Fostering is a vitally important part of animal rescue. Fostering a dog frees up space in the shelters, so that shelter residents can stay longer or new dogs can be brought into the shelter. Through one foster home, two dogs can be given a chance at a forever home.
If you are interested in fostering, please apply here.
BAPBR is exclusively a foster-based rescue. With no shelter or boarding facility, every dog we take in must have a foster home, making foster families crucial to our mission.
Our foster families provide essential care, consistency and sometimes training, that enables the dogs to succeed once they are adopted to their forever home. BAPBR dogs range from young puppies who are still nursing their mother, to older pups between 6 months and 2 years (that’s right – dogs are generally still puppy-like up to 2 years old!) to the adult dog ages 2-5 years old. This brings a variety of different foster home needs and requirements. If you are considering becoming a foster family, ask yourself these questions:
- Do you have experience with larger breeds?
- Do you have experience raising or training a puppy?
- Do you know how to train with positive reinforcement methods?
- Is there a place for a mom and nursing pups in your home?
- Is your household bustling with activity or fairly quiet?
- Are there kids in your home (or do they come to visit regularly)–if so, how old are they and are they old enough to be gentle with fragile puppies or be respectful to an adult dog?
- What about other pets in your home–do they like all other dogs?
- Do you have cats?
- What kind of time do you have for walks, play time, training or vet appointments (if needed)?
- There is no guarantee on how long a dog will be in foster care before getting adopted – can you stay the course (it could be potentially 3-8 months)?
Answers to these questions will help us determine which of our dogs would fit best with you as the foster home. We take your situation into consideration to make a foster match, just as we do with a potential adoption applicant, to ensure the best fit possible for everyone.
The dogs we take into our program are the best examples of the breed, as demonstrated by their easy going and affectionate nature, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are ready to go into a permanent home. One of the most valuable things a foster home provides during this temporary period is structure and life-lessons to the newly rescued dog. Your love, affection, exercise, daily care, socialization and basic training will help prepare him/her for a successful transition into a forever home and you will have truly saved a life.
Why foster?
With every foster you have the chance to not only save one, but two animals. You are opening a spot at a shelter for another dog who might be short on time. Fostering is just one element of achieving a zero kill community. Successful and enforced spay and neuter laws are the foundation to this. Educating people on the problem of pet overpopulation is another important part of this. However, there will always be a place for fostering, especially pit bull terrier type dogs. They often have the shortest time in the shelter and usually are not included on transports to where there is a demand for adoptable animals. There is also a need to foster older dogs that are referred to as “Elderbulls”.
If you feel you have the makings of a supportive and nurturing foster home and the ability to provide the structure a foster dog requires, please fill out our Foster Application – we’d love to work with you!
Ivan and his foster dad, Wayne, on the boat fishing for salmon.
