truth about fostering

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At first glance, fostering a dog can seem like a big undertaking, but it is one of the most rewarding ways to make a difference in an abandoned or abused dog's life.

Everyone benefits from a fostering situation.

The foster home gets to help a special and deserving dog, meaning one less dog has to die. When that dog is fostered out, the shelter can make space for a new dog that needs to be taken in. The foster dog gets a break from kennel life and a second chance. Most dogs do not do well in a shelter environment and their true personalities are overshadowed by the stress, fear and anxiety that they experience being abandoned, locked in a cage and surrounded by other frightened and agitated dogs. When potential adopters visit, they see a depressed, shy or frightened animal that barks or backs into a corner when they would otherwise be happy and social in a non-shelter environment. And finally, the new owners get a dog that is better adapted to home life, with a better chance of staying in its "furever" home.

Most dogs that sit in shelters are past the "cute" puppy stage, but given time and maybe some basic training, these overlooked dogs that might otherwise be euthanized for lack of space, can become wonderful companions and find permanent, loving homes.

The role of a foster home is really just the same as with your personal dog and includes day-to-day care such as feeding, grooming and exercise. Like with any other dog, a foster may have to enforce basic training like house training, walking on leash, sit, down or behavior modification to correct problems such as jumping, mouthing, barking etc. Fosters are also asked to help with socialization and medical care like dispensing medication, taking the dog to vet appointments and of course plenty of playtime and snuggling. Just picture the type of dog YOU would want to adopt...a foster helps their rescued dog get to that point! But not all foster dogs require that degree of help, some are perfectly adoptable right from the get-go and just need a safe and loving home until their new owners find them.

Freedom Dog Rescue would not exist if it were not for our foster homes and dedicated volunteers. Fostering can be a very rewarding experience for everyone involved, but it does require patience and work. We try to find the best foster home for our dogs, as well as find the right dog for you and your lifestyle. Note that we provide all food, veterinary costs, medications, dog beds, leashes, collars, etc. Fosters only need to provide a safe loving home.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or concerns, or you can fill out a foster application.  Forward the completed application to freedomdogrescue@gmail.com and a member of the Freedom team will get back to you shortly! Because we are all volunteers who have full-time jobs as well as young families, we ask for your understanding and patience throughout our approval process.

The act of volunteering is a selfless one, allowing us to gain new skills, new friends and a new perspective.  It has been said that volunteering is not for the faint of heart. It requires dedication, reliability, education  and commitment. When you volunteer you give part of yourself; your time, your energy and skills. It can be a one-time event, or become a lifetime activity. At Freedom Dog Rescue, we believe that each volunteer who contributes by fostering, fundraising, transporting, and a myriad of other jobs we need to do, makes a huge difference in the life of a rescued animal. We need lots of people to help, in order to grow and be able to rescue effectively and efficiently.

Please feel free to contact us at freedomdogrescue@gmail.com if you have any questions about volunteering, or you can fill out a volunteer application below and a member of the Freedom team will get back to you shortly! We are all volunteers who have full-time jobs as well as young families, therefore, we ask for your understanding and patience throughout our approval process.