A foster home is a temporary living situation for dogs in our program while they are preparing for adoption. Foster families provide shelter, food (provided by DRR), and all necessary care to ensure the dog is healthy and ready for his/her forever home. The number of dogs we can save depends entirely on the number of people who open their homes and hearts to foster them.
Being a foster has rewards beyond helping a dog in need. For some, it’s a chance to have a companion animal without a lifetime commitment, or to try new companions for an existing pet. For others, it’s the challenge of helping a dog recover from an illness or injury, the trauma of losing a beloved owner or home, or to overcome a behavioral issue. Providing the care and love a dog needs to transition from homelessness to a forever home is rewarding beyond measure. Best of all? You save a life.
We do not have a shelter facility, so we rely on our dedicated, reliable Foster Team to be able to save lives. Because of this, fostering should not only be used as a shortcut to adopting. Some dogs do have the option to foster-to-adopt, and this is made clear when we are seeking a foster. Otherwise, we allow our fosters to apply to adopt their SECOND foster dog (and beyond) if they choose to. All fosters are required to go through our standard application screening process and must be approved by our Adoption Team. We work very hard to find the perfect fit for each dog’s unique needs, and every foster family must meet the qualifications for that dog, no exceptions.
NOTE: Temporary fosters DO NOT count toward the rule. The family must foster at least one dog from intake through adoption to be eligible to apply for their foster dog as a foster-to-adopt applicant. This ensures we get to know the foster family through a full foster experience and can feel confident in allowing a foster-to-adopt option, pending approval. No exceptions are made. Please ensure you fully understand the policy prior to volunteering to foster.
The length of time a dog stays in our foster program depends on their age, health, and how quickly they can be adopted. Our average for fostering is 4-6 weeks per dog. Some of our dogs will need more time because of age, illness, injury, or behavior issues, while others can be ready for adoption in a few weeks. Keep in mind, there is no way to accurately predict a dog’s behavior or health, so the length of time depends on the specific dog and situation. If the length of time is not a fit for your family, Doodle Rock will work to find an alternate foster home. We also need temporary foster homes while the permanent foster family is unavailable due to travel or other reasons. If you are willing to open your home and heart to a dog in need, we will work with your family’s needs and schedule!
All food, supplies, and grooming / medical expenses are 100% covered by Doodle Rock Rescue. The Doodle Rock Team also provides 24/7 mentoring and support throughout your foster’s stay to set you up for success.
Ready to foster a dog in need? Get started by clicking the button below.
