The most important information about fostering is that it saves lives! The more animals there are in foster homes, the less shelters have to euthanize animals because their kennels are full. Also, many homeless dogs are not ready to be adopted. Finding a foster home for them may be the only way for them to get from a shelter, where they may be at risk of euthanasia, to their forever home. Being a foster parent, you are able to pick the dog(s) that you want to foster and how often you want to foster! Our rescue will provide you with supplies including food, crate, toys, etc. The average time for fostering is approximately 3-4 weeks. Some dogs get adopted in as little as 5 days. Some take a month or more depending on multiple factors.

​

But being a foster parent has rewards beyond saving a life. It can be a chance to have an animal companion without a lifetime commitment—puppies are wonderful, but not everyone wants years of puppiness! A foster dog can be a great temporary companion for an existing pet (if medically and behaviorally safe to introduce the animals). In some cases, you can experience the special challenge of helping a dog recover from illness, injury, or trauma. You can also gain valuable handling knowledge and experience by working to train your foster dog or help them overcome a behavioral issue. And it’s incredibly fulfilling to give extra TLC to these four-legged friends that need our help. Above all, you get the satisfaction and joy of knowing that you have saved a life!

​

In general, foster homes are responsible for providing foster dogs with adequate food and water, shelter from the elements, exercise, and plenty of love. All you have to do is open your home to the dog(s). Awesome Paws Rescue will provide all of the necessities while you are fostering - you provide the love! 

​

​​

​​​​​​​

Let us help you clear up some questions/concerns! 

​

Question: Why do we love fostering?

• Fostering is Rewarding

• There’s No Long-Term Commitment  

• You Learn About a Variety of Dogs 

• It Could Benefit Your Current Pets

• You Become Part of an AWESOME Community

​​

Question: Is fostering stressful?

• Fostering Can Be Overwhelming 

• It Could Disrupt Your Routine

• It Can Be Sad When the Dog Leaves

• Of course, fostering dogs can be challenging, but overall, the pros greatly outweigh the cons. Fostering is a fun and rewarding experience that saves the lives of dogs in need. 

​​​

Concern: I can't foster because I work.

• It probably doesn't surprise you that most people have to work for a living- but it might surprise you that doesn't mean you can't foster. Being able to work and foster is even more true if you already have pets, because you're already doing what you'd need to do for a foster. In short, with some small adjustments (not necessarily related to extra time), fostering requires you to essentially do what you do for your own pets, just with one more. If you don't have pets, you can still foster - as many dogs actually need homes without other animals for a variety of reasons.

• If your schedule is busy, perhaps consider foster sitting for other foster parents who may have preplanned trips/vacations. 

• Older dogs also make good fosters for those who work because they are typically pretty happy to just sleep most of the day, are usually somewhat reliable with housetraining and overall, as long as you have a basic plan for them to have a potty break every 6-8 hours, there's not a whole lot to worry about.

• Puppies require a flexible schedule but can still work for someone busy- especially if you've had experience with them in the past and know what to expect. Puppies are more like having a toddler that is reliant upon you for an awful lot, but you can also utilize crate training to help provide structure and training as well. Puppies would not be recommended to those who have never had a dog before.

​

Concern: I would want to keep them all the dogs; I love them too much!

• We refer to the fact that if we didn't love dogs, we'd not be interested in fostering...so sure, you will likely fall in love! That is part of the job! Not every foster dog will be a good fit for you- and you can help more dogs if you don't keep them. Fostering is bittersweet but a rewarding feeling when you meet the perfect family wanting to adopt your dog! It’s like it was meant to be and you can see the happiness in everyone including your foster dog! (Sometimes adopters even ask to stay in contact with foster parents and send precious pup-dates, so you get to continue to see them grow and living a happy life).

• Many times, people will love a foster dog but know if they keep the foster dog, they can't continue to foster- and most will choose to continue to foster over adoption. Most fosters believe very deeply in the reward of letting them go, more so than keeping. Sometimes our hearts must break a little, so we can fix theirs.

• Sometimes, a foster dog will be a magical fit- even the pet that is "everything you never knew you always wanted". Sometimes people are shocked that they fall in love with the little dog they took on when they were only big dog people before- or fall for a breed they never knew anything about. This is part of the joy and fun of "dog dating" which is what we joke sometimes. But you date a lot and hopefully marry much less- so is it with fostering.

​