Foster Frequently Asked Questions 

Caring for a senior or special needs dog is NOT inexpensive. It takes time, equipment, high quality food, and veterinary care and treatment. We provide the following: • Veterinary care at one of our partner vets We will work with you to get a vet as close to you as possible - at times you may need to travel for specialty or emergency vets • Heartworm and flea protection, dewormers, other medications your foster may need • Collar, leash, and dog ID tag (to be worn at all times) • Other items such as toys, treats, bedding, food, crates, medications, supplements, etc. • SUPPORT!

Fosters are one of the most important people in a rescue dog’s life. They provide our special dogs with things that money can’t buy: • A safe, clean (indoor) home to in which to live while waiting for their forever home • A good foundation for building social and behavioral skills • Exposure to help the dog find a home • Love and commitment • Recordkeeping • Daily care, exercise, and grooming (professional groom covered by rescue) • Transport to scheduled and emergent vet appointments • Any additional toys, clothing, bedding or treats you wish to provide to spoil your foster dog! • A strong heart and the ability to say good-bye.

We understand that not everyone will have access to a printer. That's ok. Just let our Records Coordinator know you do not have access to a printer, and we will print the records off for you and put them in the mail. You can also ask a friend or family member nearby to print, use the public library, or pick up any printed records at our headquarters in Whitewater if you happen to be coming this way. We are always happy to help in any way we can!

Fosters are responsible to notify us of ANY vet visits. To notify us of a vet visit, use the “Notify Us of Vet Apt.” button located here: Volunteer Portal | Albert's Dog Lounge(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal) • This is a very quick and simple form to complete and should take no more • than a minute to complete. • If your dog goes to the ER, please notify the records team of the visit, after the visit, by • sending an email to albertsdogloungerecords@gmail.com • Once your dog completes their visit, the records team will reach out to the vet • and get copies of all the notes, and any test results, and email you a copy to • print and add to your foster dog’s folder. -If you do not have access to a printer, please let us know and we can print and mail you copies.

While not a requirement, many foster homes will provide all the supplies or cover some vet bills as a donation to the rescue and their way of helping with the cost of their pup. We always appreciate that!! If you do that and want a tax write off, we will provide letter of donation with a request and copies of receipts. By no means are any fosters obligated to cover any costs, and we are happy to pay for everything for the dogs in our program. We do, however, strongly encourage our foster homes to share on social media the vet costs the rescue has incurred and create Facebook fundraisers to help recoup some of those costs so we can continue to help other dogs. • Since we believe strongly in transparency, we encourage you to post a copy of the vet bills with your request for funds. • If you need a copy, please let the Records Coordinator know, and she can get you copies. • Please make sure to black out any personal info including phone numbers and addresses prior to posting publicly.

We really can’t answer this question. For most fosters, the average time is approximately a month, but we can never predict when a dog will be adopted. Some dogs can be adopted in as quickly as a few weeks and others, for reasons we are unable to explain, can last for months or longer. If your dog doesn't seem to be getting a lot of traction, there are many things you can do to help promote your dog's outside of what we do on your behalf. Check out this great infographic on some great ways YOU can help promote and market your foster dog below.

Yes - you will always be able to choose the dog you want to foster! Our goal is to match the potential foster dog up with a foster home that is the best match based on the information we have on the dog. Our foster coordinators will post and present any potential incoming dogs to our program within our private foster and volunteer group on Facebook. They will provide as much detailed information as they have about the dog, along with a photo of the dog. If you are interested, you will simply need to let the foster coordinators know and they will work with you to begin arrangements to get the dog to you or for you to pick up the dog. It is not possible to meet a dog prior to committing to it. Most dogs are in shelters and for many, time is of the essence. Our foster coordinators will do everything possible to answer any questions you have and get as much information as they can about the dog. If you do take in a dog as a foster, we ask that you give the dog the necessary time to settle in and decompress. However, if given adequate time and all efforts are exhausted towards any issues that might make the dog incompatible for your home, we will work with you to move the dog to a different foster home. We have a wellness team who works with all our foster homes on any medical or behavioral issues.

Aside from the vast array of knowledge and experience within our leadership team, you can find several educational opportunities on the Foster Aids page.(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/fostera) Our expert team leaders are always available to help with any questions you might have that are not answered in the FAQs, Adoption Process, for Foster Aids page. Providing support to our fosters and volunteers is very important to us.

