THE FOSTERING PROCESS
To be a foster parent, you must love Border Collies, be very patient, and be willing to spend time working with the dog. As a foster parent, you will care for a dog and place him or her with an adopter. Depending on the dog and the time of year, it can take several days to several months to place a dog, but the average length of time in foster care is approximately four to six weeks.
The approval process to be able to foster a dog is similar to the approval process for applicants who want to adopt a dog and will include a home visit. Unless you’ve had a home visit before adopting a dog from BRBCR, a senior BRBCR volunteer will visit your home before a foster dog is placed with you.
A foster home should prepare the dog for a normal life as a family pet. The foster dog should have as many regular family pet experiences as possible, including:
- Good quality food
- Comfortable places to sleep
- Grooming, nail trimming, and bathing as needed
- Veterinary care as needed
- Play time with other animals and humans
- One-on-one time with the foster parent
- Walks on leash, preferably at least once per day
- Trips in the car, including trips to dog-friendly stores
- Training
Sometimes people are reluctant to foster because they are afraid of becoming too attached to a foster dog who, after a time, will have to be given up. But placing a foster dog in a forever home makes space for another dog that needs you desperately. It’s not an easy job, but fostering is well worth all the time and effort you invest when the dog finds a terrific home.
BRBCR will reimburse the cost of dog food ($10 a week for adult dogs, $15 a week for puppies under six months old) and also expenses for veterinary care. Other costs, such as for treats and dog toys, are the foster parent’s responsibility.
All foster dogs in our program are the sole property of Blue Ridge Border Collie Rescue and shall be returned to BRBCR upon request or if the foster parent cannot care adequately for the dog.
