A candidate for dog fostering will:
* Be over 18 years old
* Have previously, as an adult, independently owned dogs before.
* Be knowledgeable about the breed, dog behaviour and be confident with handling dogs
* Be willing to continue any ongoing training as required (supported by our behaviourists) and follow any plan provided.
* Keep the foster manager up to date with availability and ideally (but not essential) be available at short notice
* Be available to foster as an emergency, short term or long term (please state on your application form)
* Be home for a large part of the day and not leave the dog alone for more than 4 hours.
* Keep in contact with the adoption co-ordinator via phone or email and fill in a weekly feedback form that includes videos and a weight check.
* Keep a diary of the dog’s daily routine as this will help the transition between fosterer and adopter.
* When a dog is in your care respond to messages within 24 hours unless advised adoption co-ordinator that you are away / unavailable
* Be open and honest and report to case worker any incident, illness or behaviour that has been observed with the dog whilst it is placed with you.
* Once a placement has been agreed be able to meet and introduce the dog to potential adopters at short notice (within 24hrs) of placement date.
* Have their own transport to take the dog to vet appointments
* A quiet and stress-free environment for their foster dog – remember, this may be the first time the dog has been away from its family.
* Have an enclosed garden/outside space with a fence or wall no lower than 6ft
* If there are other pets they must be neutered and vaccinated, of a calm disposition
* Have no children under 12 years of age
* The average foster placement is 2-4 weeks but can be shorter or longer. Understand we cannot move a dog immediately if there are issues and this may take a couple of weeks.
* Give your foster dog the exercise and stimulation it requires
* Observe and report any concerns about the animals’ welfare
What makes a great fosterer?
* a love of dogs
* having time to spend with a dog
*providing regular foster updates
* sending lots of photos
*promoting the dog to prospective new owners
*time to allow the dog to get used to its new surroundings
* confident and able to safely handle dogs with care and attention to detail
* have compassion and empathy
* be reliable and trustworthy
* able to take direction and follow detailed instruction from UK Spaniel Rescue
* Fostering can be very rewarding and a great way of caring for a dog for those who are unable to have a dog of their own. UK Spaniel Rescue will pay for everything you need and will set up an account with the vet of your choice so you aren’t worrying about having to claim back for vet’s bills.
* You will have ongoing support from your own adoption co-ordinator and access to our behaviourist for any issues that might arise whilst our Spaniel is with you.
* Fostering also gives us the chance to assess the dog before it moves into adoption and to work on any issues (with the help of our behaviourists) that the dog may have.
* There are a number of conditions that we ask you to abide by for the benefit of both yourself and the dog and these are set out in the foster agreement. You will receive a new one for each dog that you foster with us.
* We do ask that you are completely honest when filling in the foster application form as some of our dogs may have minor issues that someone with experience of owning a Spaniel will be able to help with, along with full support.
* A lot of the time we will need fosters that don’t have children or other pets, based simply on the fact that we are unsure of how the dog will react in a new home if not used to living in a family with either, thus there may be long periods when you are not contacted to foster but this does not mean you are unsuitable, we just aren’t able to match you with a dog at the time
If this sounds like you, please complete our fostering form by clicking on the link and a member of the team will contact you shortly
“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”– Orhan Pamuk