All About Fostering 
TOP TEN REASONS TO FOSTER A DOG
- Fostering provides an opportunity to learn more about mixed breeds, different pure breeds and types of dogs
- Fostering a dog is a wonderful, life-affirming project for the entire family.
- Fostering a dog costs virtually nothing.
- Fostering a dog is fun.
- Fostering a dog is rewarding.
- Fostering can be done anywhere--in a city or suburb, a house or apartment.
- Fostering a dog can take place whenever you are ready.
- Fostering a dog offers the company of canines to those unable to make a long-term commitment.
- Fostering a dog helps you meet others who share your passion for rescue.
- Fostering a dog opens a space to save the life of another homeless dog!
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I would've died that day if not for you.
I would've given up on life if not for your kind eyes.
I would've used my teeth in fear if not for your gentle hands.
I would have left this life believing that all humans don't care
Believing there is no such thing as fur that isn't matted,
skin that isn't flea bitten, good food and enough of it, beds to sleep on,
someone to love me, to show me I deserve love just because I exist.
Your kind eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands
Your big heart saved me.....
You saved me from the terror of the pound,
Soothing away the memories of my old life.
You have taught me what it means to be loved.
I have seen you do the same for other dogs like me.
I have heard you ask yourself in times of despair
Why you do it
When there is no more money, no more room , no more homes
You open your heart a little bigger, stretch the money a little tighter
Make just a little more room....to save one more like me.
I tell you with gratitude and love that shines in my eyes
In the best way I know how
Reminding you why you go on trying.
I am the reason
The dogs before me are the reason
As are the ones who come after.
Our lives would've been wasted, our love never given
We would die if not for you.
I would've died that day if not for you.
I would've given up on life if not for your kind eyes.
I would've used my teeth in fear if not for your gentle hands.
I would have left this life believing that all humans don't care
Believing there is no such thing as fur that isn't matted,
skin that isn't flea bitten, good food and enough of it, beds to sleep on,
someone to love me, to show me I deserve love just because I exist.
Your kind eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands
Your big heart saved me.....
You saved me from the terror of the pound,
Soothing away the memories of my old life.
You have taught me what it means to be loved.
I have seen you do the same for other dogs like me.
I have heard you ask yourself in times of despair
Why you do it
When there is no more money, no more room , no more homes
You open your heart a little bigger, stretch the money a little tighter
Make just a little more room....to save one more like me.
I tell you with gratitude and love that shines in my eyes
In the best way I know how
Reminding you why you go on trying.
I am the reason
The dogs before me are the reason
As are the ones who come after.
Our lives would've been wasted, our love never given
We would die if not for you.
TOP FIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FOSTERING
- How can you give up a dog you have fostered?
Well, we know how you feel, because we all felt the same. Admittedly, it is not painless, you do cry, and you miss them. Then the pain disappears when you get another new dog or pup to work with. The pain is fleeting compared to the wonderful feeling of knowing that YOU truly saved a dog or pup's life. - What does it cost to foster a dog?
It costs you virtually nothing to foster a dog. SmallDog Rescue will pay the dog's medical bills and supply dog food if you need us to. - How long will I have to keep the dog?
Honestly, it varies significantly. We'll do our best to match you up with a dog that is right for you situation. Want to make a short term commitment? Let our foster manager know, and she'll match you up with a dog we expect to be adopted quickly. Looking for a more long term relationship? Let her know that as well. Looking for a dog that doesn't require much energy? Talk to us about fostering a dog in recovery. - I travel a good bit for work and/or pleasure. I can't really commit to being at adoption every week. Can I still foster?
Probably. Again, you need to work with our foster manager to find a dog that's right for your situation. If you can't be at adoption, are you willing to foster a dog that is recovering from heartworm treatment, or for some other reason needs limited activity? - I have a child/dog/cat living in my home - can I still foster?
YES! Having other pets in the home often is the best indicator of how well a dog will do in a forever home that already has other pets. This is exactly the kind of critical information we need fosters t to find out in order to continue to make successful adoptions.
Why is Fostering So Important?
While fostering a dog can and usually will be a rewarding and heartwarming experience for you, it is especially critical to our dogs. Most of our dogs are rescued from local animal control facilities and shelters. These dogs would most likely be euthanized to make room for the newest unwanted litter of puppies, or the dogs picked up as stray and not reclaimed. That means we don't know much about them. Is this dog housetrained? How does he/she do with other dogs? Is this a super active dog who needs a jogging partner or a couch potato? Will this dog make friends with a cat? Did this dog bite someone because he/she was terrified, or is this dog truly a dog who needs to be left alone to do his/her own thing? What kind of home does this dog need to be happy forever?
