Fostering isn't a lifetime commitment...
Fostering is a commitment to save a life.
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 they are 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 you should never underestimate the important role you are playing 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 to only take on dogs that you're comfortable with and fits the needs of your family members. We welcome any and all questions and want to make fostering a positive experience for all involved.
Why Foster?
Take 15 minutes and find out by watching the video below...
We do not own the rights to any songs used in this video
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 find out about his unique personality. Fostering keeps dogs out of shelters where they’re under extremely 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 they 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.
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 animal who is initially timid or scared?
~ Would you be willing to foster an animal that has loose stool or diarrhea and provide compassionate and loving care along with administering 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 to transition to all the changes by providing them with a secure home for a minimum of 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” are not a true indication of the animal’s nature, and that you will have to 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 making sure these items are not “lying around” or feeding in separate locations to avoid any potential conflicts?
~Many animals will chew on inappropriate items when they feel nervous or stressed. Besides having your things damaged or ruined, 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 a VERY important component to “balancing” out dogs energy levels and can also help to curb unwanted behaviors. Are you able to commit to making sure that your foster animal receives adequate exercise?
~As a volunteer-based organization, are you willing to give sufficient notice for us 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, distemper, and current on Heartworm testing and preventatives.
You will also be required to agree to the following:
1. Provide a safe, clean, and caring environment for the animal.
2. Provide daily positive human contact and socialization.
3. Provide quality food, clean water, and exercise.
4. Provide safe play objects or other effective forms of inanimate enrichment both in the home and in the primary enclosure.
5. 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.
6. Assist with transport to/from community outreach events, professional photo sessions, and adoption events, as your schedule permits. (Houston fosters excluded from adoption events.)
7. Monitor any medical and/or behavioral problems and provide any medications as directed.
8. Report any concerns/issues/updates on dog's personality and temperament to the designated foster coordinator.
9. Complete any personality and health documents provided by the coordinators when requested.
10. 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 it's 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 and 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 fosters 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 the health of an animal, 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 by reason of activities arising out of this agreement.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE APPLYING:
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This application MAY not work on some mobile devices.
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It is recommended the application be completed using Chrome browser.