Why become a foster home?
Good foster homes make an incredible difference in rescue. They provide a warm, safe and loving environment – many times for the first time in a rescue Cocker’s life. They show a rescue Cocker that people can be kind and food and water are plentiful. A foster family teaches a rescue Cocker the ropes of living as a household family member. They evaluate a rescue Cocker as to how they get along with other dogs, cats, kids and every day living. They work with other CSRA volunteers to find the best home possible for a rescue Cocker and send them on their way to their new life.
Without foster families to do all of this for our rescue Cockers, our success rate at placing them in forever homes would not be as high. Sure, fostering involves a time commitment and a piece of our heart goes with each rescue Cocker placed, but it is one of the most important and rewarding parts of rescue you can do. The phone calls and e-mails from the adoptive home sharing new first experiences and photos of happy faces make it all worthwhile
How do I qualify to be a foster home?
You have taken the first step by saying you are interested! Let’s go from here. All of our foster homes go through the same screening process as a prospective adopter. They fill out an application (hyperlink to Foster Application), have references checked and receive a home visit. If you are already an CSRA adopter who has gone through this process, you need not do it again. However, if something has changed in your situation since your application, you should make us aware of it. You also need to consider the pets currently living in your home. They should be able to accept an unfamiliar dog coming into their living space.
What do I need to know?
First of all, you should be Cocker experienced. In other words, you have owned an Cocker. Knowing and living with the breed helps you to understand some of their personality traits and prepares you for what to expect. You also need to understand safety issues involved with rescue Cockers. They are often times adult dogs in unfamiliar surroundings, frightened and liable to bolt and run away at every opportunity. You will need to make every effort to keep the dog safe!
CSRA has literature for you to read concerning how to introduce your foster to other dogs or animals in your household. This should help make introductions with your family dogs go smoother and help ease territorial issues. We also have books to give our foster families to help them with understanding dog psychology and temperament. We encourage you to read them.
Your foster should have a new collar and leash as well as an CSRA tag provided by your coordinator. The collar and tags should be kept on the dog at all times.
What will my foster be like?
Some of our rescue Cockers come into rescue groomed, spayed/neutered and up to date on shots. However, this is not the norm. The rescue Cocker usually needs to have a wellness vet check and shots in addition to being bathed and groomed. They may also need to be spayed/neutered and have medical issues taken care of. All of this can be done before your foster dog comes to you unless you would prefer to help CSRA and handle some of this yourself (you are not expected to pay for it).
Your new foster dog may come with some behavior issues. We try as much as possible to learn what we can about the Cocker from shelter or previous owners, but many times getting information is just not possible. Some Cockers may need to be house trained. Even if they are house trained, they may have mistakes in the house until they get used to your routine. Talk to your coordinator about what you can handle with your foster dog. We try the best we can to work within your boundaries.
Who pays the bills?
CSRA pays all of the bills related to our rescue Cockers. This would include vet expenses, medications and grooming in addition to supplies like crates or baby gates, obedience classes and even dog food, if needed. Most of our foster families donate food and some of the other toys, treats, and supplies needed for fostering. If you do make donations like this and would like to claim them on your taxes, please keep your payment receipts so we can give you a donation receipt for these donations.
If you think your foster dog needs to see a vet, groomer, or trainer or if you need help obtaining care supplies, please contact your coordinator. Your coordinator can authorize needed services at one of our in-network providers or arrange to get needed supplies to you. CSRA also has a reimbursement form (hyperlink to reimbursement form) for any out of pocket expenses. Your coordinator can help you if you are not sure what is covered. Reimbursement checks are issued promptly for pre-approved expenses.
Now that I have him, what do I do?
While the dog is in foster care, it’s important for the foster home to observe and evaluate the Cocker. Does he have any house manners? Does he get along well with other dogs, cats, etc.? Will this dog require serious obedience training or does he respond to basic commands? Does he walk well on a leash? Are car rides enjoyable or a nightmare? Does he dig, try to escape, bark excessively, etc.? Foster homes should be willing to set limits for the dog. See how he reacts to being crated or gated when alone. Is he responsive to commands? Is he happy? Does he cringe when verbally corrected? Your careful observations assist us in determining what kind of family might be a good fit for your foster dog.
Give your foster as many different experiences as you can. Take them for a walk in town. Have a friend come over to visit. It is important to know how the foster behaves in different situations. Finding out that the foster reacts strongly to men with beards, is terrified of vacuum cleaners, or anxious around small children will also help CSRA find the perfect home.
Remember that you are preparing your foster for life with another family. You never know what that life will be like, so teach your foster things like how to stay off the furniture and to wait patiently for meals. Find out how your foster lets you know they need to go outside. And most important, give them lots of love and understanding.
