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RUFF - FOSTERING
Next to owning a dog or cat, there is nothing more enjoyable or rewarding than fostering a cat or dog. Like any foster parent, you have a special task ahead of you. You have to guide, teach, help, and nurture this cat or dog. You have to be ready to spend time, energy and love and yet be able to give it up when the right family comes along. If everything works out right, someday not too far in the future, there'll be a lump in your throat and maybe even tears in your eyes as you watch your foster eagerly leave your home and loving care for a new life with a their forever family. It's a tremendously fulfilling position to be in, knowing that you've helped an animal through a difficult period in their lives and found their forever home. What are the responsibilities of a foster parent? Fostering is very rewarding, but requires time and commitment. Foster parents provide a safe, loving home environment, basic obedience training, housebreaking, screen adoption applications, conduct home visits as needed, provide transportation to vet appointments, attend adopt-a-thons, keep medical records up to date, administer necessary medications , and submit foster descriptions and pictures to be posted on the website. See the “Foster Care Agreement” for additional information. Frequently Asked Questions What costs would I incur? Food and vetting are provided by RUFF as long as funds are available. You may incur costs of any treats and toys that you choose to purchase and the cost of transportation to the vet as needed. What about when I go on vacation? Arrangements will be made with another foster home to care for your foster(s). What if I have questions about my foster? New foster parents are assigned to a mentor who can answer questions and provide guidance. Is there a training guide or tip sheets? Yes, we have both to help make your fostering experience as easy as possible and rewarding for both you and for your foster(s). I work during the day, can the dog be outside in a fenced yard? Yes, we will just need to ensure any dogs you foster are not jumpers or diggers. What if I do not have a fenced yard, can I still foster? We do have foster parents without fenced yards. The dogs can be crated while you are at work; however, will need to be out of the crate at night. We do not want the dogs to be crated all day and all night. Can I choose the type of pet I want to foster? Yes. It is important that you choose a pet that will best fit in with your routine, family and any other pets you have. If you are unsure what type of pet best fits your situation, a RUFF representative can help you determine the best pet for your situation. I have other animals, how will I know if they will get along? We won’t always know 100% if they will get along, but there are several personality traits that can be assessed. Cats can be tested for compatibility with dogs. Dogs can be tested for compatibility with cats. If at any time you determine a foster does not fit in with your household, the foster can be placed in a different foster home. Will fostering pose any health risks to my personal pet? All pets in the program receive vet care and are up to date on their vaccinations. They also receive monthly flea/tick, heartworm prevention and routine deworming and should not pose a health risk to your personal pet. How long does it take for a pet to be adopted? This can vary from a couple weeks (puppies/kittens) to a month or more (older pets). It is rare that we have a pet in our program longer than six months. Research has shown that pets who attend adoption events are more likely to be adopted. How Do I Become a Foster for RUFF? The first step to fostering is to complete an adoption application. You can indicate on the application that you would like to foster. Once we receive the application, we will arrange for you to attend a one day Foster Training. At that point if you are approved to foster, we will also ask you to sign our Foster Agreement. Once these items are complete, we will work with you to select a pet within the program for fostering. Should you have additional questions on the process, please email info@ncruff.org |
