How Do Fosters Do It?

We are always in need of foster homes for the Newfs who come through our program. Many families are reluctant to volunteer to open their hearts and home to a foster dog because they fear they will be heartbroken when adoption day comes and the dog is ready to move on.

One of our volunteer fosters, Allison, wrote the following response to the question…..

How Do Fosters Do It?

People are always curious about dog fostering, say they’d love to do it but they can’t, they’d end up with a house full of dogs because they couldn’t bear to give the foster dog up. How do fosters do it? The answer is fairly simple. Rigorous screening of potential adoptive families.
As a foster volunteer, when you know that the rescue team is going to find an amazing, loving forever home for your foster, it gives you a great sense of peace. You don’t have to worry that the dog is going to end up back in rescue or that it won’t have someone to love and cuddle it as much as you do. The people that are chosen to adopt our dogs are wonderful, the kind of people that you would let babysit your own dog. Yes, on Adoption Day, tears may be shed, but they are happy tears because you know, without a doubt, that your foster will be well cared for and extremely happy for the rest of its life. The feeling of accomplishment is tremendous. You helped that dog when he needed it, you welcomed him into your home, gave him love, vet care, exercise, grooming, whatever was required, you did it and on Adoption Day you are seeing the benefits of your efforts… a dog that didn’t have a home or family starting a new life with the best family possible. Nothing beats the exhilaration you feel inside, knowing you, as a loving foster, made it possible.
Foster volunteers are vitally important and without them, dog rescue could not take place. Will you consider opening your heart and home to a dog in need? Try it once and if you don’t experience a huge sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, you don’t have to do it again. But at least doing it once, you helped one dog.

“Saving one dog might not change the world, but it could
sure change the world for that one dog.”

Please send us an email if you would like more information about becoming a volunteer foster family for a Newf in need, or complete our foster application found here to begin the process.