Fostering questions

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hrcarol

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Does anyone foster? I would love to foster Shelties but, I have never done anything like this before. I read all about it on my local Sheltie Rescue website. But, I nervous about getting started. I guess my biggest concerns are what happens if I can't handle the problems that come from a rescued dog? And the opposite what if I fall in love w/ every rescue and can't give them up? I'd love to hear from others that foster. Have you every had these problems?

I have 2 Shelties: Finley,11 month old male from a breeder and Rusty, a ? yr. old male from a local all breed rescue. These are my 3rd and 4th Shelties. Rusty is my 1st rescue. It's been such a great experience though that I'd like to help other rescues.
 
We've fostered Collies in the past. It worked out well. We knew we'd never keep them, so there was a basic understanding that they were "guests." Our job was to prepare them for their own forever homes -- and it worked!
 
I agreed to foster Tinsel but knew going in that I was likely to want to keep him. He had such a horrible life and I knew that if he gave me his trust I would have a hard time with sending him elsewhere. Having said that, I would have been okay placing dogs that hadn't had a life like his so I would consider taking in a dog that needs to be rehomed due to family circumstance changes, puppies or that type of situation and because I know my SOS team is picky about placement. If he had been too much for me to handle I could have asked to have him fostered elsewhere. The team is there for support and I have no qualms about asking for it. To see his lit up eyes and sheltie spins makes my day now. He has a long way to go and I don't know if he will ever be a dog that will be comfortable with many things the way my other two are but he is sure happier now than he was and that is the rewarding part of the exercise.
 
I have fostered a couple of shelties and a few stray mongrel pups. Like Chris, I took them in knowing I would not keep them. With the dogs that come through, I usually feel that they deserve a family all to themselves, not one, mine, with 2 dogs of my own and so many other commitments (I run a sheltie rescue so will get fosters now and then).

I find that if you've had shelties or other dog experience before, especially with rescues, fostering shelties won't be that difficult. Fostering does take up time and energy and can test your patience. You may encounter things like fearfulness of people and things in general, and zero toilet training, especially with puppymill rescues, but with patience and love (and some reading!), you'll be able to help them. Some also come with health issues, so you'll have to be prepared to give medication regularly, and feed special diets. I assume you'll get some support from the rescue you volunteer with? The fact that you have nice dogs too, helps! All my fosters learn from my dogs!

The only fosters I've had issues with is those that have aggression problems, who react with their teeth when scared, or just pissed off :lol:. Those require someone with more experience. But I personally only see that sort of behaviour from shelties that are given up by owners who basically don't interact with their dog, or tie them up in a corner most of their life :mad:. I don't come across such shelties very often. Most are gentle and easy to manage, just scared and not trusting.

I learn new stuff with each foster that comes by. So long as you are committed in helping them overcome their problems and issues, so that they can start their new life, you will find a way to make it work and find solutions to problems you encounter.

It is extremely rewarding to foster a sheltie, watch her blossom then send her to her new family, knowing she will be leading the life she deserves with great people who love her and will care for her till her last day. Extremely rewarding. :yes: Someone who helped me foster a sheltie is now so into animal welfare and dogs that she has taken a distance learning class on dog behaviour and is working towards getting some kind of related degree! I guess the experience changes a person :smile2:
 
I haven't contacted Sheltie Rescue about fostering yet. I wanted to make sure this is what I really want to do first. Is it as hard to become a foster as it is to adopt from a Sheltie Rescue? My little rescue came from an all breed rescue. There wasn't much of a screening process. They did come to my house but, hardly looked at anything. They had already made up my mind that I was taking this little Sheltie. Also, they were overwhelmed w/ many Pitbulls and other hard to place dogs, and desperate to find homes for the easier to place dogs. I guess it was meant to be though because we are all in love w/ Rusty. He has fit into our family perfectly.
Another question: I have 2 kids ages 11 and 8, on one hand I think fostering dogs would be a great experience for them. On the other hand, some dogs do not adjust well to children. What do you think?
 
I fostered briefly for an all-breed rescue. It was hard, but over time we came to understand that our rescue (who we had for 6 months) wasn't the right dog for us and our lifestyle. Our rescue was super supportive - they provided free daycare and free vet care. It was really hard to come to terms with giving our foster up, because we loved her, problems and all, but it was obviously the right decision for everyone involved. I still think of her with love and bemusement every day and feel great that we helped save her life.

Our second foster was our first sheltie and we signed the paperwork to keep him forever in less than a week. He's the perfect dog for our family, and we went into the process knowing we could adopt if we found the right companion. It will tug your heartstrings giving up the ones that COULD be a fit, but it's a good, happy kind of hurt. We would definitely do it again if we weren't at our animal limits now.

Some dogs won't adjust to children, and I think for the safety of your kids,those aren't the dogs you should foster. If a dog doesn't work out, the rescue should find them a new foster home. You're never trapped into keeping one that isn't going to work out.
 
I foster for our local no-kill shelter, and also for Southland Collie Rescue. All have been short term fosters which works out best for me, as we do some traveling.

Our issue is we have a very skittish kitty. If a new dog chases him, he gets so scared he hardly comes out from under the bed. It becomes a lot harder to manage that so that he still has a good quality of life. One Collie we had only lasted 3 days because he wanted to kill my bunny and get the kitty, too. The rescue understood and he was placed elsewhere.

Our girls get pretty jealous too, and avoid being with me when the other dog is near me, which hurts my feelings after a while! But I have always found it rewarding to do. The longest I've had a dog was a month. Luckily they have been adopted pretty quickly.

I think the rescue will work with your situation. I have to tell you it is a good feeling to give a dog a chance; with a good, if temporary home.

Just be honest with what your home situation is, as I am with our shelter.
 
I volunteered to foster a female Sheltie that is at a local all breed rescue but, they already found a home for her. Of course they have many, many other breeds and mixes that need foster homes. I'm not sure if I want to foster a non-Sheltie. Not that I have anything against other dogs it's just that I figured since I've had only Shelties for 30 yrs.(YIKES this makes me feel old!) and this will be my 1st experience as a foster that it would be best to start w/ what I know. Oh well maybe another will come along.
 
Interestingly, some of my easiest fosters have been "other". I have had a Queensland/Golden mix who was a true gentleman, a chi mystery mix puppy who was a clown, and a Doxie/Chi mix who was also a true gentleman. Some Australian Shepherds have passed thru here as well. I try and evaluate on a dog by dog basis, although as we all know, Shelties are the BEST. :lol:

If you are interested in fostering, keep an open mind. Lots of great deserving dogs out there, especially any senior dog would be so grateful for a temporary home.
 
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