One of the most vital elements to a successful foster experience is your partnership with the group that you work with. These are the people who will "ideally" support you during the weeks and months that you have your dog.

 You should never feel alone with this big project. Make sure the group you hope to help has a good track record with solid adoptions, and that they take matching foster dogs to foster homes as seriously as they take creating those final adoptions.  It is a good idea to look over a group's foster home contract in advance to make sure you like what you see. Will they help you with obedience training? Vet care? Your family vacations? How will they problem solve and promote?

 In return for being a good support system for you, your group will want to know that you are willing to follow their guidelines and instructions and that you will be good about communicating questions and concerns that will undoubtedly come up along the way. No question is stupid - really. Ask, ask, ask.

An experienced rescue group will want to get to know you, your lifestyle, and your skill level before giving you a dog to foster. They will want to see if your personal dog has good manners and if he is comfortable with sharing his home. (Your dog does not have to be friends with your foster dog - but he should tolerate its presence.)

 They will also want to make sure that everyone in your household is okay with the project and willing to participate in some way, especially, with double-checking those doors and gates and reinforcing the new house manners you will be teaching the dog.

 Fostering can be long term, so be ready to make a commitment. It's fun, it is rewarding, but it can take time to find the right match for your foster.  Know your own pets and their needs. If your personal dog is 15 years old and wobbly, let the rescue know so they can match up a dog that will be suited to yours.

Just because your dog does not chase cats, does not mean a foster will not initially think that is a fun game. Let the rescue know if you have a cat, make sure your foster has been cat tested, and follow introduction recommendations that are provided.
Fosters might have, or develop, a behavior you find odd or interesting. You may find tail chasing cute, but it can be an obsessive behavior that has to be handled. Always bring up any new or odd behaviors to the attention of the foster coordinator. They could signal health issues or a behavior that needs to be addressed with training.
Let you neighbors know you have a foster, and if possible, have them see/meet him. If he inadvertently gets out, they may recognize him. And most of all love your new friend. 

 Show your foster what it is like to live with a loving, caring, fun, family so he will be ready for his forever home. Remember you will be sad when it is time for him to leave. But the joy of watching the right family meet him is a tremendous gift you just gave to the rescued foster.  Please be not sad, but consider how many more desperate dogs are eagerly waiting for you to give them the once in their lifetime opportunity to share their life and help them find their forever home too!

 In the rescue world, organizations should have a program in place to provide the basics on the specific breed. New volunteers should be willing to educate themselves. The benefits of having such a program for the organization as a whole, focused on the foster families and prospective adopters, could include providing standards of care and response protocols for emergencies.

By encouraging and supporting individual members to sustain each other as equal parts of part of a team, should discourage grandstanding, keeping the focus on the dogs and discouraging bickering over who is the rock star of the group. (Who really cares? It is supposed to be all about the dogs).

Sometimes it seems we forget that not everyone will have the same background or experience with the dogs, yet they eagerly agreed to foster or adopt and we need them. People in breed specific rescues should have someone to ask for help in learning about their chosen breed’s traits. 

An example of the importance of knowing the traits of the Boston breed is explained in this recent statement, “I just had a Boston come into care for being "too hyper". I prepared myself for a high strung Boston (we've all seen them, like a mix of Jack Russell and rabid squirrel), turns out, it's just a normal Boston, they just had no idea”.

Many Rescues find that there is one or two of their volunteers which have the ability of helping foster families and prospective adopters select the right dog for their lifestyle. They almost seem to have developed a sixth sense when it comes to matching the right family for the dog. 

Sometimes we come across the individual or family that insists on getting a puppy. They are attracted to a particular photo but have no clue on what behaviors the particular dog may have.  This is where the gentle council of a knowledgeable person can help prepare the family, or guide them toward a more appropriate aged rescued Boston.

Gently we must insist that the chosen dog matches the environment and will thrive with the life style of the proposed home. While a prospective foster or adopter may want a particular dog, the volunteer charged with helping must always keep the dogs needs in the forefront; otherwise what is the point if the dog is returned in worse shape than when fostered or adopted, because the humans wants (notice I typed WANTS) did not match the NEEDS of the dog.

It is just as important that the standard set by the rescue not be swayed by the urgency of finding a dog for a family. This is something that in the pressure to take in all rescues being shoved in the direction of a Rescue, or the fear that the foster or prospective adopter family might get discouraged and look at other ways to get a dog, constantly keep in a responsible balance. Rescue is not for the feint hearted. This is very hard work. The joy of doing it right more than makes up for keeping the standard high.   

As someone wisely stated “It took me about two years before I totally decided and researched what I wanted to do, because I feel that when you get a dog it is tantamount to adopting a child, you are going to make a commitment for about 15 years so you better make the right one for you and the dog. I did......I got two rescued Bostons.”

Brass Dog Collar Identification Tag

BTN_001  Includes shipping for $6.95 each.

Pet Id tags are one the best ways to ensure the safe return

or urgent medical care your pet may need.

Our high quality durable brass dog collar ID Tag, is engraved on both sides.
The front has the phrase: "If you can read this I will lick you" 
The back is custom engraved with your pets name and phone number.

Engraving is permanently infilled with black paint to produce  a sharp contrast.

Each ID tag comes with a Brass "S" hook. 

Custom made in North Alabama, USA.

Please allow 10 to 12 days for delivery.

Our durable solid brass tags are custom engraved with your pets details and shipped direct from our supplier.