Foster basics.
Foster a GSP
The basics of fostering an All Points West GSP rescue are pretty simple. Essentially you provide a loving home, and we provide the rest. For a more detailed explanation of how everything works take a look below.
Requirements
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You must be 21 years or older
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You must have a stable residence, where everyone living there is in agreement to have a dog. If you do not own your home, this includes written landlord approval.
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We kindly ask that you join our Facebook page so you will be able to share photos and fun stories about your foster dog.
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You must allow All Points West GSPR Foster Coordinator to pair you with a dog in need. They will take into consideration any specific dog you request.
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You are able to transport your foster dog to scheduled medical appointments, adoption events, or training classes. If you can’t get the dog there on your own we can help, we just ask that you remain flexible and work with us to make it happen.
What we expect from foster parents
They provide nutritious food, plentiful water, an indoor home, and lots of love. They provide the dog with exercise, basic obedience training, socialization and house training if needed. Proper training greatly increases a dog’s chance of being adopted. You will have suggestions for preparing your home and yard for a foster GSP. They will discuss any restrictions, concerns or preferences you might have with taking in a foster dog.This will aid in matching you with a foster dog.
They are responsible for the safety of each foster dog that comes into their care, and for the safety of other dogs and people the dog comes into contact with. They never let their foster dogs be a nuisance to other people or other animals.
They always keep a collar with the APWGSPR ID tag on the dog at all times. This is its link back to us. If the tag is lost they immediately contact us for a new one. They keep foster dogs on their leash when they’re outside of a house or securely fenced yard.
They gain approval from an APWGSPR representative before taking a foster dog to an off leash dog play park or an area that is not enclosed by physical fencing.
They keep any fostered dog safely confined in a fenced yard, kennel run, or inside a house or garage when the dog is not with them or a family member. Crate training is encouraged.
At no time are foster dogs placed outside on a tie-out (in a yard, in front of a café, store etc.)
Our fosters immediately notify us in the event of a missing, injured, or sick dog.
Our support
We know it is imperative that you feel our support through the fostering process. You will work directly with our Foster Coordinator who is your one-on-one contact to answer any and all questions and to help you every step along the way. We want to make sure our dogs and our fosters are happy, healthy, and well taken care of. We also love to get updates of our foster pups enjoying their new life with a foster home!
What we provide
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Collar, ID tag, leash and we pay for all required medical procedures.
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Whenever we can, we offer donated items for the the dogs, like food, treats, toys, beds, etc. Since we’re a non-profit, we also appreciate tax-deductible donations toward caring for foster dogs. If a foster parent needs something for their dog, they should contact us to let us know.
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We can lend crates to foster homes, but of course they must be returned to APW when a foster dog is adopted. Unless of course you are ready to foster another pup.
Vet visits
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All basic medical expenses for each foster dog are covered by All Points West GSPR. (You’ll just need approval from our Medical Care Coordinator, and the care needs to be from one of our designated veterinarians. If you choose to go to a vet of your choosing you may be responsible for costs incurred above and beyond the approval that would have been made by an authorized APWGSPR representative and cared for by one of our designated veterinarians.
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Before adoption, all APW foster dogs need to be spayed/neutered, heartworm tested, micro-chipped, and vaccinated. Exceptions are made on a case by case basis. If you receive an unfixed dog, APWGSPR may request that you schedule an appointment with a designated APWGSPR veterinarian and assist in transporting the dog to and from the appointment. If you cannot arrange to do the transport yourself; we ask that you assist in any way you can.
Promoting the dog
Our fosters assist in getting a photo and bio of each of their foster dogs onto our website. (You can e-mail them to allpointswestgsp@gmail.com). We plan on getting a dog photography tutorial on our website soon, but if you can’t get good photos you just need to ask your APW representative for help.
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Our fosters also advertise their foster dogs in local shops, with friends, at the dog park, social media, such as Facebook and anywhere else dogs can be advertised for prospective adoption candidates.
We know it’s fun, but All Points West rescues are named by our senior volunteers to avoid duplicates and confusion between animals.
Dog adoptions
We welcome our foster parents input on potential adopters, but they all still have to be screened, interviewed and approved by an authorized APWGSPR representative. Foster input is a part of the process, but the final decision on where to place a dog is made by us.
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Inquiries about adopting the foster dog should be directed to us. We’ll arrange an official meet and greet where one of our representatives can be present for the visit. Also, we ask that fostered dogs be made available to meet prospective adopters that we may locate.
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Fosters sometimes decide to adopt their foster dog. However, they must go through the same adoption process as anyone else, including paying the requested donation which we use to help cover the costs of helping and saving dogs.
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If you need to return your foster dog to us for any reason, we’ll need enough warning to find it a new home. This may take a week or more depending on the dog and the number of other dogs in foster care.
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We retain the right to remove a foster dog from foster care at any time.
Of course our fosters can’t give their dogs to anyone until an adoption has been approved and an Adoption Agreement form is signed off by an APWGSPR representative.
Foster dogs and children
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Since we don’t know the total history of the dogs we rescue, our dogs should never, under any circumstances be left unattended with children, and parents should be cautious and observant when children are eating with the dog in the room.
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If there’s a child under 5 in the house the dog needs to be in its crate or a separate room while it’s eating or sleeping to limit the risk of accidents.
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We ask that children under the age of 13 don’t walk our dogs unless an adult is with them.
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Also, keep in mind that a child in the house with a dog is at risk of being accidentally knocked over, scratched or bitten etc.
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If your foster dog gives you any concerns or you feel uncomfortable with the situation between the dog and a child let us know. We’ll either take the dog out of your home immediately or have a trainer come and meet with you, depending on how severe the situation is and what you’d like us to do.
Foster dogs and other animals
Foster dogs and cats should be introduced to each other slowly and cautiously over a period of a few weeks while the dog is kept on a leash.
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Even if your foster dog has been housed with other animals before no one can guarantee its behavior with your other pets will be the same.
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Just as with children, don’t leave your foster dog in the same room as other animals unattended.
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Do not feed your foster dog in the same room as other pets, and don’t leave toys and treats laying around the house.
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If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can put you in touch with a senior volunteer or behaviorist to assist you with introducing your animals.
Pick up locations
Your foster dog will be available for pick-up at a pre-arranged meeting point where you will meet with an APWGSPR transport volunteer.
