FAQS 

1) How do people build up confidence to foster?

Fosters truly are the FRONT LINE for these animals & a critical step in saving more lives! A foster home is a temporary living situation for animals while they are awaiting placement in a permanent home. Foster families provide shelter, food, care, love, and guidance. The number of animals we can save depends entirely on the number of people who will open their homes and hearts to foster them. For some of these animals, this will be their first experience being treated as a family pet. You are their salvation and you should never underestimate the important role you are playing in their lives!

The only way that we can save animals is with the help of foster homes. Being a foster family has rewards beyond the essential value of helping a pet in need find a new home. For some, it is a chance to have an animal companion without making a lifetime commitment, or to try new companions for an existing pet. Foster Care is critical to our rescue efforts, the more homes we have, the more animals we can save. Becoming a foster family is a very rewarding experience, and can be a lot of fun. There are often tears shed when a foster finally finds a home of their own, but knowing you have saved a life and opened up space to save another is truly rewarding.

2) Is there any type of counseling before getting the dog?

You are welcome to ask the foster coordinator any questions you might have. But we will send you a foster handbook for any further questions, comments or concerns. The most important thing though, is to Provide a safe, clean, and caring environment for the animal. 

3) How do they prepare their home/introduce to other pets and people?

Make sure to tuck away things at dog height that your foster may get into, such as wires, shoes, houseplants, and open garbage cans. If you have another animal in the house, introducing dogs through NEUTRAL territory (a park, grass patch) and having them WALK together before entering the home is IDEAL. The MORE NEUTRAL walks taken, the faster the adjustment period will occur. For cats, please introduce the dog and cat through a baby gate/while the dog is in the crate and continue this until it seems the dog is not excited by the cats presence.

DO NOT feed animals in the same room, do not have them share toys, to start. 

Once you are approved by the rescue group to begin fostering and confirm your commitment to fostering for a certain duration, please keep your promise. It is important that you follow through with your commitment, for the pup's sake.

4) How do they get support when there are issues or problems?

BE FLEXIBLE, BUT STAND UP FOR YOURSELF AND/OR YOUR FOSTER DOG. Rescue organizations frequently deal with stressful situations, so if they do not immediately reply to your questions, try to be understanding and flexible. However, do speak up if you experience serious concerns. Youtube is a GREAT resource for questions and training tips. So is your foster coordinator and the trainer we would connect you with. 

5) What are common problems people face ie sleeping the first few nights, leaving the dog alone, separation anxiety?

Depending on the situation from which the dog comes, your foster dog may need a little (or lot) of time to decompress. Once in your home, the dog might act differently than predicted. If the dog is shying away, let him/her settle down. Do not seek out contact or interactions until the dog comes to you. You can encourage him/her with treats by either sitting on the floor and letting him/her come to you, or by gently calling the dog. Understand that it might take time for your dog to acclimate to you and your home. Dogs respond well to walks, meals, and bedtime happening on a consistent schedule. It is normal for your foster dog to have less of an appetite, fear of urinating on the sidewalk, or sleep a lot for the first few days or so. 

6) What does the rescue provide and what are the finances involved?

The rescue provides/reimburses for leash, collar, harness, crate, bed, dog food. We also create a wishlist for the dog and whatever other needs you might have (poo bags, toys, etc.) and typically it is bought out and shipped directly to you. The other finances may involve cleaning products on your end, otherwise, the rescue pays for both training and veterinary care (as long as its our approved veterinarian or if you use yours, that we ok it beforehand - we usually do). We can also reimburse for gas if needed.

7) What is the timeline from interest to getting the dog?

The timeline is usually pretty immediate if the dog is going to be euthanized, same day. If it is a dog already in the rescue, likely 3-5 days, after speaking with a foster coordinator and someone who has had the dog or has the dog so that you ensure you are going to be fostering a dog that is the right fit.

8) What is the timeline of keeping the dog?

We do ask you to try to keep the dog until adoption so that the dog does not have to shuffle around and adjust to new people and new environments, an extra time. We do of course have temporary foster opportunities as well where there is a set amount of time. If you are unable to commit indefinitely, although usually the timeline is around 4 months, we are happy to accept temporary foster placements as long as this is well known to us beforehand. 

9) What if the foster wants to keep the dog?

We love foster fails! You will still have to go through the adoption process (interview, paperwork, fee). Just let the rescue know (the person you are in contact with from the rescue, or just go straight ahead and fill an adoption application). Yes, it is different than the foster application! 

10) Who pays if the dog needs formal training?

The rescue will be financially responsible and send their trainer for private sessions once a week, or as needed. 

11) What is liability if there is a dog bite?

The rescue has insurance but this does fall on a foster, unfortunately, we cannot take responsibility for fosters actions as many times that and misunderstanding of the dog and putting them in uncomfortable situations are the cause for bites.

12) Are fosters responsible for networking?

They are not “responsible”, but of course, it helps get the dog adopted if the word could be spread. What IS required is photos and videos be sent to the media manager so that we can network (we will network all dogs, you networking is just an extra push to a different population). 

13) What is the difference between fostering from a rescue as opposed to a shelter?

Fostering with a shelter is not as personalized, there is not a foster coordinator that can text you and check in with you and your foster pup, offer to send supplies, offer a trainer, offer our VAST knowledge on advice and have adoption events like rescues do. Also, the networking done by the rescue is much more vast and successful. 

14) What happens if there is an emergency or the foster needs to return the dog?

If there is an emergency, of course Bubbles will always take the dog back. We do just ASK for as MUCH warning as possible, and unless it is a real emergency, we ask for 72 hours so we could find a place for the dog that would not be a boarding , as kennels are stressful for dogs, especially rescues that spent so long in one! If it is a real emergency, you call the person who is managing you or the emergency line and of course we will coordinate from there.