Have you ever thought about becoming a foster home for a rescue animal, but felt discouraged because you weren’t sure what exactly it entailed?
We chatted with Laura Pelkey from Riverview Rescues to find out just what the foster process is like.
The first step is to fill out an application online. While doing so, you will be required to list all of the animals in your home, as well as all the humans who live there and their ages. This is to ensure a dog is matched with a foster home that suits their needs. For example, not all dogs are comfortable around other dogs, cats, or children, so a dog needing placement would need to go to a home that is the right fit for him or her. This ensures not only the safety of the animals and people in the home, but also the comfort of the rescue dog, helping the transition to the foster home run as smoothly as possible. You’ll also be asked to list references, talk about your experience with animals, as well as what you’re willing to deal with when it comes to medical care or behavioral issues.
Next, someone from the Riverview Rescues Team will contact the applicant via phone to discuss the application, answer any questions, and talk a bit about what is expected of them. A video call and/or photos may be requested to ensure the home is a safe place for the animal to go, and also to see how the animals currently in the home interact with each other. Normally this would be considered a home visit from rescues, but due to Covid, this is the best way to assess the home and family.
References are then checked before being invited to a private Facebook group, run by the rescue, where the approved fosters are able to see pets coming into care and volunteer to be matched with them. The animals are not yet ready for adoption, so posting them on the main Rescue page would illicit a many comments and messages about adoption. At this point, the rescue is simply looking for a safe place for the animal to decompress and transition to a new life, so this has been found to be the best balance.
Fostering to adopt is always a wonderful option as it’s one less transition for the animal to go through, but fosters who don’t want to adopt, yet want to help, are absolutely needed as well.
When the dog goes into the foster home, the rescue will supply everything they need; they provide the crates, leashes, toys, medical bills and all necessary food.
It is asked that the fosters do help in transporting the dog to any medical appointments, which, unfortunately may mean a bit of a drive as all of the local veterinarian hospitals are currently short staffed, and therefore not able to accept dogs new to rescue to their practice.
While the dog is in foster care, there are a few things to be mindful of. Keeping the dog on a leash when going outside, even if the foster has a fenced in yard, is very important for the first few weeks because some of these dogs are not used to being contained. It’s an entirely new world for them, and the possibility of escape is very real. Not only that, but keeping them leashed can help manage the dog if they see a trigger of some sort and react, keeping everyone safe and free from harm. Making sure the dog has ample space and a safe place to hide or go (like their crate or kennel) when they’re feeling overwhelmed is also an important thing to aid in the success of their transition into a family home. Socialization and training is also a key element in the success of the rescue animals, and Riverview Rescues will help organize one on one training for any behavioral issues with local, reputable trainers and will also recommend local trainers for basic obedience or puppy classes.
And, of course, showing them that they are safe and loved and no longer have to worry about where they’ll find food or shelter, is the most important, and most beautiful part, of fostering an animal in rescue.
If you think you’d like to be a part of helping a dog feel warm, safe and loved, please fill out an application for your local rescue. There are a few in this area that we’ve listed below, and we’d like to thank Laura from Riverview Rescues for answering all of our questions to help us better understand what it takes to foster a rescue dog.
Our two local rescues are:
Riverview Rescues
“We are a small, foster-based rescue located in Renfrew County and Ottawa. Our rescue animals come from all over the world; however, our main focus is to help local animals in need. We support and work with many different rescues to accomplish the same goals.”
Foster Application can be found Here
https://www.facebook.com/riverviewrescues
Pawsitive Steps Dog Rescue and Training Services
“Pawsitive Steps Dogs specializes in the rescue and placement and acclimation of abused, neglected, abandoned, and injured dogs from Turkey. We also endeavor to help any dog in need brought to our attention.”
Foster Application can be found Here
https://www.facebook.com/Montys-Mutts-Dog-Rescue-102726301294739
Valley Animal Rescue
“Valley Animal Rescue is a registered charity. We are a Foster based animal rescue organization. The backbone of our operation is our network of committed foster homes that care for, socialize, and help prepare animals for adoption. Our greatest needs are foster families, funding and volunteers.”
Foster application for cats can be found here, but must be filled in and mailed to VAR.
valleyanimalrescue@hotmail.com
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