Fostering with UK Spaniel Rescue
Give a Spaniel a safe and caring place to stay while they wait for their forever home.
Foster carers play an important role in helping our Spaniels settle, understand their needs and prepare for life in their forever home.
Lyra
Adopted July 2025
Thinking About Fostering?
A message from one of our founders and trustee, Lisa
Finding the Right Foster Match
Every dog has their own history, personality, needs and quirks.
Fostering starts with understanding both the dog and the person offering to foster. We take the time to consider your experience, home, lifestyle and availability alongside the needs of the dog.
Our team then considers which foster placement is the most suitable for each dog in our care.
Sometimes a dog may need a different type of foster home than you expected — and that’s okay. Finding the right foster match is about creating the best possible environment for the dog while making sure the placement works for the foster carer too.
What Foster Carers Need to Know
01
Time, Space & Patience
A genuine love of dogs, along with the time, space and patience to help them settle in, is essential.
02
Regular Updates & Photos
Regular updates and plenty of photos help us promote the dog to potential adopters.
03
Confidence & Understanding
Confidence, compassion and attention to individual needs are vital when caring for a rescue dog.
04
Reliability & Trust
You’ll be part of a wider team and need to follow guidance and support the rescue throughout each foster placement.
05
Full Support From UKSR
You’ll receive support from a dedicated team, with all approved foster expenses covered.
06
Understand the Dog
Fostering helps us assess dogs before adoption and work through any issues they may have.
07
Honesty Is Essential
Some dogs may need experienced carers or homes without children or pets. The right match is important.
08
A Foster Agreement
There’s a foster agreement for each dog, outlining important conditions for everyone’s safety and wellbeing.
09
Foster Placements
The average foster placement is 2–4 weeks, but it can be shorter or longer depending on the dog and circumstances.
10
Meet Each Dog’s Needs
Your foster dog will need the exercise, stimulation, care and attention appropriate to them.
A note about the fostering process
The steps above are an indication of how our fostering process works, rather than a set of hard and fast stages or a promise of how quickly a placement will happen.
Every foster application is assessed on its own merits, and finding the right foster match takes time. We consider your experience, home, lifestyle and availability alongside the individual needs of the dog.
Sometimes the dog you initially expect to foster may not be the right match for your circumstances, and our team may suggest a different placement. Equally, a dog may need a particular type of foster home or additional support before a placement can go ahead.
Our priority is always to find the right outcome for the dog and their foster carer. That means taking the time to make sure the placement is suitable, safe and gives the dog the best possible chance of settling and progressing towards their forever home.
Fostering a Dog – Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question? Look here first. If your answer isn’t here, please contact us. We aim to reply within 3 days.
Why do you foster out dogs?
There may be any number of reasons for fostering but the main one is to further assess the dog in a home environment as we need to see how the dog reacts to various stimuli in the home
Why do you need proof of my ID?
We need to verify your identity as we will need your details for the microchip of the dog (it must be registered to the keeper) and for the safety of our volunteers
I live in rented property, will I still be able to have a dog?
Yes, all we need is written confirmation from your landlord. This is to protect both you and the dog
How long will I be expected to foster a dog?
Unless it’s a temporary foster, it’s difficult to tell but we do like to get our dogs into adoption as soon as possible. You will be kept updated with how the adoption process is going
What happens if I can no longer care for the dog?
We ask that you contact us as soon as possible but also ask you to be patient as we can’t always place dogs overnight. If there is an emergency we will look for emergency kennels that can take the dog until we find an alternative foster
Who pays for medical bills if they arise?
We will pay for all medical bills for the foster dog. We will ask you if you have a preferred veterinary practice and will look to setting up an account there for you
What should I do if there’s a medical emergency?
Contact the vet immediately and explain that the dog is a foster with UK Spaniel Rescue. We will provide you with a letter of authorisation for treatment for your foster dog
Who is responsible for communicating with potential adopters, screening them and introducing the dog to them?
The rehoming team will deal with all queries but we will ask you to provide regular updates on your foster dog and be available at a mutually convenient time for adopters to meet the dog
Will I be required to bring him to adoption events and, if so, where/when?
There may be the possibility of doing this in the future but for the time being, we have no plans
Will you provide food, supplies (such as a lead or crate), medications, etc., or will I be expected to?
We will provide everything you need for your foster dog. Generally we will order items to be sent directly to you
As a foster carer, what am I responsible for?
You are responsible for looking after the foster dog in the best way that you can. You will be given a Foster Agreement that will give personalised information for your dog
If I have a problem, whom can I contact? If I leave a message, how quickly will that person get back to me?
You will be assigned an adoption co-ordinator who will be your first point of contact but in an emergency, any of the team will be available to you
Can I adopt if I choose?
Yes, of course. Foster carers often form a bond with their dogs and often wish to adopt. You will still receive full backup from UK Spaniel Rescue
Are home checks carried out in person/virtually?
All homechecks are carried out in person by one of our volunteers
How long does the process take?
There are a few factors to take into account. It can be as fast as 2 weeks or it can take longer. It also depends on which dogs we have in and if they are a good match.
“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”
Orhan Pamuk