At Albert's Dog Lounge, we believe the immense value of our foster families and try to do everything we can to make fostering an easy and enjoyable experience for all. We have a very long list of approved vets from the Chicagoland area, all the way to northern Wisconsin. If we do not have an approved vet near you, we will work to get one established and set up for you. The only time you may be required to travel outside of your area for vetting is in the event the dog is in need of emergency care or has a medical issue that requires a specialist that may not be in your area. If you need assistance in establishing a vet, or concerns around that, please reach out to your intake coordinators.

Yes - you will always be able to choose the dog you want to foster! Our goal is to match the potential foster dog up with a foster home that is the best match based on the information we have on the dog. Once approved, all fosters are added to a private Facebook group where our foster coordinators will post and present any potential incoming dogs to our program. They will provide as much detailed information as they have about the dog, along with a photo of the dog. If you are interested, you will simply need to let the foster coordinators know and they will work with you to begin arrangements to get the dog to you or for you to pick up the dog. It is not possible to meet a dog prior to committing to it. Most dogs are in shelters and for many, time is of the essence. Our foster coordinators will do everything possible to answer any questions you have and get as much information as they can about the dog. If you do take in a dog as a foster, we ask that you give the dog the necessary time to settle in and decompress. However, if given adequate time and all efforts are exhausted towards any issues that might make the dog incompatible for your home, we will work with you to move the dog to a different foster home. We have a wellness team who works with all our foster homes on any medical or behavioral issues.

As a rescue, we do our very best to ensure that all dogs are vaccinated prior to going into foster homes. If a dog is coming from a partner rescue or a shelter, 99% of the time, the dog will have its core vaccinations. However, there are times when taking in an owner surrender where an owner will have fallen behind on giving their dogs vaccinations. We believe in full transparency when it comes to any knowledge we have about an incoming dog and if lack of core vaccines is something you do not want to take on, just let your intake team know, and they are always happy to help shuffle things so that you are only intaking a dog that meets your personal requirements to foster.

No, you don't. We try to offer many opportunities around southern Wisconsin to attend events. There is no obligation to attend any events. However, please remember that by not attending, it could delay the adoption of your foster dog. Adoption events are created to offer people the chance to come meet some of our adoptable dogs in person. Many times, adoption events can lead to faster adoptions - people are falling in love with a dog in person and not just with a photo and description. We encourage all our foster homes/families to take advantage of the many opportunities we provide for in person events with their foster dog as often as they can. If you are not able to make it to some of our many events, there are many other ways you can market your foster dog yourself. Check out the information on our Foster Aids (https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/fosteraids)page.

That depends on the problem but know that we are incredibly supportive of our fosters! We have a Facebook group where you can ask for advice, get a sitter for your foster if you are going on vacation, and a trainer to help you work through any behavioral issues you might have. We ask that you give the dog at least a week before judging any bad behavior. Much of this is caused by the stress of transport and entering yet another new environment. Often, most of these behaviors go away independently when the dog has had time to decompress. If the issue creates a dangerous situation, we can work on trying to find a new foster. Just remember that we are not a shelter. We do not have a place for your foster to go immediately. If it truly isn’t going to work, please give us time to find another foster. This may mean crating and rotating for a few days. We know it is hard, and will do everything we can, but that is where the commitment comes in! In order to determine who you should reach out to with any medical/behavioral questions or if you need a foster moved, please defer to your Team Leaders & Resources page.(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/leadersandresources) ***Please note that pain-based training methods such as prong collars, choke collars, shock collars, hitting, jabbing, yanking on leashes, scruffing, forcing the dog onto its back, etc., are NOT allowed to be used on our foster dogs! These training methods can often cause the issue to escalate and are considered cruel and unacceptable. Our force-free trainer will help you find a better way to manage the issue.

First and foremost, be honest. It is important that adopters are prepared for any issues. We do NOT want things to come as a surprise. Trying to blow off significant issues or hide them will only make things harder on the adopter and the dog. It may potentially cause the dog to be returned to rescue, which is really hard on them, and it builds distrust in potential adopters, which hurts our mission. Try to phrase the behaviors so the adopter will understand where they are coming from and then provide a solution. For example: “He has some issues sharing his food and toys with other dogs. He was a stray and had to fight for every scrap of food to survive, so some of that fear of starvation was left over. It is best to feed him separately and pick up any bones or coveted toys until he gets to know that there is enough for everyone, and he will never have to fight for food again.” Our bio listing specialists would be happy to help you determine the issue, phrase it properly, and then give advice on how to solve it. There are also training guides posted in our foster group and our adopters group that you can send them to.

