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Foster Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ)
Can
You Open Your Home to a Dog in Need? Foster for Mutts Matter Rescue...
How
does fostering work?
Fostering
a dog is quite simple – it begins when you volunteer to love and care for a dog
in need in your home. You take one of Mutts Matter Rescue's dogs home
and provide them with love, nourishment and care until
it finds a forever home. MMR provides and pays for all the necessary
vetting. You supply the time and TLC.
How
long will I foster?
Foster
times vary from a few days to a few months – it depends on how long it
takes for a quality application to be approved for that particular dog.
How
am I saving lives?
Fostering
is one of the most important things you can do in rescue. By fostering
you are not only saving the life of your foster dog (by ensuring he or
she has a loving and safe temporary home), but you also make room for
another animal at a shelter to come into rescue.
Why
Foster?
Foster parents are the most important people involved in a rescue. MMR
gets dozens of email and calls a day from organizations and people
begging us to save the lives of dogs in imminent danger of being
put to sleep. MMR works with a network of foster homes who care for the
dogs while we find them their permanent homes. We don't have a shelter,
so the fosters are invaluable to us. Their numbers dictate how many
lives we can save. Without the support and presence of fosters, most of
the dogs will never make it out of the shelter alive.
What
do I need to be a Foster Parent?
The
main criteria are love and patience. You don't have to have a yard -
many people who foster for us live in apartments. It's okay if you have
another dog, and even if you have a cat. Most of the dogs that we take
in are dog-friendly, and some even love cats. We will always work with
you to make sure that your foster dog is a good fit for your home.
What
does a Foster Parent Do?
All
the things that a dog owner does, but for a shorter time! Daily care,
feeding, grooming, reinforcing obedience, and generally giving the dog
love and affection. The reason why foster parents are so important is
because there are many wonderful, adoptable dogs in the shelters whose
perfect owners haven't found them yet. Many people are wary about
adopting directly from a shelter because so much is unknown about the
dog. We only take in temperamentally sound dogs, and people are more
likely to adopt from us because their foster parents can tell them what
they are like in a home situation, likes and dislikes, and little quirks
- things that are harder to tell in a shelter situation.
Do
I have to have a fenced yard?
We
have no formal policy in regards to fenced in yards. We encourage owners
without fenced in yards to think about how their dog will get adequate
exercise and “take care of business”. A fenced
in yard does not take the place of
walks and adequate exercise. We do not, however, allow the use of
electric fences.
How
long will the Foster Dog stay with me?
That
is the question we always get asked, and is the most difficult to
answer. It can be anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months
- there is no fixed time. Sometimes we get a rush of people wanting to
adopt dogs from us, and other times it is slower. Also some dogs tend to
get adopted more quickly than others simply because of their age and
size. It varies from dog to dog.
Do
I need to be home all day to Foster?
Not
at all. Most regular dog owners aren't, and the dogs are fine. The only
things that we ask is that if you have another pet, that you secure the
foster dog in a crate or similar while you are away from the home. Never
leave the dogs together unattended for both of their sakes. The most
important thing to us is the safety of your pets, as well as the safety
of the foster dog.
Do
I have to pay for everything myself?
Not
at all. There will be small expenses such as dog bowls if you don't
already have them, but if you need help with food expenses, we are happy
to provide a bag of food for you. In the event that the dog requires
medical treatment or medication, MMR takes care of those expenses too. We
would love to be able to pay for toys and other things for them, but we
are a non-profit organization, and cannot afford to reimburse you for
these items. However, when we get toys and other sundries donated to us, we
will pass them straight onto you!
How
do you handle potential adopters for my Foster?
Our
foster homes are included in the adoption process and make the placement
decisions with us. While the foster dog is in your care, MMR
volunteers will work with you to screen prospective adopters, make home
visits, and attempt to find the perfect match for your protégé'. We can
meet potential families together and the placement is thoroughly
discussed with every one involved. The rescue dogs however remain the
organization's responsibility. Our foster homes cannot make rescue
and/or placement decisions without the approval of MMR's officers.
What
if I become attached to my Foster Dog?
That
is completely natural - you are fostering because you love dogs, and you
will probably become attached. It would be strange if you didn't! When
you meet the family that will give the dog his permanent home, though,
you will be more than happy to see him go. That's why you fostered in
the first place! It is a wonderful thing to do to make sure that a dog
in need will find a loving home!
What
if I want to adopt my Foster Dog?
Of
course! We understand how you can become attached and we offer you the
first choice at adopting your foster!
Won't
it be hard to let them go?
It
is not easy to let go of a foster dog. All MMR volunteers understand
this very well. Foster parents are often concerned about their
attachments to the animals - When they realize what a wonderful gift
they were able to give to an animal in need, it makes it all worthwhile!
To have opened your heart and your home, and given a needy dog a second
chance is truly an amazing experience. By turning them over to their
permanent home, you will be able to foster another dog in need if you so
choose. If we can only save one more life, it is worth the world and the
sadness to say goodbye.
To
Sum it up.......
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, there are only a few steps to
take.
Submit a foster application (you must be at least 21 years of age to be a foster parent).
Agree to a prescreen interview, a home visit and, if applicable, a vet reference.
When you are approved --
MMR will provide:
Food (if requested)
Crates (if needed)
All veterinary care at an MMR approved vet
Heartworm /Flea/tick preventative and other necessary meds
24/7 support in emergencies
Help
with training and behavioral help for your foster dog
Foster dog will provide:
Great companionship
Unconditional love
Unending gratitude
You provide:
A safe and loving environment for your foster dog until
she/he finds a permanent home
Transportation to/from adoption events and to any necessary vet appointments
A rescued pet with a second chance at life!
The
reward of rescue
Look
into the eyes of your foster dog and you will find the best reward in
the world.... . All
of us at Mutts Matter
Mutts very much appreciate your efforts and recognize that you are providing an invaluable gift to our dogs and
contributing to our mission.
Fosters
allow us to continue saving dogs in need and are vital to the success of
our organization. Thank you for your interest!
If
you are interested in fostering, click
here to fill out our online Foster Application.
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