Hello Everyone and happy thanksgiving! I run a herding, sporting dog rescue and we, in addition to four other local rescues/humane societies, are going to initiate a drive to solicit volunteer foster families for shelter dogs. The shelters are at their worst, rescues aren’t pulling dogs and adoptions are screeching to a halt. I have found animal people, rural, horse people to be the best with fostering since they have a background in multiple types of critters. All dogs in need of foster will be non-aggressive, healthy, animal and people friendly.l Dogs with quirks will be made public to foster volunteers. Food will be provided and dogs will come fully vetted. In most cases a kennel is provided to help with potty training. Question # 1 is: What criteria would entice you to help foster a dog from a shelter? Question # 2. Where would you choose to advertise for fosters?
OP, may I respectfully suggest that you add “for dogs” to your title? I thought this would be about foster parents for children! 
[Sometimes people post things in the wrong forum.]
I think because, like some people, I don’t use the word “parents” for animals. A foster for animals I think of as a “foster home”. “Foster parents” means “for children”, to me. 
Have you tried reaching out to any breed clubs? Lots of breed people have multiple dogs and most are not opposed to rescue (and a majority would support a good rescue.
Many are already connected to their breed rescue so they may have networks already.
well for a start do not overwhelm these foster providers, we have at times been inundated with continuous unending requests to “help”.
The last was taking in a rescued German Shepherd Dog with its seven puppies since we had “the room” in a climate controlled area in our barn (summer temps were in the 110F range)
Before these were placed there was repeated requests to take in another and another
There is an unending supply of unwanted pets, not all can be saved
Our local shelter does a great job of making fostering look amazing by sharing photos of their adoptable dogs in their foster home doing adorable dog things (they are really advertisements for the dogs in foster care). The photos and the write up always rave about the foster home and at the end there is frequently a note about other dogs in need of fostering (typically something like - If you are interested in fostering any of our other dogs, please reach out to < name, email, phone number > ).
I currently own a not dog friendly dog, but these posts make me think strongly about fostering (when this dog is gone).
We have a local brewery that does “Yappy Hour” and a shelter brings dogs to visit with the beer drinkers. Maybe something like that? I’d say events and markets will probably open some doors for you.
Consider what you can do to make low-commitment fun introductions and test drives, if that is something that could work for you and the animals in your care.
There is a shelter on the coast here that basically lends out dogs for walks on the beach, fully knowing that most are tourists. The dogs get a walk and sometimes an attachment.
People who already have a lot of animals may be worried about time commitment, about money, and about what if this animal doesn’t work out. They would need to be confident that it’s okay to bring the animal back and that this will be met joyfully or at least comfortably. Specifically setting people up with “take this dog for the weekend and we expect to see it back” may help with getting people to give it a try. Of course, that turnover is hard on the animals potentially as well as you so you have to weigh if you get enough extra slots out of it to be worthwhile.
Facebook can be a very powerful way to get your available animals in front of people. Do not underestimate the value of a good photographer and even dumb things like appealing names. Again there’s that balance of catching good people on a whim versus the whiplash of unsuitable people. Think of yourself as selling a lifestyle with this dog.
My stepmother did a lot of fostering - it worked well for them because they were traveling a lot, so they fostered in between trips and could take the dog back when they would be gone for a while.
I posted in Menagerie, so Im pretty sure the members understand, unless they consider children their pets, which Im sure some people do…
We always work with breed rescues but never thought about breed clubs. Thats a great thought.
I so truly understand that thought. If I pull one heeler into my rescue, I will get 10 more requests. But we need to make sure all of our members aren;t overwhelming volunteers. Thank you
Thank you! Do they advertise on websites or at specialty events?
Great idea! We could take our uncomplicated babes and try it at local social organizations.
Genius tips and thank you!! I have always done my own photography and receive many compliments and you are right about the catchy names. It works!! I love your idea about “selling” a lifestyle. You are soooo right!
I’m currently (casually) looking for a dog so my perspective may differ from other posters and I have friends who have fostered. I don’t see fosters as “trying out” dog ownership, but often a bridge for a dog who (even if non-aggressive) may be transitioning from a very stressful situation, either pulled from a shelter, had a beloved owner suddenly pass away, or is being rehomed after being bought by an owner who wasn’t a good fit. So I think fosters need to have some dog experience and savvy, ideally more than the ultimate owner. Fostering IMHO is often more of a “bridge” than a “holding pen.”
My local shelter fosters out dogs, often dogs who are highly stressed in a shelter environment and who need a major decompress before being adopted. Rescues (legit ones) my impression suggests similarly try to rely on a network of experienced fosterers.
More than anything, I think building a reputation is the most important thing. There are definitely some shady rescues in NYC that have negative comments from fosters who say the rescue didn’t make good on their willingness to pay for food, vet care, and grooming (for dogs who were infested with fleas). A strong social media presence and shares by people within the networks you want fosterers to come from obviously will also help.
I use Petfinder to look for dogs, and there are a few other social media sites that advertise, and as well as dogs for adoption, dogs are often advertised as “Foster to Adopt” or “Urgent: Foster Needed.”
I am not sure where else they do it, but I see their posts on Facebook. They are likely on all the social media platforms.
Videos on YouTube. One shelter saw an uptick in adoptions by sarcastically ? labeling their dogs, like Dachshund an “a-hole” but lovable, and a cat had a sign “0 days since I scratched someone”. So a sense of humor with a grain of truth helps. The Dachshund had a label that he must be the only animal in the house as it fought with all other dogs.
They were amusing ads and the two got adopted.
Thats too funny but at least a person knows theyre getting the truth.
thank you so much. I hope you havent been burned by the unethical. Fortunately, our rescues have been around for 30 years and have an excellent reputation but its time to amp up the need for new foster families. Times are so hard for people.
