More info on fostering rescue dogs please =)

I would love to go into fostering dogs in the future.

But I wondered if someone could tell me a little more about what it involves?

I have just been looking through the rescue forum and it's heartbreaking how many dogs have been in rescue for a shockingly long amount of time - and they're lovely dogs!
I know from bringing Bear home 2 months ago how badly being in kennels can affect dogs, no matter how much is done for their well-being whilst they are there, and I would love to be able to offer a dog a pleasant half-way house for as long as they need and some lovely walks and experiences to ensure they are the best they can be for when their forever home comes along.

How long usually do people foster dogs for? Is there a set amount of time ... or can you agree to foster for as long as necessary? What about vet's and special nutritional requirements?

What do rescues look for in a foster home?
For instance, I have 4 dogs. One of which is a very new addition and still settling so now is not the right time ... but I suspect he may always be a little grouchy with other dogs.
As my own dogs are well socialised, and know Bear well, there are no problems and I manage the situation so that nobody gets stressed enough for it to blow up.

Would a rescue point-blank say no to this situation for a foster environment for a dog that was similar in social experience to my 3 younger dogs?

Also ... hours at home or away ... occupation ... income ... are there specific guidelines and requirements or do rescues assess on an individual basis?

Probably won't be able to do this for a long old while, but I'd be tempted to foster over a holiday period (say Xmas or summer) to give a rescue dog a much-needed break from kennel life if this was something feasible.

Hi i have fostered on and off for the last 20 months for the rspca and beagle welfare they both work differently,so you would have to decide on where you want to help and ask about their fostering criteria. Having dogs already shouldn't be an issue and can actually help a dog settle in if all are dog friendly! I have 2 male neutered begles aged 6 and have fostered dogs ranging between 9 years and 14 weeks of both sexes,i am curently fostering a beagle x jack russell,whose behaviour is very bouncy my dogs aren't impressed but she is calming down a bit now ,only got her on friday The longest i have had a foster is 8 weeks the shortest 10 days it depends on vaccinations being done/spaying or if they are ill and need sorting out and obviously a forever home coming along that is suitable! Beagle welfare have kennel backup which means if for some reason i couldn't keep a dog they could go into kennels. Give it a try when you're ready it is fun can be stressfull but very rewarding to see them go to a good home although sometimes they bounce back which is what happened to one of 2 pups i had after xmas,she's got too big she's a rottie x lab and they can't handle her i offered to have her back but the new rspca women wanted to put her into coventry kennels as i wasn't fostering for them anymore so poor old Marley now is on home number 4 given up because husbands wife had left and he couldn't cope with all the dogs/kids and was keeping them in the snow,then me,then forever home/or not, then kennels, so i'm finding it very sad and keep checking the website to see if she has a new home poor big mite.

Have a chat with Rescue Remedies who post on this site under South East Rescue. They are always looking for short/medium/long term foster homes.

Hi there

I have sent you a p.m. with a link to our website. There is a tab "How you can Help" which if you click on it has a section headed Fostering. Most of your questions are answered there.

The remainder can be addressed when you are ready to foster and have submitted your foster questionnaire.

Hope that helps.

Thank you

I've just started fostering after finding a rescue that are happy to foster out to full time workers. I do have 2 dogs of my own that are happily left, although I come home at lunch and my daughter is around quite abit as she is at college now.

I approached a couple of rescues who turned me down because I work, but fortunately these people recognise that dogs that are used to being left are better off in a home environment than in a kennels. They pay for everything, food and veterinary treatment too.

It's a wonderful thing to be able to do and although my first dog has been a total dream, I'm so happy I helped make this confusing and stressful time easier for her.

Your circumstances as described are acceptable to us too for the right dog. It's a case of matching the right dog - you wouldn't put a pup that needs training and socialisation or a high energy dog or dog that has never been left in a working home. But there are plenty of dogs that are suitable. We don't discriminate against people that work and work around the dogs needs - foster or otherwise.