What Does Fostering Entail?

Fostering is one of the most important ways you can help save an animal’s life. By opening your home to a foster dog, you’re not only helping that dog; you’re also creating space for another animal to be rescued.

 

As a foster with Paws Deep Animal Rescue, you provide a temporary home, love, structure, and basic care while we work to find your foster dog the right forever family. You don’t have to do it alone. Our rescue team is here to support you throughout the process.

 

What Am I Responsible For?

As a foster, your primary responsibility is providing your foster dog with a safe, loving, and structured home.

 

This generally includes:

• Providing daily food, water, potty breaks, exercise, and affection

• Maintaining a consistent routine

• Helping with basic house manners and training

• Using positive reinforcement rather than punishment

• Providing a safe sleeping area or crate

• Monitoring your foster’s health and behavior

• Following any medical or veterinary instructions provided by the rescue

• Keeping your foster securely leashed or contained

• Supervising introductions with resident pets

• Sending us updates, photos, and information about your foster’s personality

• Helping potential adopters learn what your foster is really like in a home

 

You do not have to be a professional dog trainer or have years of fostering experience. Patience, consistency, communication, and a willingness to help are what matter most.

 

Does the Rescue Provide Supplies?

Yes. Paws Deep Animal Rescue can provide essential foster supplies when needed, including:

• Dog food

• Food and water bowls

• Crate or safe sleeping space

• Leash

• Collar or harness

• Toys 

• If your foster requires medication or other medical supplies, the rescue will provide instructions for their care.

 

Who Pays for Veterinary Care?

Veterinary care for foster animals is coordinated through Paws Deep Animal Rescue.

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Fosters should contact the rescue before scheduling veterinary care or making medical decisions unless there is an immediate emergency. We ask fosters to closely monitor their dog’s appetite, energy level, stool, and overall behavior and contact us promptly if something seems wrong.

 

What Should I Expect When My Foster First Arrives?

The first couple of days are usually about decompression.

 

Dogs coming from shelters or transport may be overwhelmed, frightened, exhausted, or unsure of their new surroundings. Some dogs immediately want affection, while others may hide, pace, whine, have accidents, or simply sleep.

 

During the first 48 hours, we recommend:

• Keeping the home calm and quiet

• Limiting visitors

• Avoiding overwhelming introductions

• Establishing a predictable feeding and potty routine

• Giving the dog a crate, room, or quiet area where they can relax

• Allowing your foster to adjust at their own pace

 

You may not see your foster dog’s full personality immediately, and that is completely normal.

 

Can I Foster If I Already Have Pets?

Yes! Many of our foster families have pets of their own.

 

Introductions should be slow and supervised. Newly transported dogs may also need to remain separated from resident pets for 7–14 days, with two weeks preferred, to monitor for illnesses such as kennel cough and reduce the risk of spreading infection. We can provide guidance on safely introducing your foster to your resident animals.

 

What About Fostering Puppies?

Puppies require a little more supervision and structure than adult dogs.

 

Young puppies may need:

• Potty breaks every 1–2 hours

• Three to four smaller meals per day

• Close supervision

• A crate or playpen when they cannot be supervised

• Extra help learning basic house manners

 

Puppy & Parvo Safety

Puppies who have not completed their vaccination series are especially vulnerable to parvovirus.

 

Until your puppy is appropriately vaccinated, fosters should avoid:

• Dog parks

• Pet stores

• High-traffic dog areas

• Contact with unknown or unvaccinated dogs

 

Puppies may need to be carried through higher-risk public areas rather than placed on the ground.

 

**Vomiting, diarrhea, unusual lethargy, or loss of appetite should be reported to the rescue immediately**

 

Do Foster Dogs Need to Be Crated?

We strongly recommend having a crate or another secure, designated space available, particularly for nighttime and when the foster dog is home alone.

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Crates can help dogs:

• Feel secure

• Learn household routines

• Develop potty-training habits

• Safely decompress

• Stay out of trouble when unsupervised

 

The goal is for the crate to become a safe and positive space rather than a punishment.

 

Do I Have to Train My Foster Dog?

We don’t expect fosters to turn every dog into a perfectly trained pet. However, the everyday skills your foster learns while living with you can make an enormous difference in their adoptability.

 

We encourage short, positive training sessions focusing on skills such as:

• Sit

• Potty training

• Leash walking

• Crate training

• Appropriate household behavior

 

Even more importantly, we ask you to learn about your foster. Knowing their routines, favorite activities, triggers, quirks, strengths, and areas where they need additional work helps us find a family that is truly compatible with them.

 

Do Fosters Help Find Adopters?

Yes! You know your foster better than almost anyone, so your input is incredibly valuable.

 

We encourage fosters to take clear photos and share honest updates about their foster’s personality, including things like:

• Whether they are playful or laid-back

• Their favorite toys and activities

• Whether they enjoy cuddling

• Their energy level

• House-training progress

• Crate-training progress

• How they interact with dogs, cats, or children when known

• Funny habits and personality quirks

 

Sharing your foster on social media and in appropriate community groups can significantly increase their exposure and help them find a home faster. The rescue will provide the official adoption application and Petfinder information to use when promoting your foster.

 

Will I Have to Talk to Potential Adopters?

Once an adopter has been screened and approved by Paws Deep Animal Rescue, fosters may help coordinate and conduct the meet-and-greet.

You are not responsible for screening or approving applicants. The rescue handles the application approval process before the meet is scheduled.

During a meet-and-greet, we ask fosters to simply share their experience with the dog.

 

You can talk about:

• Personality

• Daily routine

• Training progress

• Energy level

• Likes and dislikes

• Funny habits

• Areas where the dog may still need work

You may also take a short walk with the potential adopter so they can see how the dog behaves on leash.

Most importantly, we ask you to be honest. Our goal isn’t simply to get dogs adopted—it’s to find homes where they are likely to stay.

 

Do I Handle the Adoption?

The rescue handles the actual adoption.

 

If an approved applicant meets your foster and decides to adopt, you contact Paws Deep Animal Rescue. We then send the adopter an online checkout link containing the adoption contract and payment information. Once everything is completed, the adoption is finalized and your foster can head home with their new family.

 

What If the Adopter Isn't Sure?

That’s okay.

Potential adopters are allowed time to think about whether the dog is the right fit. We typically ask them to provide the rescue with a decision within 24 hours so another approved applicant can be contacted if necessary.

Fosters should never feel pressured to convince someone to adopt.

A successful adoption is about finding the right match, not simply the fastest one.

 

How Long Will I Have My Foster?

There is no guaranteed foster timeline.

Some dogs are adopted very quickly, while others may need more time to find the right family. Age, breed, size, personality, medical needs, location, and the number of interested adopters can all affect how quickly an animal is adopted.

We ask foster families to communicate with us if their availability changes so we can make appropriate arrangements.

 

Can I Choose Which Dogs I Foster?

We want fostering to work for both you and the dog.

Whenever possible, we work with fosters to find animals that fit their household, experience level, schedule, resident pets, and comfort level.

You should always communicate any limitations or concerns before agreeing to foster an animal.

 

What If I Have Questions or Something Goes Wrong?

Contact us.

We would much rather hear about a small concern early than wait until it becomes a larger problem. Fostering is a team effort, and communication between fosters and the rescue is extremely important. Whether you have a medical question, behavioral concern, adoption question, or simply aren’t sure what to do, we’re here to help. 

 

Ready to Save a Life?

Every available foster home gives us the opportunity to say yes to another animal in need.

You provide the temporary home. We provide the support.

 

Together, we give dogs the time and safety they need to find their forever families.

Interested in fostering? Complete our foster application to get started!