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Would I be able to adopt the dog myself if I want to?
With agreement from the Rescue volunteer, this may be possible. But Foster Care
should not be seen as a back door to adoption. We need foster homes much more than
we need adoptive homes!
Could a strange dog be a health hazard to my own dogs?
Actually, most dogs come to us in good health and recently vetted. Internal parasites
are a possible problem, but probably not more likely to infect your dog than walking
in the park is. Ear and eye infections are seldom highly communicative.
Heart worm is not passed dog to dog. Fleas are, but if your animals are protected
with flea preventative, the fleas won't survive. The main concern for health problems
lies with small puppies, or dogs with compromised health conditions, so fostering
might not be wise if your home has these considerations.
Will my dog like my doing this?
They'll probably love it! But if they is not dog-friendly or is highly protective
of you, then this may not be a good project. By carefully introducing dogs on neutral
turf, and considering each of their feelings in your home, dogs generally do fine.
Dogs of opposite sex are the best match. If you have a very small dog, a rough or
unknown Airedale might not be good to foster. In any case, you must be prepared
to separate animals with physical barriers as you learn about their interactions.
Does it cost money?
Yes. We expect you to supply food, front the vet bills and provide toys, leashes
and collars. We cannot pay for phone calls or transportation miles, but we do reimburse
vet costs and spay/neutering.
Is it dangerous?
It should not be, of course. We cannot help dogs with mean temperaments and will
not accept them if we know that they have ever bitten anyone unprovoked. Surrenderers
understand that, and we definitely do turn dogs down. Still, it's a dog that is
inevitably confused, nervous, sad, overexcited, restless, depressed, frightened.
And he has teeth. We need to give him a secure, kind environment where he will be
able to relax.
But caution must be taken to see that the dog does not hurt anyone. It would be
VERY unlikely to be bitten by a foster dog, and all steps will be taken to avoid
the possibility of taking in an unreliable dog, but a fosterer must accept that
working around any dog poses an element of risk. After all, that is part of why
we are fostering…to determine the dog's temperament and tolerance.
How long will I keep the dog?
As long as neceARGy. If altered and vetted already and comes from a reliable background,
it may be a couple of weeks. If there is work to be done, it could be a couple of
months. Rarely is it longer, but…it takes as long as it takes.
What do I do with the dog while I have him?
You go on with your life, but basically you are getting to know them and getting
them ready to be adopted. They may need to go to the vet, probably needs to be groomed.
They needs to be evaluated in a variety of situations: walking on a leash, confronting
other dogs, being in your yard (digging, try to escape?), are they crate-trained,
get on furniture, high-energy or laid-back? You will see if what the surrenderer
said is true.
How often would I get a dog?
Probably not often…these needs come in spurts. And never if it is not a good
time to do it. Let us know about vacations and activities that would not be good
times to take a dog in.
Do I get a say in what happens to the dog?
Of course! That's what we are counting on a foster home to do. Do you think they
should or should not be with kids, cats, other dogs, older people, active people,
working people, very experienced Airedale-people? We will discuss the possibilities
we have with you and you will help us decide on the right one.
What other questions do you have? Please
ask, and we can see if fostering is right for you.
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The ideal foster home is:
- Someone who can stay home with the dog most of the time.
- Someone who has a securely fenced yard.
- Someone who has a good relationship with a vet who will see a dog on short notice
(and charges reasonable fees.
- Someone who can separate dogs and cats with gates or crates if neceARGy.
- Someone who is dog-experienced (preferably Airedale-experienced).
- Someone able to evaluate a dog's behavior and temperament.
- Someone who is physically strong enough to handle a dog whose leash behavior may
be unpredictable.
- Someone who likes a challenge, who has vision, who has patience, who has determination,
who has a deep commitment to Airedales and the goals of Rescue.
- Someone who can let the dog go when it's time to.
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