If you wish to foster a dog with HOPE, here are some fostering tips you will need.
Harper & her foster, Fiona
Olive & her foster, Juliana
Malcolm & his foster, Grace
How do I help by fostering a dog?
When you agree to foster a dog, you are opening up your home to a dog for a period of time until we find an adopter for the dog. This helps us to save on funds typically used to put the dogs up in commercial kennels or boarding facilities, which can instead be used to buy food and medication for the dogs. Dogs also thrive better in an environment with people than in the kennels.
Where do your HOPE dogs come from?
Our dogs come from anywhere and everywhere. Every month, we at HOPE rescue countless dogs from a hard life on the streets, or from abusive owners. These dogs may be malnourished, in need of medical attention, or traumatized from abuse and neglect. Thus, we need caring individuals like you to welcome our rescued dogs into your home as they heal and wait to be permanently rehomed.
What happens after you rescue them?
We send our rescues to the vet to certify them healthy before releasing them for fostering or adoption. There will be the few special ones who may take a little longer to recover from injury or illness. For these dogs who need extra care, the fosterer will be informed so that he/she can make an informed decision on whether to take them home or not.
What do I do when I’m fostering a dog?
When you foster a dog, you are not only providing shelter, food and healthcare, you will also be responsible (to the best of your ability) for learning about and assessing the dog's temperament, character and abilities before finding it a new home.
Of course, you will need to care for your foster dog just like you would for a forever pet. Foster duties include:
Of course, you will need to care for your foster dog just like you would for a forever pet. Foster duties include:
- Feeding daily meals (we advocate home-cooked food)
- Walking the dog regularly (2-3 times a day at least)
- Administering medication, if required
- Bathing the dog (once a week)
- Toilet training the dog (paper train)
- Teaching basic commands such as sit, stay, wait and down.
- Teaching social skills and getting the dog adjusted to urban living
- Accompanying the dog to the vet clinic for any scheduled appointments (if no personal transport is available, pet transport can be arranged by HOPE)
- Observing the dog’s temperament/habits and sharing with the rest of the team (This would help us better understand the dog and thus make a better match when rehoming to the right family)
- Showing the love and care the dog deserves!
 |
| Travis and foster dog, Daisy |
What must I do to qualify?
Please evaluate the available space in your house, the amount of time and resources you can commit to the dog, and prepare your housemates/family members for the adjustments that the dog’s arrival will bring. Most importantly, please ensure that you have love and patience in your heart. Fostering can be trying at times, but the experience is rewarding. In fostering a dog, you have the important role of helping the dog on its path to recovery and preparing it for its forever home.
Can fosterers become adopters?
There have been instances where some fosterers have adopted the dog they are fostering. When any dog is ready for adoption, should the fosterer be interested in adoption, he/she will go through the same stringent criteria as any other potential adopters and will receive no priority. Fosters are also not involved in the rehoming process, other than advising us on the dog's temperament, behaviour and such so that we can find a good match between the dog and its future family.
This also ensures fairness in the adoption process, and that the dog receives the best home it deserves.
My home is ready for the dog!
Once you’ve decided that you, your family and your home are ready to help our dogs, we will be happy to guide you along the way. As a fosterer, you play an important part in helping a dog as it blossoms in a loving home environment. It is a truly rewarding experience that our fosterers never forget.
 |
| Ivy and foster dog, Chelsea |
If you feel that you are ready for this life-changing experience (and the responsibilities that come with it), please fill up online form here.
Thank you for helping our furry friends!
19.10.22
Fostering for HOPE
You may have seen our constant posts for fosters, and some of you have written in. Yet, we continue to post for fosters, because we can't find the right fit. Read: Fostering for HOPE