The short answer is no. The long answer is that we do not want you to take on more than you handle. It's more important to us that each foster you take on gets the best care possible and gets adequate attention and exercise. We also want to do our best to ensure our foster's safety and that they are not being bounced around. Our amazing leadership team will always work closely with you to identify any potential foster dogs that might be a good fit for you, how they might fit the dynamics of your home, and if you might be a good candidate for their care.

Please review the Medical for Fosters tab for more information: Medical | Albert's Dog Lounge | United States(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/medical) If you still have questions, please contact your Wellness Coordinators. Information on who your coordinators are is located under the Leadership Team and Resources tab: Leaders and Resources | Albert's Dog Lounge | United States(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/leadersandresources)

The most important thing to do is to reach out to your Intake Coordinators for assistance. They are the folks who know who is available and who currently has fosters already. From there, they will assist and advise and work with you every step of the way to ensure your foster dog has coverage for whatever time you will need help. If you are not sure who your Intake Coordinators are, please review the Leadership Team and Resources tab: Leaders And Resources | Albert's Dog Lounge | United States(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/leadersandresources)

Of course!! And many fosters do! If you want to provide any additional supplies, that is completely up to you, and you do not need to let us know if you do not want reimbursement. However, should want any supplies where you would require reimbursement, please reach out to your Wellness Coordinator first to verify if that supply is ok to purchase. If you do not know who your Wellness Coordinators are, please refer to the Leadership Team and Resources tab: Leaders And Resources | Albert's Dog Lounge | United States(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/leadersandresources)

As a foster, you know the dog better than we do and are the voice and advocate for your foster dog and his/her future, so we definitely appreciate your input and feedback throughout the adoption process. For more information on how the process works and what input you have in the process, please visit The Fostering Process tab: The Fostering Process | Albert's Dog Lounge | United States(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/thefosteringprocess)

We LOVE transparency and we love when our fosters share their dog's stories online. In fact, we encourage you to share your dog's backstory, medical history, glow-up's, and many trials and tribulations. We also encourage you to share all of your dog's medical procedures and even the costs of those procedures --- and then create a fundraiser on your social media to help raise funds. Albert's is always about providing full transparency on we go above and beyond and provide the best care possible for the dogs in our program. The only caution we exercise is sharing too graphic of photos in the event of a major medical case, only because they may go against community guidelines.

Of course! If you have any questions or concerns about the proper nutrition that is being provided in the food that make, please reach out to our Wellness Coordinators and they can help assess the food for you or reach out to one of our amazing nutrition experts. If you are not sure who your Wellness Coordinators are, please review the Leadership Team and Resources tab: Leaders And Resources | Albert's Dog Lounge | United States(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/leadersandresources) The only thing we want to exercise caution with is that most adopter will likely not follow this same diet. The reality is that more than 90% of all adopters are going to feed a kibble diet to their dog. By feeding only a handmade diet while in your care, there is a potential that the transition for adopters to switch to kibble may be more difficult. Any foster that feeds handmade food should consider that.

We always appreciate when our fosters help cover costs by providing food for their foster dog. We do not have a laid-out policy on any specific food requirements. We understand that some dogs will have specific allergies, likes/dislikes, and nutritional needs. Our primary goal is a to feed a quality food that the dog likes and meets any medical requirements the dog might have. If you reach out to our Wellness Coordinators, they will be happy to go through your dog's medical history and what food you are considering or already feeding and help you to understand if that is a food that is appropriate. If you aren't sure who your Wellness Coordinators are, you can learn more by visiting the Leadership Team and Resources tab: Leaders And Resources | Albert's Dog Lounge | United States(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/leadersandresources)

It shouldn't since you do not own the dog. It is essentially no different than if you take care of your sister's dog for a few weeks. That said, each town, municipality, county etc. has their own laws and regulations. In most cases, unless your dog(s) are a nuisance or causing an issue, most people won't say anything. But people can complain, so it's best to know and understand your local laws when it comes to how many dogs you can legally have and if fosters count.

