Anyone fostering (or has fostered) a rescue dog

stanleh

We are looking in to fostering a dog for a local rescue org but DH is not 100% sold.  I've talked with the rescue org and I am comfortable with all that is entailed however, DH is afraid I am going to get attached to the dog and not want to give it up.  I started looking in to fostering after we lost our bulldog b/c I know DH is not ready to commit to another dog for it's lifetime, yet and I know our next dog will not be a bulldog but I love the breed and would love to help one out.

If you have fostered, how hard is it when the dog leaves you b/c it is adopted? 

Any potential pitfalls to look out for?  We have two small kids but they were never really attached to our dog so I'm not really overly worried that they will get attached.

Thanks!

RedheadBaker

I fostered for a high-kill rescue in my city. 

For me, it depended on the dog. One dog stayed with me for three months and it was HARD when he got adopted.

The two others had some issues (separation anxiety, mostly) and my Aussie Shepherd had issues with them (guarding behavior) and I was relieved when they got adopted. 

I dealt with the sadness of the first dog getting adopted by making sure he went to an awesome home (he goes to work with this "dad," and goes to the beach just about every weekend!) and by going out the next night and getting another foster. 

I didn't have kids while I was fostering so I can't help there, but depending on their ages, I would just stress that it's a temporary arrangement, and that you're letting the dog stay with you for a while as he finds his new home.  

dmarie979

I am currently fostering a 2 year old pitty mix and honestly it hasn't been the easiest. She was horribly behaved when I got her and never had any training. I have also broken up numerous fights (I have 2 other dogs). I like her and I will miss when she gets adopted but I will also be relieved because it is stressful at times. Don't get me wrong, I love fostering and plan on continuing but it isn't always a walk in the park. I have to take her to weekly obedience training not to mention working with her several times a day on what she is learning. Luckily she picks things up super quick but it is still time consuming.

One question to ask the rescue group is if you can apply to adopt if you guys truly fall in love with a dog. Some places will and some won't.

Also, what about compromising and maybe not fostering a bulldog but rather another breed? You would still be saving a life!

stanleh

The rescue org will give the foster family right of first refusal if someone is interested in adopting the dog, so that's good.  The reason I looked in to bulldog rescue was b/c our dog died very unexpectedly and I know fostering is really the only way to have a bulldog b/c we plan to get a more active dog, when we do decide to commit to a dog for it's lifetime.  Of course, fostering a different breed would be a good way to "test drive" our new family member.

dmarie979

I understand your grief but I worry that you are setting yourself up for failure by fostering a bulldog. You lost a dog so you want to help another that you will ultimately "lose" again because you don't want one as a breed permanently? I foster pits because I like pits and I am prepared to adopt one if the RIGHT one came around. I think you might need to give this more thought and maybe fostering another breed to "test drive" like you said.

DanniLynn88

Ive fostered before. It was a heartworm positive 16 year old chihuahua. He became super attached and couldn't be rehomed. He wouldn't let anyone but my DH and I touch him. It broke my heart because the rescue group told me if he went back he would be put down as unadoptable. I wont foster anymore because of that. I adopted that dog and he lived two years happily in my home, but it was a hard cycle knowing that I had no choice but to keep him. 

PunkyBooster

We have fostered 13 or 14 dogs. It has been a great experience.

 If you have fostered, how hard is it when the dog leaves you b/c it is adopted? 

Honestly? A lot less hard than knowing he or she would have been killed in the shelter. Some dogs leave me with a really heavy heart. I can think of 2 I straight up ugly cried for days after getting adopted. Some I dont love as much, so it is bittersweet, but I'm happy for them. I choose my adopters, so I always feel good about placement. 

 

As for pitfalls, I'd make sure the tester kid-tests any potential fosters. I would be careful not to take fear dogs (I have one, so I say this with upmost love, but she isn't good with kids who don't belong to her pack, it just is what it is.)

 

caitidp

I work with multiple different rescues in my area, one more so than the others, and my main job in this rescue is with the foster program.

 

We have fostered many dogs and absolutely LOVE it. Some have been harder to give up than others. They become part of your family for however long they're with you, but it does get much easier the more dogs you get. Currently we can't handle another dog because we don't own a house yet (working on that now) so we don't know where we will be, so that definitely makes it easier to not adopt them!

 I hear this reason a lot. People say they can't foster because they'll just want to keep them all. I look at it this way..is that a good enough reason to let a dog get put down? I stay in contact with almost all of my previous foster's adopters and see many of them pretty often. It isn't like once they get adopted, that's done and you never get to see them or hear of them again.

I have an English Bulldog and she's my baby and I'm obsessed with the breed, which is exactly why I DON'T foster them. I know that I won't be able to let them go. So like many others have said, if that's the concern, at least start with fostering another breed and see how attached you get.

 Also, any good rescue will find a new foster home for a dog if it just isn't working out in your home (like aggression with children). 

Good luck! You will love it once you start!