Once your foster dog has had a few days to settle in, please complete our Foster Dog Information Form (hyperlink to CSRA/SA Dog Profile Form) so we can easily find and share all the qualities and quirks that make your foster dog unique.
What if there are behavior issues?
If your foster is showing signs of aggression or any other behavior problem, please contact your coordinator right away. If you feel you can handle the problem behavior and help the foster dog improve, we will be happy to work with you. Your coordinator can share tips and resources for you to try at home. They can also tell you about some of the trainers we work with and arrange behavior evaluations, when needed. If you feel you cannot handle the behavior issue on your own even with the help of professionals, your coordinator can arrange to relocate your foster dog to a different foster home.
How long will I have my foster?
Time in foster care is time well spent for many dogs. A good rule of thumb is no less than one week in foster care. Usually we prefer two weeks. You may be tempted to move a dog more quickly, but remember the placement you select will likely be your foster’s home for the rest of his life. Hasty, convenient placements often backfire and the dog gets bounced again, or the home keeps the dog and is miserable with his behavior. We don’t promise your foster can be placed in two weeks. It takes as long as it takes to find the right match for each dog.
It has been our experience that the two week mark is often the end of the “adjustment” period and the foster’s behavior may change. They are starting to feel comfortable in your home with your routine and begin to act more like their usual self. This is why we recommend at least two weeks in foster care.
Can I participate in the placement?
Most definitely! The adoption coordinator will be receiving and screening applications for adoption. When they have approved applicants who might be a good fit, they will share the application and home visit information with you. You are encouraged to talk with the prospective adopter yourself and even meet with them to see how they interact with your foster. You can be as involved as you would like to be in the placement of your foster.
One important thing to remember is that neither the foster family nor the adoption coordinator should be placing the Cocker independently. Each should be communicating with the other throughout the process. If you do decide to meet with a potential adopter, do not promise them your foster dog. Talk over your visit with the adoption coordinator afterwards and go from there. There are lots of paperwork and procedures involved that the adoption coordinator needs to handle before an adoption can become final.
What about paperwork?
You will be the keeper of your foster’s vet records and occasionally some additional paperwork. Keep this all together so that you can pass on appropriate papers to the new adopter. You will also be asked to fill out a Foster Home Report for the new family so that they can know as much as possible about your foster and make his transition easier.
Can I adopt my foster?
Yes, you can. As much as we hate to lose a good foster home, we realize that sometimes you will bond with a particular foster. Just let your foster coordinator know as soon as possible so they can take care of the paperwork and procedures to make the placement permanent.
What happens if the placement fails?
We hope this never happens, but in reality, it sometimes does. If so, you will be the first person contacted to see if you are in a position to take your foster back while we look for a new home.
How do I sign up?
Go to the “CSRA Officers Link” and let them know how you would like to help. They will be thrilled to hear from you and will help you get started volunteering for CSRA.
Why do you need foster homes?
Foster homes allow us to pull more dogs from area shelters while others are still waiting for adoption. It is always preferable to have a dog in a loving, home environment where he can be socialized rather than keeping the dog in a shelter atmosphere. Many dogs develop “shelter shock” which means that they are frightened and do not display their “normal” temperament. Having a dog in a foster home allows us to better see the dog’s true personality. Additionally, boarding costs can overwhelm a rescue group that is already struggling to stay afloat.
What does it take to foster?
We basically have many of the same requirements for fosters as we do potential adopters. These requirements include that you:
- Be an adult with responsibility for maintaining a household (no students).
- Have a fenced yard (some exceptions made for Cocker loving apartment dwellers)
- Have current identification showing address and/or phone number.
- Have the knowledge and consent of all adults living in household.
- Be able and willing to spend the time and money necessary to provide for the training, medical treatment and proper care for the pet (Cocker Spaniel Rescue will reimburse any expenses).
- Be willing to take the dog to scheduled adoption days (or be available to arrange transport with one of our other volunteers)
- Provide an environment for the animal that will keep it safe and secure.
I work an 8 hour day, could I still foster?
Hey, so do most of us! So do most of our adoptive families. We would not expect you to be at home with the dog all of the time. (it would be nice, but we’re realistic)
How long will the dog be in my care?
The amount of time one of our dogs stays in your care is very hard to determine. Some dogs are adopted right away while others may spend months waiting for a forever home. The average length of stay for dogs in our foster program is 38 days.
What happens if I become too attached to the dog?
It happens. Many of our former fosters are now “adoptive parents.” It is often hard not to become too attached to the dogs in our care, but with any luck we will find a home for the dog before that happens.
For additional information about fostering a cocker with CSRA, please email us or call our hotline at 512-527-9923.