Foster a dog
Covid-19 Update!
We’re currently working alongside our incredible friends at The Country Dog Hotel to help match up vulnerable people and key workers with fosters across the country. With more people isolating at home, it’s a great time to experience fostering a dog and could make the world of difference to someone who needs help in these strange times.
Get in touch with The Country Dog Hotel if you’re:
- interested in offering your services as a foster or dog walker
- someone who needs support caring for your dog at the moment (or the friend / relative / neighbour of someone you know needs help)
We’re hoping to bring over as many dogs as we possibly can from our overseas shelters during this period, and will need the support of our foster community more than ever to ensure that we can rehome as many dogs as possible and relieve the strain on shelters already overstretched for space and resource.
Restrictions on international travel and import are making this increasingly difficult, but we are monitoring the situation daily and will be primed and ready to jump on any transport opportunity that arises. Stay up to date by following us on Instagram or subscribing to our Foster Mailing List.
Fostering a dog is one of the most impactful ways you can help a rescue dog find the happy ending they deserve. Not only does it give a dog in need a huge head-start in their journey to a forever home, it is also hugely rewarding for you!
We’re always on the look out for new fosters to add to our UK network, especially if you have experience with rescue dogs and/or you live in a rural area. If you think you could provide a dog who needs it most with the security of a loving home, no matter how temporary, we would be delighted to hear from you. Fill in our Foster Form to get started, or read on to find out more about why dogs need fostering, and what fostering a rescue dog entails.
Sign up to our fostering email bulletin to receive updates and urgent appeals about dogs in need of temporary homes.
Foster Form
Why our dogs need fostering
There are a number of reasons a Wild at Heart Foundation dog might need a foster home. Despite common misconceptions, it’s very rare that the problem has been caused by the dog alone; more often it’s due to a change in circumstances in the home that make it hard for the adopter to keep their pet.
In these instances, we always ask our adopters to return their dog to Wild at Heart Foundation’s care. We see it as a crucial part of our duty of care to take any of our dogs back under our wing. It’s important in these instances that we find them a safe and happy place to live while we secure them a new permanent home: and that’s where fostering comes in!
The most common reasons a WAHF dog may need a foster home are:
- Their transport out of the shelter they’ve been in overseas has been booked but their adoption falls through / is delayed. When this happens, we’re always keen to ensure that the dog can still make their journey out of the shelter – a foster can help bridge the gap between shelter life and their forever home.
- An adopters’ living circumstances change, meaning they can no longer care for their dog. We take every precaution to educate all prospective adopters as to commitment needed to care for a dog for the entirety of its life, but sometimes things crop up that are unavoidable. Our adopters are usually heartbroken at the idea of giving up their beloved pet, and we know that change can be hugely stressful for a dog. Easing this transition by providing a safe, loving foster while they wait for their next chapter is a hugely beneficial way of ensuring this change is as easy as it can possibly be for the dog.
What does fostering entail?
How does Wild at Heart Foundation support their fosters?
We’re always delighted when someone is generous to consider welcoming a dog into their home on a temporary basis, and we do our best to make the experience as easy and enjoyable for both dog and human as we can!
Our fosters receive:
- Ongoing support from our Adoption Team. We’re always on hand to offer advice and hear how you’re getting on, and will remain in regular contact with you throughout the foster period.
- Medical costs. Any veterinary costs the dog may incur during their time with you will, naturally, be fully covered by us.
- A free box of Butternut Box dog food – around 2-3 weeks worth of food (depending on the size of the dog!) to help you get started on your foster journey.
- We’ll also reimburse the cost up to £40 of essential items if required (collar, lead, bowls, bed, etc.) to help get your foster dog settled comfortably and safely. This is at each foster’s discretion, so do let us know if you’d like our support.
- A Wild at Heart Foundation goodie to say thank you for your generosity!
How long does fostering last?
The length of a dog’s stay in your care can vary hugely depending on the circumstances – fostering may only last for a matter of days or weeks, or can be a longer term commitment. We always take each foster’s circumstances into account before matching them with a dog, and will of course work within your personal timeframes.
However long you’re able to open your home to a dog who needs it most, fostering really does mean the difference between a stressful and confusing upheaval, and a gentle, compassionate transition into a new way of life.