Dog fostering/respite care query

Cyclamen

thank you.. i think i'll email a few places today to see if what i can offer can help any dogs/owners.

I will report back anythng i find out

Thank you

lisa110rry

Cyclamen, my heart goes out to you on the loss of your dog.

I have "reverse experience" of dog fostering. I am a supporter of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People through Give as You Earn. Around 9 1/2 years ago, their newsletter mentioned rehoming "Fallen Angels", dogs who had not quite made the very high grade in order to be Hearing Dogs. I applied. Two months later I was contacted about a small terrier-type crossbreed who had passed her assessment but was not paired. She had been "puppy bed and breakfasted" all her life by a Hearing Dog Foster Carer. She is wonderful. I should imagine all the Assistance Dog organisations do something similar.

heartbreak_star

Cyclamen, I'm sorry you lost your lovely lady and just wanted to say good luck with the fostering

HBS x

fletcher99

dogs trust have a scheme where dogs belonging to victims of domestic abuse go into foster for a month or 2 until owner Can move to a safe place or put up for adoption- a friend of ours had just handed a lovely staffy back to its family this week.
many rescues want fosters for older dogs to get them out of kennels especially over winter.
we have just lost our old lab this week and lost our pup in Feb so now just have our other lab and will be getting a homecheck to foster a lab mix over Xmas just to get her out of kennels.
you can set up a profile on borrowmydoggy to find local dogs who need a bit of looking after- some just need a few hours a week getting fuss and play and others want weekends or holidays and owners will provide everything needed.

also if you live near guide dogs training centre or other assistance dog areas, they need short term boarders for adult dogs when owners go in hospital and for older dogs who need a break

financially we can't afford another dog but most rescues will pay for food and vets and you just provide extras such as toys and treats so we are hoping to foster and work it around holidays, my ill health and other responsibilities

Fosterdog

I've been fostering for nearly eight years now and have had plenty of dogs through my door in that time, it is a very rewarding although heart wrenching thing to do.

Rescues I can personally recommend for fostering are Hope Rescue and Friends of the Animals, both based in South Wales but do have foster homes around the country, if you are not in a suitable area for either of them they may be able to recommend a rescue more local to you. Most dogs stay in a foster home for however long it takes them to get a home of their own but sometimes it can be shorter if a dog has been ill and needs home comforts, while their foster home goes away yo keep kennel spaces free, while moving from one fosterer to another (not all foster homes are right for every dog so sometimes they get moved to a better match)

As already said Many Tears have foster homes all around the country but do have a lot of ex puppy farm dogs who they like to go to a foster home with a resident dog as they have never been away from other dogs.

Oldies club would be good as they tend to only have dogs 8 years plus and may be more suited to your circumstances.

The Cinnamon Trust helps elderly and terminally ill people with their pets so may be another option for you if you looked after a dog whole it's owner is in hospital.

Try your local Shelter as sometimes a homeless person gives up the chance of somewhere to stay if dogs are not allowed, they may have something in place in your area to offer short term fostering while the person gets back on their feet and can have the dog back.

If there is a particular breed you love or have experience with it would be worth contacting a breed rescue.

There really are do many similar things in place but all depends on what area you live.

Find a rescue that will be supportive and transparent with how they work, I fostered for one that was such a bad experience, if it has been my first I would never have fostered again. Alarm bells were triggered slightly when discussing my application and they seemed very into dominance based training, home heck went well and felt better, so did meeting some dogs and volunteers at the kennels. But there was a complete lack of support and communication from them from the time the dog arrived, not interested in medical and behavioural issues and just wanted a quick turnaround.

elsien

I've done fostering for a small breed rescue - because they didn't have kennel places they could only take the foster back if they found another volunteer home which as my foster was very dog aggressive took months. This was unsafe for the both of us as I couldn't physically manager her and she kept pulling me over.

However I was also recently discussing fostering with the dogs trust on behalf of a friend with physical health problems. I was told they would carefully match the dog with the fosterer, taking this into account, and the fosterer got full support.

So I think I'd say you need to ask all the questions about type of dog, and what happens if it all goes pear shaped before deciding which route to go down. Ask about the worst case scenarios, and check the responses you get.

Cyclamen

Thank you..

the dogs trust and our local rescue require car drivers and that is ruling me out for quite a few other places also. The average stay for the dogs needing foster care whilst family escape domestic situations seems to be 3-6 months..i can't commit to that long as my health fluctuates.

It needs to be somewhere with back up if things dont go to plan.

I am starting to think i just dont have the health for doing this as much as i want to help. Maybe thinsg only worked so well with my dog because she was family and had been with us so long. I knew her habits and she ours.

This may have all been wishful thinking.

sheramber

Unfortunately, it does sound as if your health problems do limit your ability to foster a dog.

While it is not the same as a dog perhaps consider a cat to fill the pet shaped space in your home.

Cats protection use foster carers
http://www.cats.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/meet-volunteers/meet-cat-care-welfare

Cyclamen

It is frustrating..

I would be great for a few days or a week or two but can't push this body to behave for long periods of time.

Sadly i am not a cat person and my dad who visits lots has allergies to cats yet is fine with dogs..different kind of fluff i guess.. My uncle is the same.

I will keep looking i can find places in america so we must have uk equivalent.. if soeone needs a dog cuddling, caring for with short walks..i am the eprson for a few days. i used to take my friends dog for a few nights after his chemo infusion as he felt the worst and return the dog when he phoned until next time. But not driving is hampering things.

Maybe its something to aim for if i get more strength and energy.

Dollardog

I am sure there would be some working people who might value your services. I used to have a neighbour, she's left now and her circumstances have changed, she used to have my dog for me if I was working a long day, I do a lot of travelling and if I was going to be out too long to leave him, he used to go and stay with her, usually overnight. It worked out very well, she had recently lost her 12 yo dog, couldn't have another of her own, worked from home and loved the company of 'borrowing' mine. He loved to go there as he got lots of attention at a time he would have had to be left on his own. She often used to ring and ask if she could borrow him even sometimes when it wasn't necessary. She also used to have her friend's dogs when they were away for a few days/week at a time. I wish she was still available now or I could find a similar arrangement. I'm sure there must be many people like myself who would love to find someone like you.
Have you tried advertising in local shop windows?


Also, I have a friend who takes in old guide dogs, she has 3 oldies who are hers but often she might get a phone call from the Guide dog people to say that a blind person has to suddenly go into hospital short term and there are no family to have their guide dog so they need a place for it on a temporary basis. Something like that might suit you to do, try getting in touch with them to see if they would put you on their list of temporary fosterers.


I hope you find something soon as it is such a shame that you want to do it but can't find a way of doing it.