Should You Foster Rescue Dogs?

So. You love dogs. 

You would love to have a dog in your life but, for whatever reason, have yet to commit to owning one yourself. 

Maybe you had a beloved childhood pet but are just not at the right time in your life.

Perhaps you have never had a dog around and are unsure what owning one truly entails.

You could be an old hand who has recently found themselves petless.


A couple of years back, my girlfriend and I found ourselves ticking some of these boxes. 


Lots of people rush into getting a dog without first addressing these issues and ultimately regret doing so. Even more so due to the loneliness and boredom COVID is causing.


We wanted to avoid that pitfall and, for us, the answer was fostering a rescue.

The Background

There are animal shelters globally whose purpose is to look after animals who have found themselves in unfortunate circumstances. These animals are known as rescues. 


Shelters take in all different kinds of animals but I will focus on the dogs.


Usually, these shelters are charities that operate with limited staff and resources. Consequently, dogs often have to be kept in small enclosures for long periods, day after day. 


(Whilst this may seem sad, it is almost always preferable to the situations from which they have come). 


Luckily, volunteers often give their time to bolster the shelter staff...and one of the ways that volunteers can help is by fostering dogs.

What is Fostering?

Fostering is when you take a dog home to live with you whilst the shelter is in the process of finding them a "forever home".


Sounds amazing right? But hold your horses. 


Before this can happen, you and the dog need to get to know each other. Each shelter has its way of doing things, but usually, this means "meet and greets" and walks. 


Often, shelter dogs (especially longterm residents) may have behavioural issues from their past which require medication or training.


It is pivotal that you work with the shelter staff to fully understand the behaviours and their context before you even think of fostering.


Some of these behaviours include lead frustration, animal reactivity, fear of men, general nervousness etc.


Despite these complications (or perhaps because of them), you will find that working with these dogs can be incredibly rewarding.


Shelters won't let just anyone take their animals home, so it is necessary to build a relationship with the shelter before you raise the topic. 

Having references available can help speed the process. Have you worked with animals before? Do you know someone who works with animals?

Whilst not essential, these factors can help add to your credibility.

The Happiness

So. Given all the work involved in getting to the stage where you even THINK about fostering...why bother?


For both you and the dog, here's why it's worth it:


1.

First and foremost (for me at least) is the knowledge that you are giving your foster much more time and attention than they would receive staying in their enclosure at the shelter all day. 


Limited resources mean that shelter staff simply cannot give individual dogs their undivided attention.

It feels great to know that you are making even one dog's life better. 


2.

You will find out what having a dog is really like without having to fully commit to ownership. 


You will also gain knowledge and experience in handling dogs with behavioural issues (and handling dogs full stop).

If you plan on eventually becoming a dog owner, or even entering the animal-care industry, this will be invaluable.

3.

The shelter is still ultimately responsible for the dog.

This means that they will (usually) pay for all medical bills and food whilst you are enjoying the love, companionship and satisfaction of having a dog. 


4.

In some cases, the dog will have come from ruff circumstances (sorry) and will not be used to humans. You will be helping them adapt.

This is known as "socialising" the dog and is an essential part of making them more adoptable.

5.

You’re doing a good thing. 

I have lost count of the number of times I've been told "Oh! Well done you!" by other dog walkers. 

Of course, you humbly downplay their praise claiming "I am but one man/woman"...but it's still nice.

 Of course, all of these wonderful positives come at a price.

The Heartache

Fostering is not always sunshine and rainbows. The less glamorous side can often be overlooked but is equally important to consider.

Ultimately it will be up to you to decide if the good outweighs the bad:


1.

You will eventually have to say goodbye. 


Unless your circumstances permit fully adopting your foster (this is known as a “foster fail”), the shelter will end up finding them a "forever home" sooner or later.


It is, without exception, heart-wrenching to part ways with a dog you have bonded with over the weeks and months.

This is by far the hardest part of fostering and can overshadow the time you do have with your foster if you let it.

2.

Dealing with behavioural issues can be wearing. 

Over time, what first appeared quirky or lovable can become exhausting. 


Dealing with Soo's (our current foster's) lead frustration day after day with no visible signs of improvement became just as frustrating for me as it was for her.


3.

The shelter is still ultimately responsible for the dog.

The flip side to the positive is that what they say goes. You must adhere to the shelter's rules if you want to foster.

This can mean that the dog is not allowed off-leash (common), not allowed to be walked in certain areas, not allowed to interact with other dogs etc.  

4.

Not all stories have a happy ending.

Despite the best efforts of the shelters, the animal laws in some countries mean that you don’t always get the outcome you want.

Whether you like it or not, it's possible for your foster to be returned to the bad situation from which they came. 

Final Thoughts

Fostering can be a fantastic way to bring dogs into your life in a responsible fashion. The decision to do so or not should boil down to your ability to handle the emotional stress it entails. 

That said, there are ways to alleviate some of the pain. Having fostered multiple dogs now, my girlfriend and I still receive regular update photos from their new owners and it is so heartwarming to see where they are now.

You just have to tell yourself that if you hadn't gone through that little bit of pain, they may not have had the chance to live the life they are living. 

I don't mind admitting that I've shed more than a few tears saying goodbye to fosters. But each tear was worth it knowing that I've made it possible for them to have a better life. 

It depends on your life philosophy. Do you believe it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all?

Have a think about it and be honest with yourself before you make any decisions.

Call to Action

If you feel like fostering could be a good move for you, take the first steps and Google your local shelter to see what situation they are in. Some may not be accepting new volunteers during COVID but some may desperately need the help. 


If they could use the help, give them a call and have a chat with them.

Bear in mind though: you do not have a divine inalienable right to foster a dog. They are the ones who look after animals day in day out so be respectful and understanding.

Most importantly, take the time to do the research and properly understand your circumstances before adopting a dog. 

Failure to grasp the reality of owning a dog before rushing into buying or adopting is a leading cause of dogs ending up in shelters.

Even if your heart is in the right place, be a part of the solution, not the problem.