Apply to Foster

Thank you for considering the lifesaving act of becoming a foster. Fosters truly are the FRONT LINE for these animals! A foster home is a temporary living situation for animals while awaiting placement in a permanent home. Foster families provide shelter, food, care, love, and guidance. The number of animals we can save depends entirely on the number of people who will open their homes and hearts to foster them. As a foster, you are their salvation and should never underestimate your vital role in their lives.

Albert's Dog Lounge is a 100% foster-based rescue. Therefore, the more fosters we have, the more dogs we can save! When fostering for us, we provide all the supplies, and fosters are encouraged only to take on dogs that they're comfortable with and fit the needs of their family members.

Before applying to foster, please read the information on this page. We've also included a link to frequently asked questions from potential fosters. We welcome all inquiries and aim to make fostering a positive experience for everyone involved.

Foster FAQs

Click Here to Apply to Foster

Why Foster?

Most importantly, you’re saving your foster dog’s life! And it doesn’t stop there! Foster families play a vital role in a rescued pooch’s journey because they are often the first to discover his unique personality. Fostering keeps dogs out of shelters where they’re under highly stressful conditions dominated by loud noise and strange smells. The love and warmth of a foster family can make a world of difference. In fact, foster dogs are often better socialized and less stressed than shelter dogs and have a lower chance of getting sick.

And it’s not just your foster pet that will benefit. Your own pets will learn more social skills and potentially gain a playmate.

Pause for a few moments and watch the video below.

Albert's Dog Lounge does not own the rights to any music used in this video.

Would you be willing?

All of the following are possible scenarios when working with rescue dogs that are coming out of high-kill shelters. If left in these shelters, these animals WILL die. Are YOU the person that will help them through this process?

Would you be willing to foster an initially timid or scared animal?
Would you be willing to foster an animal with loose stool or diarrhea, provide compassionate and loving care, and administer any medications provided by the rescue?
Would you be willing to help teach a dog about the manners required for “house living”?
Are you willing to assist in teaching an animal the joys of going for walks “safely” on the end of a leash?
Experience has taught us that Adoption Events are the prime reason for our success in getting these animals adopted. Are you willing to participate in getting your foster dog to and from our weekend events, as your calendar permits?
Animals are creatures of habit. Are you sensitive to how difficult and stressful this transition can be on them, and are you willing to commit to helping them transition to all the changes by providing them with a secure home for at least one week?
Animals are very much like humans when it comes to meeting new friends of the 2-legged and the 4-legged version… First-time interactions can be scary and stressful. Do you understand that these “reactions” do not indicate the animal’s true nature and that you must be patient and strong in leading the dog to behave appropriately?
95% of all dog fights are brought on by toys and treats, such as rawhides. Are you committed to ensuring these items are not “lying around” or to feeding in separate locations to avoid potential conflicts?
Many animals will chew on inappropriate items when they feel nervous or stressed. Besides damaging or ruining your things, this can sometimes be dangerous to the animal. Would you be comfortable kenneling the animal in a size-appropriate crate when left unattended?
Exercise is critical to “balancing” out dogs' energy levels and can help curb unwanted behaviors. Can you commit to ensuring that your foster animal receives adequate exercise?
As a volunteer-based organization, are you willing to give sufficient notice for us to properly plan for any changes when an animal needs to be moved to a new home or for weekend care in the event you have a prior commitment?

If you answered YES to many of these questions, then you are just the type of person that we are looking for to care for our four-legged friends!

Before you apply...

PLEASE READ AND AGREE TO ALL THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE YOU APPLY

Applications with incomplete information will not be processed.
All current dogs in the home must be spayed or neutered, up-to-date on rabies and distemper, and current on Heartworm testing and preventatives.

You will also be required to agree to the following:

Provide a safe, clean, and caring environment for the animal.
Provide daily positive human contact and socialization.
Provide quality food, clean water, and exercise.
Provide safe play objects or other effective forms of inanimate enrichment in the home and the primary enclosure.
Provide daily, full-body physical contact with other compatible dogs, except where such contact should be avoided for good cause. This includes, but is not limited to, interactions with personal dogs, dog parks, or dogs of neighbors/family/friends.
Assist with transport to/from community outreach events, professional photo sessions, and adoption events as your schedule permits. (Houston fosters excluded from adoption events.)
Monitor any medical and/or behavioral problems and provide any medications as directed.
Report any concerns/issues/updates on the dog's personality and temperament to the designated foster coordinator.
Complete any personality and health documents provided by the coordinators when requested.
Do not use any pain or fear-based training tools/methods on the animal, including but not limited to prong/pinch collars, choke chains, shock or electronic collars, forcing the dog onto its back, hitting, jabbing, scruffing, etc. We have a trainer that can help you manage any issues you have with your foster dog.

Our goal is to place our seniors into permanent, loving homes for the rest of their golden years. The information you provide on this application will assist us in determining the best foster dog for you, your family, and your lifestyle. Please be as thorough as possible. Once the application has been reviewed and approved, we will request a home visit (either in person or virtually) to be scheduled.

All foster and co-fosters must be at least 21 years of age. Albert's Dog Lounge takes all reasonable care to screen animals for foster care placement but makes no guarantee relating to an animal's health, behavior, or actions. As a foster, you understand that you will receive foster care animals at your own risk and can reject or return any animals for which Albert's Dog Lounge has asked you to provide care. You indemnify and hold Albert's Dog Lounge free and harmless from all liability arising out of any and all claims, demands, losses, damages, action, judgment of every kind, and description which may occur to or be suffered by you, members of your household, or any third parties because of activities arising out of this agreement.