To foster or not…
Right now there are dogs in kennels all over the UK who need a new home. Some of them will be there for a few days, some will be there for a couple of months. Some may never find a new home. All the rescues are seeing a big increase in the number of dogs being surrendered for all sorts of reasons. The cost of living crisis has caused a huge spike in dogs being rehomed. And yet, at the same time donations have fallen dramatically, particularly to the smaller, local rescues.
Everyone imagines that a dog goes to a kennel when they are surrendered. And lots do and thrive very successfully. But many small rescues don’t have facilities. And that’s where the fosterers come in. People who want to help and may have room to have a dog but not full time. Or they may have an extra space for another dog. They may be looking for a dog themselves but don’t know what sort of dog they want.
When a dog goes into foster, the rescue gets a complete picture of the dog in a real life home setting. They learn about their temperament, Whether they are house trained. Do they have separation issues? Are they dog friendly? Do they have any medical problems? All these things are a great help for rescues when trying to find the perfect home for a dog.
And the dog itself gets to spend time with people, other pets, children and have some time to relax out of a kennel environment. Often when a dog has been abused or has some issues a kennel is not the right place for them. The quiet, calm of a foster home can be just what they need before they go to their new home. Dogs who go into foster are usually older dogs who have a genuine reason to have a foster place, one dog I know of lost his home when his owner died. He needed a special foster placement with someone at home all day which gave him time to grieve and decompress.
Are there any downsides? Well yes. The dog might be with you for months before they get a home. They may not be used to living in a home and may be destructive or not house trained. They may have some special medical or behavioural needs. A good rescue will always help you to settle the dog in and give you plenty of back up. I work as a behaviourist for a rescue and often have calls with the fosterers about issues.
So can you offer a space to foster a dog? Can you open your home to help a dog in need? Contact your local rescues to see if you can help. And don’t be afraid to fail. The best result is a failed fosterer who decides that their foster dog is the right one for them. But if you do send them on their way to their new home remember you’ve been a really important part of their journey. And you can then think about the next dog who needs your help.
Article published in Vantage Point Magazine, January 2023
