SO YOU WANT TO BE A FOSTER PARENT?.........WE'RE ALL EARS!
FOSTERING INFORMATION:
The following information is a brief guide to fostering through Coastal Canine Rescue, Inc. (CCRI).
CCRI will usually pull dogs from a local shelter once they have been placed on the "urgent list". The "urgent list" is a list of animals that are in danger of being euthanized due to temperament, age, medical condition, length of time at the shelter or space at the shelter. We usually ask the person that would like to foster through CCRI to travel to the shelter, meet the dogs that CCRI has approved to come into the rescue and decide if any of them would fit into the potential foster household. We do not know anything about the dogs other than what is listed in the shelter description.
We do not know if they are house trained, crate trained, if they walk on a leash, if they know any basic obedience or tricks, if they bark incessantly, if they shed, if they chew things, if they dig holes, jump fences, steal food off the table or counter, if they get along with other dogs, cats, etc.
We DO NOT pay for ANY items damaged in any manner by the foster dog. It is your responsibility to keep your personal items safe from the dog and the dog safe from your personal items.
If you have any pets they MUST be current on shots and must be spayed or neutered. This is not only for the safety of our pets; it is just as much for the safety of your own pets.
If you decide to pull a dog from the shelter you MUST-MUST-MUST make a commitment to that dog! Understand that we DO NOT take dogs back to the shelter! You must commit to foster! WE are depending on YOU and the DOG is depending on YOU! If for some reason you decide that you do not want to continue fostering you must still agree to foster the dog that you committed to foster until (1) he/she gets adopted (2) we can find another foster home or (3) space becomes available at my home. Please know that any of these scenarios can take months!
Many people ask "How long will I have to foster the dog?" Well, that depends on when it gets adopted, but count on at least 4 weeks. We have to pull the dog from the shelter, take it to the vet for shots and a heartworm test (if needed). If the dog is healthy with no issues we will then make a spay or neuter appointment which can be that same week or not for 2 or 3 weeks depending on the vet’s schedule. If the dog is in poor condition we would take care of any health issues BEFORE we would allow the dog to receive sedation and major surgery. This could take several weeks depending on the health issue. Once the dog is healthy and has been spayed or neutered we wait at least 7 to 10 days before taking him or her to any adoption event. We want to make sure they have recovered well from surgery and are not in any continuing pain.
If you decide to foster a dog for us, anything that you can provide for the care of the dog is greatly appreciated. You will need the following things which we will let you BORROW if needed.
1. Crate large enough for the dog which, in my opinion, should be much larger than what is recommended. 2. Bedding such as old blankets, sheets or towels. Remember they may get soiled or chewed. 3. Dog bowls for water and food. 4. Toys that should be appropriate for the size dog you are fostering. 5. Monthly heartworm prevention 6. Food/treats
You must be able to take the dog to and from vet appointments. You must stay with the dog and talk to the vet about your concerns as if it were your own pet. If at all possible we try to make the appointments so that they are convenient for the foster parents. Plan on one quick visit for any needed vaccinations and a heartworm test and one visit for the spay or neuter of your foster dog. This will be a drop off appointment. Drop off time is 7:30am to 8:30am and pick up time is 4:00pm to 4:30pm unless the surgery schedule is light that day in which case you may get called to pick up your foster dog early.
Our vet is Atlantic Animal Hospital, 1808 Sir Tyler Road, Wilmington, NC 28403. Any visit must be approved before taking the dog in to see the vet. Please contact us to get approval via email/text or, if it is a true emergency, please have the vet call us once the dog is at the vet office. Our number is 910-470-5554 if you have ANY questions or concerns.
You must be able to bring the dog on most Saturdays to where ever the adoption event is being held that particular week, drop the dog off around Noon and pick it up around 4:00pm. Of course if you have family obligations or need to be out of town a particular week it is ok to miss. Just remember that this is really the only chance these dogs have to meet with potential adopters so don’t begrudge them their chance at finding a loving, permanent home.
If you have vacation plans we ask that you PLEASE be respectful. Share your plans with us and provide the dates that you will be unavailable BEFORE you take on a foster dog. We have to make arrangements for your foster dog to go into boarding or find a temporary foster home until you return and both of these take time. The boarding facilities fill up with reservations several weeks before the holidays and lots of people go out of town during the holidays so it is EXTREMELY hard, if not impossible, to find a temporary foster home during ANY holiday.
We hope that this helps you to understand the importance of being a foster parent. Undoubtedly with some dogs you will get frustrated, upset and want to quit and with some dogs you will not believe that an owner actually dumped this wonderful, well behaved, loving creature off at the pound without a care as to what happens to him/her. Once your foster dog starts to come around and becomes an integral part of your life and family you will get great joy from the progress he or she has made with you and you will never forget the fun that you will have with him/her. You will also learn what it is to feel extreme happiness and deep sorrow at the same exact moment! This is what happens when your foster dog finds his or her perfect, permanent home with a loving family and they walk out of your life.
Remember, most of the time fostering is hard work, but the experience of fostering is like nothing else you will ever do in your life. You are giving a living creature another chance at life and, although you may never see them again, they will never forget you and what you have done for them.