GRAHAMVILLE RESCUE AND SANCTUARY
Non-Profit Organization · Animal Rescue
Fostering
HOW DO I BECOME A FOSTER?
The first step is to complete an application to foster. The application provides us with information about your family, experience with dogs, and preferences for what type of dog you would like to foster. Your application will be reviewed and if pre-approved, a volunteer will contact you to set up a home visit. Once completed and approved, we will be contact you to discuss available dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHY FOSTER?
Fostering is a great way to help animals in need and support the rescue cause. We are a foster based organization which means the number of dogs we can rescue relies solely on the amount of foster homes available. When you foster a dog, you not only save that dog but you also open a spot in the shelter for another dog to be rescued.
WHAT IS MY ROLE?
We ask that you provide a welcoming and loving environment for your new friend. You will provide food, exercise, socialization, and show your foster that they are a valued member of your family, just as your own pets are. We want you to get to know your foster’s personality, his or her likes and dislikes, and if there are any special needs. This information will help to find the perfect forever family for the dog. Throughout the process, it may be necessary to bring your foster to the veterinarian to receive booster shots, to be spay or neutered, or other medical treatment as necessary. The rescue will set this up and cover the cost of necessary vetting.
HOW LONG DOES THE DOG LIVE WITH ME?
There is no set time that a dog lives in a foster home. The length of time can vary from a few weeks to a few months based on many factors including each dog’s individual needs and the application process. Many of our foster homes take in sick or injured dogs or dogs that have lived most of their lives in situations where they were never given the opportunity to be part of a family. Some dogs require extra time to heal, learn to trust, and to gain confidence in themselves before they are ready to be adopted. When agreeing to foster, we ask that you commit to your foster dog through adoption. It can be very stressful for a dog to move from foster to foster.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY DOG RECEIVES AN APPLICATION?
When a pre-approved application is emailed to you, we ask that you review the application to determine if the application is a good match for your dog. We are not looking to adopt out to the first applicant. By now, you will have learned what your foster needs and we are looking for the best applicant. We want to make certain that this is a forever home as we never want any of our dogs to be left at a shelter again. If you would like to proceed with the application, you will need to facilitate an approved home visit before the family meets your foster. The last step in the process is a meet and greet with the complete family, including any existing pets within the home.
WHAT IF I NEED HELP OR HAVE QUESTIONS?
We have a wonderful base of volunteers who are available to answer questions and help guide you throughout the process. You can send an email to digsk9@gmail.com and we will find someone to help!