Foster
What does it mean to be a Foster?
Being a foster home means sharing your home with a rescued dog: providing food, shelter, toys, walks, and lots of attention, until a permanent home for the dog is approved. We count on our foster homes to evaluate temperament and observe behaviors in a variety of situations.
Positive reinforcement training is encouraged. It’s possible you will only have the dog for a few days or a week. Most foster care situations require 2 weeks to a month of residential foster care. Some fostering may take a few months to match a dog to the right home.
While a foster home can have a big influence on the development and placement of the dog, all decisions regarding the outcome for the dog are ultimately up to the rescue, usually in close consultation with the foster home.
Still interested? If so, please contact us at [email protected] to further discuss the possibility of becoming a foster family.
Note: Files will download to your computer for you to edit or print.
Buy a signed copy of the book on eBay!
Want to know more about fostering? Our own volunteer, Amy Litwiler, has fostered over 100 dogs with LISSR and other organizations. She has created a special photo book with lots of advice for aspiring foster homes. Even if you don’t want to foster, it is a great full color photo book with pictures of her dogs and foster dogs on all kinds of Upstate NY adventures. Proceeds benefit LISSR.
Click on image above to be connected to Ebay to buy a signed copy of her book.
A Note from an Adopter: A Love Story
Both Joe and I were involved with Long Island Shetland Sheepdog Rescue, Inc. before moving to Florida. We now are involved in the Mid Florida Rescue for the same breed. It is amazing how many dogs are abandoned, given into shelters or pounds or put into Rescue each year. Rationales vary…..the economy, new found allergies, family responsibilities, Christmas presents that were all too soon cast aside or the dog who has become “too much work”. Unfortunately, in this category we must add dogs that were mistreated, abused, beaten, starved, and /or deprived of even basic need and health care.
Every Rescue is so amazing in the abundance of care given each individual dog. When a dog goes into rescue it is “vetted” right away. A complete series of shots are administered and a complete dental is done. If the dog is Heart Worm positive, they receive the 2 step treatment and the 30 day recuperation period needed. If surgery is needed or a specialists is required…..it is done. The Rescue does not discriminate …. all dogs get what they need, no matter the price tag. ( And, yes, some dogs come in so battered and sick that they must be put down. )
While waiting for their “forever home” these dogs are placed in foster homes. We have fostered about 20 dogs (not all at once!!) and have enjoyed all of them!! It’s amazing to see these dogs “come out of their shell.” The Rescue is one of the most heartwarming and giving organizations we have ever belonged to.
Now, the adoption process …….. Every dog is “matched up” with the person or family. The dogs age, temperament, needs and activity level as well as the human factor are taken into consideration. The “adoptee” is required to have a fenced-in yard or area, a ton of love to give and has to be physically able to care for the dog. An application to the Rescue for the adoption has to be submitted. A volunteer will then go to the adoptee’s home and do a “home inspection”. ( No, we don’t look for “dust bunnies” under the beds. ) We look at the adopting family, their home and yard. We then report back to the rescue. If it appears to be a good “fit” the people meet the dog and usually it is love at first sight. The dog will then go to its “forever home.”
We have seen much joy and happiness since being involved in Rescue. It is true, unconditional love at its best!!! Adopters usually will say….”Who rescued who?”
Angela Maggio
Fostering