Without our foster homes, we have no way to know. Dogs that come in to our program are kept in quarantine for a proscribed period of time, and then we work hard to find foster home. Often a dog that appeared to be a nippy little critter was really just terrified at the situation, and in fact is a meek, mild, and welcome member of the family. Foster homes help to re-socialize these dogs, teach them basic manners, and most importantly, teach them that humans CAN be trusted.
When you accept a foster dog into your home, you open a space at our facility to rescue another endangered dog. We, like all shelters, are limited by space in the number of dogs we can accept into our program. Once we have accepted a dog, we make a commitment to that dog for the rest of its life. By accepting a dog into your home as a foster, you help prepare the dog for his or her forever home, and make a space to save the life of another - a true "two for one" deal!
Simply put, foster parents maximize the number of dogs/pups who can be saved. Fostering requires someone who can provide a nurturing home for dog/pup, bond with, and help socialize it until a permanent, loving, home can be found. The foster home also helps us evaluate the dog so we can provide as much information as possible to help us place the dog/pup in the perfect home.
So how do you get involved in fostering? Contact our volunteer manager for information!
WHY DO I FOSTER?
(Foster testimonials)
(Foster testimonials)
Judy B: Joey was a sweet gentleman poodle who was surrendered to Small Dog Rescue through no fault of his own. He was well-trained, quiet, and fit in nicely with my own dogs. He would have been a pleasure to keep. I fell in love with this little guy when I fostered him and debated whether I should make him my own. But when I saw the light in the old man's eyes when he saw Joey and heard the joy and enthusiasm that returned to his voice, I knew that not only did this old man rescue Joey; Joey had rescued the old man.
And I could let him go, and open my home and heart to save another pup.
EB: Because I love dogs.
Because it keeps my personal dogs well socialized and adept at accepting new dogs and adjusting to new situations.
Because it teaches my young son the importance of helping all of God's creatures and that all life has value.
Because my family can share in what is meaningful and important to me.
Because I get a tremendous joy thinking about all the dogs that have come through my door and gone on to wonderful forever families who can't imagine living without them.
Because I am building my own personal legacy and being a role model for my child.
Because I believe in rescue and what SmallDog Rescue stands for.
Because I CAN.
And someone needs to do.
Mary W.:How can you stand to let your fosters leave? That is the question I seem to be asked over and over. My answer? I smile and cry, all at the same time. My tears are selfish...I will miss those sweet kisses and those eyes that look at me as if I am the most wonderful person in the world (even though I know I'm not!). But I am also so very happy that that sweet little dog, who was so afraid of me just weeks ago is now able to walk away with new people to love. New people will get those kisses and adoring looks. Me? Why there is another little frightened dog waiting for an opportunity to be loved.
Beth H: I have purely selfish reasons for fostering; it makes me feel good about myself! It sounds cliche, but believe me, I get more out of fostering dogs than they do. And of course it is hard to give them up, but not as hard as you think when you see that new family fall in love. And when that new family tells you how wonderful you are and how you helped save the newest member of their family, well you feel like you could move mountains!
Linda A: It is great to see a scared distrustful dog learn that your touch will not hurt and that you will not scold them for acting like a dog. I get tears when I see previously breeder stock dogs play for the first time. Rehabilitating a dog thorough leadership and affection is so rewarding. The few extra minutes it takes me to feed, walk, or pet an extra dog are well worth it when you realize that without you this dog most likely would be euthanized at a pound. By fostering you save lives.
Sandra G: Bren, who started this group, candidly told me once that "fostering will ruin your stuff" and she was right. Puppies chew the furniture and tear the wallpaper, carpets get spotted, sensitive stomachs and rotten mouths spew out more stuff than you really want to look at just getting home from work, and the smell of morning coffee brewing doesn't blend so easily with the morning rounds of meds. So why do this? Because stuff is just stuff, carpets and wallpaper can be restored or replaced, but when an innocent little heart stops beating it will be gone forever. Foster homes make the difference. Save one, help that sick little frightened one become again what he was made to be, and you will never be the same.
Lopa M: I foster because I can save lives every day, every week, every year. There are not a lot of people who can say that they've directly impacted and saved a life and I do it all the time. I not only get to save the life of a dog, but when they are placed in the perfect home, we get to help save that family also. It's a win-win situation!
I foster because someone did it for my dog Mollie. She was saved on her kill date of Dec. 26 and I found her in March. If Kay had not fostered my Mollie then she would not be with me. I need to do this so that another person or family can have their family member when they are ready to be united.
