FOSTER A DOG?
FAQ's

  1.  What do I have to do to become a foster parent?
A. First step is to attend a Mingle With our Mutts adoption event.
B. Meet with a CDC representative at your home with all members of the household present.

  2. Where do the dogs come from?
Our dogs come from Ohio humane societies/animal control/rescues, as strays, abuse/neglect situations.

  3.  Can I just foster small dogs?
We try to accommodate everyone's special requests for which dogs you like to foster.

  4.  What if  the foster dog and my pets do not get along?
We ask that you give it an honest try first, usually time resolves the issue.  If that doesn't work we will take the dog back and try to place with another foster family.

  5.  How long to I keep the foster dog?
Until it is adopted, usually several weeks, sometimes months, it varies dog to dog.

  6.  Do I keep receipts for dog food and misc. purchases?
No, we give you everything (crates, food, treats, toys, leash and collar, meds). 

  7.  Do I crate my foster dog?
Yes, for your safety and for the dogs.  This also helps when you place the dog in a new home to assure the new family that the dog is crate trained.

  8.  What if I want to adopt my foster dog?
We discourage that because the dogs need you.  Foster families are vital to our mission.  Most people foster because they are dog lovers and want to help. We want you to succeed and not become overburdened with too many dogs or not be able to continue to assist because you adopted a very adopted dog.  We have you sign an agreement that says you will not adopt any of the first 3 dogs you foster.  This is hard, we know, but having this rule in place helps all family members who fall in love with the foster dog remember that another dog needs their love and attention as badly as this one did.
 

  9.  How do I get the dog adopted?
The most important factor is getting your dog in front potential adopting families by attending Mingle With Our Mutts, which is the 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month, from 12-2pm.

10.  What do I do when I go out of town?
We will board your foster dog or have another foster home dog sit, we just ask that you give us as much notice as possible especially over holidays as kennels fill up quickly.     

 

 


To My Foster Dog
 
I am the bridge between what was and what can be.
I am the pathway to a new  life.

I am made of mush, because my heart melted when I saw you, matted and sore, limping, depressed, lonely, unwanted, afraid to love.

For one little time you are mine. I will feed you with my own hand
I will love you with my whole heart I will make you whole.
 
I am made of steel. Because when the time comes, when you are well, and sleek, when your eyes shine, and your tail wags with joy,
then comes the hard part. I will let you go--not without a tear,
but without a regret. For you are safe forever--
A new dog needs me now.                 by Diane Morgan
 

 "Oh, I could never do that, it would break my heart to have them leave." 

That's the first thing I hear when I tell someone that I foster for Columbus Dog Connection and I feared that myself.  I love my pets, they are like family to me, I spend a lot of time with them and become very attached.

 

  About a year ago I decided to volunteer in some way; I had a friend who went to the local shelter Tuesdays and Saturdays to walk dogs, she loved it and felt a great sense of satisfaction from getting the poor guys out of their cages. So I did a little research to find what other volunteer options were out there and discovered CDC.  I decided to give it a try, going  into it with the attitude that yes, I would probably fall in love with my foster dog but that I was determined to keep thinking of my goal which was to help get dogs out of living in cages. CDC helped me, they had me sign an agreement with them that I would not adopt any of my first 3 foster dogs,  their experience is that they lose fosters when they adopt and fosters are very valuable, the only dogs you see on CDC's web page are in a foster homes right now.

 

  My responsibilities were to house, feed and care for the dog. CDC has been around for 10 years, they have an established name in the community, a network in place for vet care and  donations of food, treats and toys so there  is no expense to the foster.  The dog's picture would be placed on their web page and I could write their bio/description after I got to know the dog.  I also had 2 adoption events, Mingle with our Mutts,  available to me every month.  If you have never been to a Mingle it has a festival/flea market feel to it with tents and booths set up all over the grounds of the Franklin county dog shelter (we are indoors in the winter) and rescue groups from all over Franklin county bring their available dogs.  It is a wonderful concept because anyone looking to rescue a dog has one convenient place to find the dog of their dreams. 

 

  I am not going to tell you that you will not grow attached to your dog or that it is easy to see them go but the benefits, the feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction that you are helping far out weigh the heartache.  In many cases the dog may have an issue...shyness or  fear that would keep him from being adopted, it is amazing how much a little love, exercise and socializing will do.  For me, the most heartwarming part is to see them blossom, their personalities emerge and there is nothing better than seeing a happy dog enjoying life.  

 

  Other than fostering, the only time I have had to say goodbye to a dog is when they die or are put down, this is NOT like that because you are giving them a forever home with someone who will love them longer and probably more than you did.  I try to think of my foster dog as a temporary visitor, a guest in my home, it also helps to remember that anyone who rescues a homeless dog is usually a caring and loving person.   Some fosters schedule a busy day for themselves the day their dog gets placed in his forever home, go see a movie, anything to get out of the house.  I personally like to get my next dog the very same day because guess what?  It is living in a cage right now and I can't help the next one until I place this one.

 

  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with CDC, I have met some great people, fallen in love with some awesome dogs and learned a whole lot in the process.  If fostering sounds like something you would like to do, don't let the thought that you can't do it be the reason that you don't.  If I can do it, so can you. 

 

  If you have any questions or would like to take the next step to be a foster parent you can email me at
 lmcclintock@juno.com 
 Thanks, Linda
 Foster Mom to Jake and Nicki