Fostering Does Make a Difference
Saving a life makes all the difference in the world to a homeless dog and to YOU, the foster parent. Our lives are often a half-full cup. Fostering a dog fills that cup to the brim, making our lives feel more complete while also helping save a dog in need. We promise that the emotional, physical, and behavioral transformation you will see in your foster dog—as a result of your care and compassion—will AMAZE you and fill you with an unbelievable sense of satisfaction.
What is involved in fostering a dog?
Fostering a dog involves you hosting and caring for a rescue dog in your home while CHR finds the dog a loving, permanent home. Each foster parent is included in the adoption screening process and has input on the home that is the best fit for their foster dog. Unlike some other rescues, we do not require you to bring your dog to adoption events one or more weekends a month.
What does CHR provide to foster parents?
CHR promises to offer you complete support while you foster one of our dogs—whatever you need, we will provide it to you. Just recently, a CHR foster dog developed terrible skin issues, which caused the dog and the foster parent stress due to the dog’s constant itching and discomfort. Trying several different commercial diets including a prescription diet just didn’t work. A CHR Officer cooked a month’s worth of special anti-allergy food for the foster dog and the rescue provided medicine, supplements, and medicated shampoos and conditioners to help heal the dog. This is just one example of how important rescue dogs AND foster parents are to CHR. We will go out of our way to make sure you and your foster dogs are supported.
What if the foster dog has behavioral problems?
CHR is proud to offer canine behavioral support to address any problematic behaviors that arise during their stay in the foster home. This support makes a big difference in the care provided to the dog because having a clear understanding of why a dog acts a certain way makes their rehabilitation easier and more effective, resulting in less stress on the foster parent and the foster dog. Whether you have a lot of experience with dogs or are new to dog guardianship, we promise to provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to tackle any problematic canine behavior.
How does your rescue support potential adopters?
Potential adopters are provided with a behavioral assessment of their chosen dog, which is based on input from the foster parent. By accurately describing potentially problematic behaviors, we give the potential adopter the option of deciding if they can handle the behavioral and emotional needs of the new dog. Recently, we counseled a potential adopter about the resource guarding behaviors being exhibited by their chosen dog. After discussing the behavior in length, the applicant decided the dog would not be an appropriate fit for her family. This counseling offered prior to the adoption prevented what could have turned out to be a failed adoption.
Do I have to pay for any supplies for my foster dog?
CHR will cover all costs associated with fostering including: food, medical, grooming, and any needed supplies. If the foster parent can cover some of these costs, we welcome the financial help with open arms but do not make it a requirement of fostering. All you have to do is love and care for your foster dog.
What if I need to go out of town while fostering?
If you need to go out of town, a CHR representative will watch your foster dog while you are away.
What if I fall in love with my foster dog?
Falling in love with a foster dogs happens to all fosters at some point but we offer counsel and support to our foster parents and remind them of how important fostering is to saving lives. Because we make our foster parents part of the adoption screening process, it gives them a say over the type of home the foster dog will go to and helps them feel good about the fact that their foster dog will be transitioning to a new home
And last but not least…
We can’t say it often enough—fostering saves lives. The more foster homes we have, the more dogs we can save. Every application entered before Christmas enrolls you in our CHR Holiday Gift Raffle! CHR is committed to supporting you—the foster parent—throughout the fostering process so that you can enable us to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome as many abandoned and neglected dogs as possible.
This year, make it your New Year’s resolution to save the life of a dog in need!
We welcome you with open arms and can’t wait for you to contact us to foster!
Visit our foster page to apply to become a CHR foster parent- http://www.caringheartsrescue.org/#!foster/ctzx
