and she's meticulous in her selection (with guidance) but she's super responsible and is giving a chance to dogs who would truly be put down just because of who they are and not what they do.

 

So super kudos for wanting to do it...and don't get down if at first you don't succeed.

 

Maria

 

PS: And depending on where the dogs come from, I strongly suggest keeping your dogs up to date on Bordatella vaccination in addition to others. Most of my fosters come home with kennel cough and dogs don't always catch it but it's highly infectious despite attempts at quarantine.

[borderlicious]

Thanks Julie and Maria, you both make some very good points. I've fostered shelter dogs before and I do love them like they're my own dogs. Parting with them wasn't fun but I suppose I'd get used to it over time. Oh, and by the way, I definitely will not be bringing any other dogs in until Eve is quite a bit older. A lot depends on her, really. At this point she's a pretty independent pup and does just fine if she isn't the center of my attention, but that may change.

 

I am willing to commit to a foster dog but I wouldn't even consider applying if my parents were hesitant to help out financially. I don't have a reliable source of income so I completely understand your point, Maria, about the money. I haven't discussed things with the parents very much yet; I've only recently began thinking about it. Their degree of participation probably would not be a big one, though, past the financial support. They love on the dogs but aren't very involved with them aside from letting them out and occasionally feeding them.

 

Thank you for the responses. I'll discuss this with my parents tonight. If they don't want to commit to fostering I suppose I'll find something else to do. I love training the shelter dogs and wish I could continue, but this shelter now makes that very difficult.

[kelpiegirl]

One of the things I was thinking about wrt your pup, is pack dynamics/hierarchy. Eve is a confident pup, but when you bring strange dogs in, that creates disruption- we can't see it, but it is truly there. So, that is what I was getting at- just let her grow up and know her place in the pack- and that will probably be in the lead

There must be other rescue groups not far from you that you can help out?

Julie

 

Thanks Julie and Maria, you both make some very good points. I've fostered shelter dogs before and I do love them like they're my own dogs. Parting with them wasn't fun but I suppose I'd get used to it over time. Oh, and by the way, I definitely will not be bringing any other dogs in until Eve is quite a bit older. A lot depends on her, really. At this point she's a pretty independent pup and does just fine if she isn't the center of my attention, but that may change.

 

I am willing to commit to a foster dog but I wouldn't even consider applying if my parents were hesitant to help out financially. I don't have a reliable source of income so I completely understand your point, Maria, about the money. I haven't discussed things with the parents very much yet; I've only recently began thinking about it. Their degree of participation probably would not be a big one, though, past the financial support. They love on the dogs but aren't very involved with them aside from letting them out and occasionally feeding them.

 

Thank you for the responses. I'll discuss this with my parents tonight. If they don't want to commit to fostering I suppose I'll find something else to do. I love training the shelter dogs and wish I could continue, but this shelter now makes that very difficult.

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

Please wait until your pup is nearly a year old to bring any shelter dog into your home. Just to be safe. Other than that, once she's about six months old you could start doing limited fostering - it's actually great to help a pup learn that they are not the Center of All That Is, as long as you ensure that she's getting what she needs in terms of schooling (remember she'll be entering the teenage angst stage at that time).

 

The basic requirements of fostering are:

• About $300 in reserve for each dog, to cover medical expenses or property damage. This won't cover everything, but will ensure that you don't get stuck without even the money for basic emergency care. Also, if you drive, this will ensure that you don't lose out on a transport or potential home because you don't have gas money or the money for a simple repair (been there, done that).
  
• A way to keep the foster dog isolated for a minimum of a week.
  
• Time to train a dog in the basics of manners and preferably some simple obedience - and maybe some tricks to make him or her more attractive to prospective adoptive families.
  
• Grooming tools and the skill to use them. This will save you a lot of money at the groomers. I fostered dogs for about a year before I realized that I was spending most of my time which each new dog, grooming dirty, matted, unhealthy looking dogs. So I invested in some higher-end tools and bought a book and my life got a LOT easier!
  
• LOTS of cleaning supplies, and housemates that are understanding of messes and sudden destruction of property. Durable floor coverings and wall surfaces are a real plus. Light colored carpet is a real bugaboo, though we did it for a while - we just spent a lot of money on professional cleaners.
  
• And of course, a temperament suited to a job that has little reward in itself - just spending a lot of time on a dog, just to give it away to someone else, who will make the decsions on the dog's future forever and ever. Control freaks need not apply. Nor those with thin skins. Nor those who think the world should revolve around them because they've given of themselves a bit. Nor those who think they themselves are God's Gift to the canine world. You've got to stay focused on what's best for the dog, and sometimes that means eating a bit of humble pie and realizing that you are just "good enough for now" - that the dog's perfect home is still out there waiting and you are just getting him ready.
  

Run this list by your parents when you discuss this and see what they think. Remind them of course that it comes from someone who has seen pretty much all the worst case scenarios.

[borderlicious]

Thank you, Rebecca! That clarifies a lot to me, and I'll run this by the parents too.

[SoloRiver]

You're 17? I had no idea. Or maybe I knew that once, and I forgot.

[Dalesred]

Borderlicious I too am amazed that you're only 17. Your posts, your skill and knowledge with your dogs - as well as all those amazing photos had made me think of you as much older.

 

I guess that is me being ageist! Whatever avenue you choose to take on the rescue project, very best of luck.

 

oh ..... and give little Eve a scrumble on the tum from me.