Jacki B: Why do I foster? Because its the most rewarding thing I do in my whole life. I watch scared, dirty, often sick dogs bloom into wonderful pets and loving family members. And how can I give these little guys whom I adore up? I know that there's another dog somewhere who is not going to die because I'm willing to be sad for a few minutes. Besides, when they come back to visit, I am so proud of SDR, so happy for the dog, and the faces of the families always make it worth it. It's amazing when they tell me how much they love these little "throw away" dogs, how they can't imagine their lives with out him or her. It's just an amazing experience.
Erica C: I do not foster... yet. My landlord won't allow me to have another animal in my apartment, but you better believe that when we move into our house, I'm taking some foster dogs with me. Why? On adoption days, it's easy to pick out the foster dogs. They have a sparkle in their eyes and a bounce in their step. Unlike the facility dogs, foster dogs feel like they belong to someone. They have their own lawn and toys. Sometimes, they have other dogs or even their own kid to play with. They know that their foster parents are coming home every night to love them and pet them and treat them like the royalty they are. I guess I think they have more hope. I am a witness to the strong bond that develops between a dog and its foster parents. Tails that wag, hopeful eyes that gaze up wistfully at "Mom", barks that call out for her across the parking lot. I have seen terrified dogs enter the program, and loving pets leave with their forever families. Fosters parents are the reason for this. They love, they care, they nurse back to health. They teach dogs that not all humans are bad. They give dogs a new lease on life.
TO MY FOSTER FAMILY
There I sat, alone and afraid,
You got a call and came right to my aid.
You bundled me up with blankets and love.
And, when I needed it most, you gave me a hug.
I learned that the world was not all that scary and cold.
That sometimes there is someone to have and to hold.
You taught me what love is, you helped me to mend.
You loved me and healed me and became my first friend.
And just when I thought you'd done all you do,
There came along not one new lesson, but two.
First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go.
I've done all I can, and you've learned all I know."
Then you bundled me up with a blanket and kiss.
Along came a new family, they even have kids!
They took me to their home, forever to stay.
At first I thought you sent me away.
Then that second lesson became perfectly clear.
No matter how far, you will always be near.
And so, Foster Mom, you know I've moved on.
I have a new home, with toys and a lawn.
But I'll never forget what I learned that first day.
You never really give your fosters away.
You gave me these thoughts to remember you by.
We may never meet again, and now I know why.
You'll remember I lived with you for a time.
I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine.
- Author Unknown
There I sat, alone and afraid,
You got a call and came right to my aid.
You bundled me up with blankets and love.
And, when I needed it most, you gave me a hug.
I learned that the world was not all that scary and cold.
That sometimes there is someone to have and to hold.
You taught me what love is, you helped me to mend.
You loved me and healed me and became my first friend.
And just when I thought you'd done all you do,
There came along not one new lesson, but two.
First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go.
I've done all I can, and you've learned all I know."
Then you bundled me up with a blanket and kiss.
Along came a new family, they even have kids!
They took me to their home, forever to stay.
At first I thought you sent me away.
Then that second lesson became perfectly clear.
No matter how far, you will always be near.
And so, Foster Mom, you know I've moved on.
I have a new home, with toys and a lawn.
But I'll never forget what I learned that first day.
You never really give your fosters away.
You gave me these thoughts to remember you by.
We may never meet again, and now I know why.
You'll remember I lived with you for a time.
I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine.
- Author Unknown
A POEM TO MY FOSTER DOG
By Diane Morgan
I am the bridge,
Between what was and what can be.
I am the pathway to a new life.
I am made of mush,
Because my heart melted when I saw you,
Matted and sore, limping, depressed
Lonely, unwanted, afraid to love.
For one little time you are mine.
I will feed you with my own hand.
I will love you with my whole heart.
I will make you whole.
I am made of steel.
Because when the time comes,
When you are well, and sleek,
when your eyes shine,
And your tail wags with joy
Then comes the hard part.
I will let you go-not without a tear,
But without a regret.
For you are safe forever--
A new dog needs me now.
By Diane Morgan
I am the bridge,
Between what was and what can be.
I am the pathway to a new life.
I am made of mush,
Because my heart melted when I saw you,
Matted and sore, limping, depressed
Lonely, unwanted, afraid to love.
For one little time you are mine.
I will feed you with my own hand.
I will love you with my whole heart.
I will make you whole.
I am made of steel.
Because when the time comes,
When you are well, and sleek,
when your eyes shine,
And your tail wags with joy
Then comes the hard part.
I will let you go-not without a tear,
But without a regret.
For you are safe forever--
A new dog needs me now.