Welcome to Fostering 101

First, we want to thank you for considering this role with GGBR! WE ALWAYS NEED FOSTER HOMES. It’s the most rewarding and vital role in our organization. You’re giving each dog you foster another chance at a happy life, starting with you. Not everyone can say they made a difference in a dog’s life and in the lives of the people who adopt them.

What is a foster home? A foster home is a person or family who takes one of GGBR’s homeless basset hounds into their home. They care for and evaluate the dog’s temperament until a new forever home is found. Foster homes are essential to a successful adoption. They have firsthand experience with the dog and can help our Adoption Coordinator place it in the right home. If you would love to have a basset hound, but are not in a position to take on full responsibility for a hound right now, this is a great way to get to know what might be involved, to get to know the breed, and maybe to meet the one hound that will steal your heart! Our foster homes get the first call on their foster dogs when it comes to choosing their forever home. Although you will probably fall in love with nearly every hound you foster, you can be sure that they are going on to the best home we can find... and often you can stay in touch and get photos/updates, etc., so they never really leave your heart!

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about fostering for GGBR:

Question: What is the process to become a foster home?

Answer: First, you need to submit a foster application. Once your application is processed, a GGBR Volunteer will arrange for a phone interview or home visit, just as we do for prospective adopters. The purpose of this is to get to know you and answer any questions you have about fostering. There is a short training session to make sure you understand and are equipped to be a foster home. Finally, a foster agreement needs to be signed. You will then be added to our Active Foster Home email list so you can receive the appeals for incoming hounds.

Question: What kind of requirements are there to become a foster home?

Answer: We look for a loving, dog-friendly place where a Basset Hound will be nurtured and cared for. Chances are, if you already own a Basset Hound, your home will do just fine. If you are just entering the world of basset hounds, we will help you make sure that your home is basset-friendly and safe. We do not insist on fenced yards or that someone is home all day. Dogs will be placed in all sorts of home situations, and it only makes sense that their foster home is just a 'normal' environment!

Question: How long will I have a foster dog in my house?

Answer: It varies. Young, adoptable hounds get placed quite quickly, so it could be just a couple of weeks while essential vet care is completed and we get a feel for the hound's temperament. Some hounds are sick and need to recuperate, undergo vet visits and treatment, etc., and may not be available for adoption until they are healthy. That could take longer. Older hounds are more difficult to find homes for, so they may also take longer to place in a forever home. If you are fostering a dog for us and have a crisis, we will do what we can to find a new foster home or provide respite breaks or boarding as soon as possible, so you do not have to foster any longer than you want or are able to. Also, if the dog is not a good fit for your household, we will relocate the dog for you and find you (hopefully) another needy hound to foster.

Question: What do I need to provide for a foster hound?

Answer:  GGBR will pay for medical costs and any other excessive out-of-pocket expenses. Obviously, if you are able to cover these costs, anything you pay may be treated as a donation and used to write off expenses against your taxes. The minimum is a loving environment. A warm bed, good food, and to be treated as one of your family. The foster stage is extremely important in rehabilitating an unwanted, abandoned, or neglected hound. Socializing the dog, observing how it responds to other animals, children, being left alone, and watching for signs of allergy or other health problems so we can deal with these before placement are vital to choosing the correct forever home. Attendance at adoption fairs and GGBR events is always welcome. As we work on a foster basis, with our foster homes distributed across Northern California, we don't have a single place where potential adopters can come and meet the hounds, so if you can attend an event, that would be wonderful. It also increases the chances of finding your hound its own forever home! And writing a little sales pitch and taking a few photos! Don't worry if you need help writing the blurb that will go on your hound's webpage. We are here to help. And the photos? See this guide for suggestions.

Question: What help can I expect from GGBR?

Answer: Financially, we pay for necessary medical costs. We ask that an account in the GGBR name be created at the vet you want to use so we can pay the bills and make the medical decisions. Unless it is a medical emergency, we want you to liaise with your foster coordinator, Sally Mitchell, over planned vet visits. We require all our hounds to be spayed or neutered, be fully up to date on vaccinations, have fecal tests for Giardia, be heartworm tested, and be kept on heartworm and flea preventives (we provide these). There will be routine medical visits to take the dog to. On a more practical level, our foster coordinator will be there for help and advice. We would welcome foster families who can take photos and provide updates on their foster hounds' behavior.

Question: Anything else I should know?

Answer: Probably much more than I can summarize here! The whole GGBR organization is here to support you and answer any other questions you may have. 

GO TO FOSTER APPLICATION

Once approved, our foster coordinator will reach out to you with support and guidance as you get the opportunity to help a basset in need of a foster home.