Fostering is necessary in our area. The shelter is always full.  When we have puppies we really need them to be in a foster home. Puppies rarely live in the shelter. Fostering a dog gets them ready for their furever home. After being in the shelter it takes dogs time to adjust. That adjustment is made so much better by having a foster to get them through that transition.  

Fostering a dog is one of many ways you can help improve the lives of homeless pets. Some people are well aware of the pet overpopulation problem both nationally and internationally – there are millions of dogs that wait and sadly die in shelters and rescues annually, awaiting the forever homes they truly deserve. At Saving Paws of Caldwell’s shelter we do not euthanize our dogs. 

While shelters and rescue facilities would like to house every homeless pet, this is often impractical and impossible due to a lack of resources or space. Dogs that would otherwise be euthanized due to lack of space can be saved through caring people who are willing to open their home and hearts to a shelter pet in need.

Many homeless pets grew up in homes where they were well-loved family members. For whatever reason, these dogs find themselves homeless and alone. It is scary and stressful to go from a place where you are well loved and surrounded by your family to a place where you are surrounded by strange dogs, people, sights, and sounds. In many of these dogs, the stress is manifested in the form of unwanted or self-destructive behaviors.

Foster homes are a great solution for dogs with kennel stress or other special needs. Whelping mothers, young puppies, and senior dogs are especially vulnerable to the shelter environment and need a quiet place to raise young, grow, and age peacefully until the right forever home can be found. If you choose to become a foster provider, you give these dogs a chance at life, and save them from the fate so many others suffer – euthanization while awaiting a forever home. SPC is a No Kill Shelter.

So you’ve decided you want to become a pet foster parent. Great! Providing foster care for dogs will certainly be a rewarding experience, but will just as likely be emotionally challenging. Sending a successful foster to his forever home is bittersweet – you are saying goodbye to a friend, which hurts, but are also sending him on to the greatest adventure of his life – a place where he will be cherished and loved until he goes to a forever home.

What kind of behavior problems are you comfortable dealing with – counter surfing, pulling on leash, jumping when greeting, inappropriate elimination, separation anxiety, barking, reactivity? Don’t accept a foster with behavior problems beyond your experience and knowledge, unless you are willing to consult with a qualified trainer.