If any human or animal is bitten to a point where medical attention is required, please contact your Wellness Coordinators immediately. If you are unable to reach someone right away, please contact Mandy (President and Founder) by calling 920.691.6970 (Do note that this is a private number and not to be shared publicly). We will walk through any emergencies right along with you, keep you informed every step of the way, and fully support you however we can. If you are not sure who your Wellness Coordinators are, please see the Leadership Team and Resources tab: Leaders And Resources | Albert's Dog Lounge | United States(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/leadersandresources)

- Does the dog have any pre-existing medical conditions or health concerns? - Does the dog require any special at-home care or accommodations due to their health? - How long has the dog been in the shelter? - Did the dog come from another home? If so, what was the reason for the surrender? - Was the dog a stray? If so, does the rescue have any information on how the dog is about house training? - Does the shelter have any information about the dog's behavior with children, other dogs, or cats? - What is the dog's overall energy like? - Is there any information available about the dog's likes or dislikes? - How is the dog reacting to meeting new people or being in new situations? - Does the dog show any signs of anxiety, fear, or aggression? - Is there information on how the dog behaves when left alone? - Are there any known triggers? - What is the dog's backstory? - Is the dog current on vaccinations? - Is the dog spayed/neutered? Note: Much of this information will not be available from a shelter. Shelters will do their best to give us any information they have at their disposal. We do get much more information from an owner surrender. Also keep in mind that no one is obligated to take any foster dog. We want a foster dog to be a good fit for you and for your family, so it is the best outcome for all.

Of course you can talk to a previous foster, and we encourage that to happen in our efforts to help you provide the best care for your foster dog. If you know the dog had a previous foster, reach out to your intake coordinators and ask them for the connection. Sometimes we know the dog had a previous foster, but we may not have a way to connect with them, but we will always try our best. If you are not sure who your Intake Coordinators are, please check out the Leadership Team and Resources tab: Leaders And Resources | Albert's Dog Lounge | United States(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/leadersandresources)

We think it is incredible if a dog that is suited for doggy daycare would get to have that socialization time. However, as a rescue paying for that many dogs in daycare would not be a feasible option. There may be occasions where doggie daycare or boarding is required or needed for the dog on a case-by-case basis. If you would like to know if your dog would be considered, please reach out to your wellness coordinators. All of that aside, if you (as a foster) would like to take your foster dog to doggy daycare and cover the cost of that, we have absolutely no issues at all. And sometimes, there are doggy daycare locations that will donate a spot or two to rescue dogs, so please call and ask. Please note that your dog should have a personality and temperament that would be cohesive in that type of environment and situation. If you are unsure if your dog would do well at doggy daycare, please reach out to your Wellness Coordinators. If you are unsure who the Wellness Coordinators are, please see the Leadership Team and Resources Tab: Leaders And Resources | Albert's Dog Lounge | United States(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/leadersandresources)

No. Preventatives are a very costly, but necessary, expense to the rescue. That said, we do have some caveats to that statement... - If the dog is DUE for heartworm within two weeks of adoption, you are ok to send ONE heartworm prevention home at the time of adoption. It can take longer than that for a new owner to establish vet care and get a script for the dog. - If the dog is NOT DUE for heartworm for two weeks or more, it is the responsibility of the new owner to establish vet care for their new dog and get their own preventatives, as required by the adoption contract. - We do not send home flea and tick preventatives ever. If a new adopter needs flea and tick, this is something that can be purchased right at their local Wal-Mart, pet supply store, or farm store like Tractor Supply or Fleet Farm. - Occasionally, a dog will arrive with their own supply of heartworm and flea/tick (especially if a local owner surrender). In those cases, this is theirs and you CAN send those items home with them for their new family. If you end up with extra stock of preventatives, please use them for your next foster or return them to the lounge. Remember, if you need more preventatives, please allow enough time for us to gather them and ship them. It usually takes a week to 10 days. You can request more preventatives here: Monthly Preventatives | Albert's Dog Lounge(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/monthlyprevenatives) If you still have questions, please reach out to your Wellness Coordinators. If you are not sure who your Wellness Coordinators are, review the Leadership Team and Resources page here: Leaders And Resources | Albert's Dog Lounge | United States(https://www.albertsdoglounge.org/volunteer-portal/leadersandresources)