Finding a good home for a neglected dog can take time — and sometimes, there isn’t enough room in a shelter. Foster-based rescues across the province remove dogs from dire situations and place them in homes until they are adopted out. Bre McAdam spoke to a local organization about what dog fostering entails.
Q: How does it work?
A: Foster-based rescues usually consist of a Facebook page and a dedicated group of volunteers who keep their eyes out for abandoned or homeless dogs. Courtney Fisher, volunteer coordinator with Saskatoon Dog Rescue, says as soon as a dog is rescued, a photo and description is posted to Facebook and the search for a foster family begins. Fosters don’t have to pay for anything: food, toys, kennels, even medical bills are all covered. There is a vetting process to ensure the house is suitable for fostering, and fosters get first dibs on adoption.
Q: How does it differ from shelter-based adoption?
A: Instead of having a facility where the dogs are kept, foster-based rescues use volunteers’ homes as temporary shelters. The one-on-one attention helps socialize dogs and ease them into the transition of adoption, Fisher says. There’s also no long-term commitment with fostering: you can take in an animal for a month and then take a break for as long as you like. It’s also a great option when shelters become overrun.
Q: Why is it important?
A: Fostering is a less stressful avenue for dogs, who crave the affection that comes with being in someone’s home. As Fisher puts it: “I get to take another dog out of having to sleep outside.” Foster “doggie parents” also get to pass on valuable knowledge to adopters. “All of the facilities do a great job advertising their adoptables, but it’s kind of cool to put a dog in a house and have that person advertise that dog,” Fisher says.
Q: What if there’s an issue?
A: Volunteers are in contact with fosters and can be reached if there are any problems with a placement, Fisher says. Foster parents are also encouraged to be transparent with potential adopters about any issues they’ve had with the animal — but more often than not, those flaws get worked out through the fostering process.
These four-week-old puppies were found under a set of stairs and are currently being fostered through Saskatoon Dog Rescue.
Q: Do people get attached?
A: It’s a common question, Fisher says, and she can’t promise it won’t happen. But she says she loves getting to meet new dogs and contribute to finding them the best possible home, which in the end, may not be her own. Her message to those on the fence: “If you try it once, you don’t ever have to foster again. But I promise (that) you will.”
Q: What are some of the rescue situations?
A: Saskatoon Dog Rescue takes in dogs from all over the province and currently fosters approximately 27 dogs. Most of them come from northern communities. Fisher recently helped rescue a dog that lost its paw in a trap, and another dog whose eye was hit with porcupine quills. The most recent addition to the group was a mom and her puppies, who were found under a set of stairs. Fisher says sometimes they get dogs from people who can no longer care for them.
Q: Is there currently a need for fosters?
A: There’s always a need for dog fostering in the province, Fisher says, adding, “We don’t like to take in dogs that we don’t have spots for.” Several organizations in and around Saskatoon are pairing people with pups:
- Saskatoon Dog Rescue: on Facebook/saskatoondogrescue.com
- New Hope Dog Rescue (Saskatoon): newhoperescue.org/newhoperescue@hotmail.com/ (306) 668-8153
- Size Small Dog Rescue (Saskatoon): on Facebook, ssdr.ca
- SPCA Saskatoon: saskatoonspca.com, (306) 374-7387
- Adopt a Paw Pet Haven (Saskatoon): on Facebook, adoptapawpethaven.com
- Prairie Pooches Rescue (Cando, Sask.): on Facebook, prairiepoochesrescue.com
- Hanna’s Haven (Saskatoon): on Facebook, hannashavendogrescue.wixsite.com/mysite
