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1.
Is fostering the right thing
for me?
2. Why is the foster program
so important?
3. How do you match a dog
with a foster home?
4. Who pays for vet care and
other expenses?
5. How long will I foster a
dog? What if I go on vacation?
6. What are the requirements
for being a foster person?
7. Will I be involved with
the adoption process?
8. What's the next step? How
do I become an HDF foster person?
1. Is fostering the right thing
for me?
If you cannot adopt a dog but are interested in helping dogs in need,
you would be a perfect foster family. Or, if you are considering
adopting a dog
 yourself,
fostering is a great way to discover just what temperament or energy
level in a dog is best for your household.
Depending upon the circumstances, you may end up adopting an HDF dog
that you foster. Many of our foster homes continue to foster our dogs
even after they have adopted one of their own - we love that!
2. Why is the foster program so
important?
HDF receives numerous phone calls and emails every week begging us to
take a shelter dog or a stray whose owners cannot be found. Often, we
must put dogs on waiting lists or reluctantly turn them away simply
because we don't have a foster home available. HDF does not have a
physical shelter, so our foster homes are our most important link in our
rescue chain. Without their hard work and assistance, we could not save,
rehabilitate and place these homeless dogs.
Rescued dogs have special needs. Many of these dogs have never been
given any love, obedience training, or medical treatment prior to being
taken in by HDF. Working with these dogs can sometimes be frustrating
and very time consuming, but seeing your "diamond in the rough" foster
dog go to its new home happy and well adjusted is incredibly satisfying
and rewarding. Our foster homes tell us their experience has made them
better and more knowledgeable dog owners.
3. How do you match a dog with
a foster home?
Foster homes provide more than room and board; they provide an
environment in which the dogs can become healthy and happy. We try to
match foster dogs and homes based on the preferences and skills of each
home. For example, those who enjoy obedience training will get those
dogs needing more help in this area; those who exercise a lot will
foster higher energy dogs; and so on. While at the foster homes, the
dogs are evaluated so that our Adoption Coordinator can make the best
match between adoptive home and available dog. If the dog would be
happier as a service or working dog, you can help us test for and
discover this too!
4. Who pays for vet care and
other expenses?
 HDF
pays for all medical care for the dogs. Our foster homes donate their
home, time, food (we can even supply food if necessary), love, and all
the other necessary ingredients for a healthy, happy dog.
All our rescued dogs receive emergency medical care if necessary as well
as routine medical care: have their shots brought up to date, are tested
and, if required, treated for heartworm and parasites, are put on
heartworm preventative, etc.
5. How long will I foster a
dog? What if I go on vacation?
Because our goal is not to simply find homes for these dogs, but also to
meet their physical, mental, and social needs before placing them, our
dogs average three to six weeks in our system, sometimes more and
sometimes less.
However the foster program is flexible - we work around your schedule.
If you can foster for only a specific time period, let us know in
advance and we will accommodate that.
6. What are the requirements
for being a foster person?
* Experience With Dogs - Previous
experience with dog ownership is preferred. Experience with obedience
training is not necessary, however it would be ideal if you could work
with the dog in rehabilitating behavioral issues they may have, such as
separation anxiety or shyness, in order to better prepare them for their
forever homes.
* Exercise – We ask that all foster
families walk or exercise the dog on a daily basis, according to the
needs of the dog.
* Time – Because rescued dogs have
special needs, we are looking for foster families that have enough time
to spend with their foster dog each day.
* Adoption Events - We ask that all
foster families attend the
Meet & Greets
(at various locations) so that potential adopters may meet the dog
you're fostering. If you do not have a car or are unable to attend the
Meet & Greets due to your schedule, we ask that you arrange for a friend
or family member to bring the dog to the events.
* Adoption Meetings - While you are
fostering, our Adoption Coordinator may also contact you about
scheduling a mutually convenient time for potential adopters to visit
the dog, whether at your home or another convenient location. This
allows adopters the chance to play and interact with the dog to see if
this is "the one."
* Dog Transport - Because HDF is run
entirely by volunteers, it would be very helpful if you are additionally
able to help us with dog transport. HDF dogs often need to be taken to
the vet for vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries and other medical care,
prior to their adoption.
7. Will I be involved with the
adoption process?
You will not be directly involved with the actual selection of the
adopter. HDF's Adoption Coordinator is responsible for this. We just ask
that you bring the foster dog to our adoption events in order to help
him or her find a permanent home.
8. What's the next step? How do
I become an HDF foster person?
If you would like to become a foster family for our rescued dogs, please
fill out the
online Foster Questionnaire or
use the printable Foster Questionnaire
(PDF)* or
Foster Questionnaire
(MS Word) and email or mail it to us. If you have
questions about the program that were not addressed here, please call us
at (808) 782-8387.
As in the adoption process, once your application is received and
reviewed, a telephone interview ay be conducted, followed by a house
check. If approved, we will contact you about fostering your first dog.
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