Why foster for Peace Love & Poms Rescue?

 

Fostering is a very important part of rescue because it allows more animals to be saved. There is a capacity on how many dogs Peace Love & Poms Rescue can have at one time and sadly we can’t save every dog that needs our help. Every foster home that welcomes a foster dog, opens a space at the rescue so that another dog can be saved.  Fostering also provides an in-home experience, which makes the dog that much more adaptable.  Fostering is extremely rewarding and you are helping to save innocent lives. 

 

What is the process to foster Peace Love & Poms?

STEP 1

Whether you think you know which dog you’d like to foster or not, the first step is to fill out a foster application. A Peace Love & Poms Representative will review your application and contact the personal and veterinarian (if applicable) references that you provide.

Please be sure to notify your veterinarian’s office and give them permission to discuss/release your records to Peace Love & Poms.

ALSO, IF YOU RENT YOUR HOME, YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE PROCESSED UNTIL YOU SEND A SIGNED LETTER FROM YOUR LANDLORD TO PEACELOVEPOMSRESCUE@gmail.com STATING THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE A DOG OF THE SIZE AND BREED THAT YOU SEEK.

STEP 2

If the references indicate that you would be a good fit to foster for Peace Love & Poms, the next step is a conversation with you.  Our representative will contact you to discuss your lifestyle to determine which dog/dogs may be a good fit for your home.  From there a time will be set up for you to come to meet some potential candidates.

STEP 3

Once it is confirmed that all people and animals get along and are a good match, the Peace Love & Poms Representative will schedule a time to come to your home with the potential foster dog.  The Peace Love & Poms Representative will visually confirm that your home is a safe environment and will stay long enough to make sure all animals share the home comfortably.

STEP 4

If all goes well at the home visit, a foster agreement is signed and the foster dog will stay with the foster family.  Some foster situations require more than one home visit to acclimate everyone.

STEP 5

Once the dog is in his or her foster home it is important to establish a schedule and help your dog make the transition.

 

What are the requirements to foster?

We require each potential foster to fill out a foster application, provide references, allow a home visit, and be willing to drive of the rescue.  Each dog at Peace Love & Poms has different needs and has different requirements in their ideal foster home.  In general, we do not require a fenced-in yard, however, we do have a few specific dogs who do require a fenced-in yard.   If you do not own your home, we require a letter from your landlord stating that they will allow you to foster a dog of the breed and size you are seeking.

What is the cost to foster?

 

There is no cost associated with fostering. 

Peace Love & Poms Rescue will pay for all veterinary care.  We can also provide all the necessities such as a crate, bowls, harness, leash, food, bedding, treats, and toys. We just ask that the foster family provides a safe, loving environment, a daily routine, and general training/manners, daily exercise, and lots of love. Fostering can last anywhere from a few days to a few years depending on how quickly the foster dog gets adopted.

 

How to help your foster dog transition into your home

It is important to understand and respect the life-changing transition your new dog experiences when he or she is taken from the rescue, where they were on a daily schedule and knew the routine and put in a new environment with new people and their daily life is turned upside-down.  Below we provide some tips you can follow and some resources that you can review to help make the transition smoother and easier on your new dog.

  1. Have an adequately sized crate (Peace Love & Poms Representative can tell you what size is best for your dog), bedding, water and food bowls, toys, treats, collar, and leash ready before your home visit.
  2. Let the dog have some downtime in his or her new crate for varying periods of time, so he or she gets comfortable in “his or her” space.  This also helps prevent the dog from thinking you will be gone for a full 8 or 9 hours every time he or she goes in the crate.
  3. Ask your friends and family to give you and your new foster a few days to acclimate before they swarm the house to meet your new addition.
  4. Establish a daily schedule for your foster dog right away. He or she will get more comfortable as the daily routine is learned and he or she knows what to expect.
  5. As much as you may want to, do not bathe your new dog immediately if you don’t medically have to.  Let the dog get to know and trust you and the different areas of your home before you force him or her into the tub and douse with him or her water. This can be traumatic for a dog anxious about new people and the environment.
  6. Give your dog two to four weeks to really adjust to their new home and fully come out of their shell.
  7. Take all new experiences slowly and reassure your dog that it is OK. Simple things like doorbells, vacuums, and stairs can be challenging new experiences for dogs who have never been in a home.   
  8. Start obedience training with your new dog.  The experience will help build the bond between the two of you, will build your dog’s confidence and yours knowing you have a well-behaved dog.
  9. Stay in contact with your Peace Love & Poms Representative.  This person will be your resource for any questions that may arise, as well as provide you with any help you may need in regards to acclimating, training, or health concerns with your foster dog.