How do I find a good foster home? Need contacts/network/advice

didee · 10-19-2009, 11:14 PM

I posted yesterday about my puppy who is play aggressive. I have been thinking about this 24x7 for weeks now, and made the decision today that I am not equipped to handle her behavior modification, nor her activity level needs going forward once the biting behavior is resolved.

I need to find a foster home (or forever, but I think that's less likely with the biting problem being an issue) for her. I need to find someone who is experienced at dealing with dogs and has the patience and skills (timing, consistency, knowledge, intuition) to follow the behavior protocol that was prescribed to us.

How can I find these wonderful people who foster dogs? I just know that with the right person, this can get fixed. But it's just not me, not that I am lazy, but I struggle every step of this program. I can only deal with routine training issues like potty, crate, obedience.

The faster I find a foster home for her, the more quickly she can become "normal" (and me, too!). Then we can both move on with our lives. This makes me so sad but I know it's the right solution.

Can anyone advise how to find these networks of people who foster animals? I am going to talk to my puppy class trainer who is awesome, but if she tells me "sorry, can't help" I need to find other resources. I am so afraid of the outcome if I cannot find her a home. If I take her back to the shelter, that's the end of her, and I can't let that happen to her. I tried to find a home for my mom's cat via the 501c3 (.org) animal adoption groups when my mom passed away (I had 2 dogs who didn't like cats) and they just told me "tough luck" in so many words. I feel like to find a foster parent one needs an "in."

Any advice? I can't live with this situation much longer, for either of our sakes. Thanks.

Help please...ideas? Contacts?

Dog_Shrink · 10-19-2009, 11:23 PM

I work with several rescues... where are you located... what breed is she again... I know I read the other post but I can't recall... how old?

didee · 10-19-2009, 11:42 PM

Thanks, I sent you a PM...she's lab/shepherd mix (mixed with who knows what), approximately 14 weeks old.

TooneyDogs · 10-19-2009, 11:54 PM

You'll need to go through a rescue organization who then finds a foster parent (most have several foster people in their system). The rescue organization is the one that advertises and hopefully finds a new, permanent home while the foster parent takes care of the dog.

Some fosters are very good/skilled and put CGC's and even CD's on every dog in their charge (if they have them long enough). Others can't afford the training costs but, do everything they can.

lovemygreys · 10-20-2009, 07:19 AM

I don't know of any groups that take owner turn ins. They mostly rescue dogs and puppies from death row that have been dumped mostly by owners who couldn't be bothered.

I hope you find a GOOD home for your pup or a rescue group.

corgimom6092 · 10-20-2009, 02:13 PM

I don't think that is necessarily true about rescues not taking dogs from individuals. I work with a Corgi rescue and we will take dogs from individuals before they even get to a shelter. I think you just need to look around and contact the rescues related to the breed. I found the group I work with by going to the breed registry. You should be able to do the same with the Lab or Shepherd registries.

FilleBelle · 10-20-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovemygreys

I don't know of any groups that take owner turn ins. They mostly rescue dogs and puppies from death row that have been dumped mostly by owners who couldn't be bothered.

I hope you find a GOOD home for your pup or a rescue group.

Huh, that's odd. I've never known a rescue that DIDN'T take owner turn-ins, provided they had the space.

I would suggest Googling "<your area> Labrador rescue," "<your area> German Shepherd rescue," and "<your area> dog rescue" to see what comes up. You might also log onto Petfinder, do a search for a dog like yours, then start sending emails to all the rescues that pop up in the search results. At the very least, these people may be able to point you in the right direction. Know that, if they agree to post the dog on their websites, they might ask you to foster it until it gets a forever home, in which case you would still be obliged to work with the dog until it left you.

You could also look into no-kill shelters in your area. They may not be conveniently close, but chances are there is at least one in your state that you could take a road trip to in order to drop off the dog.

Look up trainers and behaviorists in your phone book/online. Call and ask each of them if they have any contacts that might take the dog.

Call friends and family. Ask if anyone they know is looking for a dog.

In all cases, be honest about the dog's issues.

melgrj7 · 10-20-2009, 07:45 PM

I don't know where you are located, but you can contact bigdogsbighearts.com. They take in dogs with issues and will take owner surrenders. If they cannot take the pup they may be able to direct you to a rescue that can.

pugmom · 10-20-2009, 07:49 PM

I know a few bully rescues that don't take owner surrenders....they only take from shelters ....

some good advice above ....google some rescues in your area and just start making calls

didee · 10-20-2009, 09:36 PM

Thank you everyone for your replies. I went to visit my vet's office today (have been going there for almost 20 years). Talked to the vet and a tech. They are also going to try to help me. I also contacted bigdogs... thanks for that referral. Please keep the feedback coming, I really do appreciate it....and if you have been through this (not playbiting, but play aggression) any feedback about how you dealt with it would be most appreciated as well. This is all very new and strange to me.

TxRider · 10-21-2009, 07:08 PM

Just for interest, what was the training protocol you have been given?

didee · 10-21-2009, 08:42 PM

It's pretty lengthy, but it consists of reward-based behavior modification; confinement via pen, crate, tether; behaviors on my part which won't overstimulate her (she's very easily over-aroused), e.g., limiting speaking interaction mostly to very neutral "good girl" when she shows initiative to demonstrate calm behavior and/or obeys commands, NILF, no playing in the house, cueing her for outside "playtime", exercise, etc. Touching is out, no petting or looking at her or overstimulating her vocally. If I touch her she will try to bite me, this is probably the hardest in addition to the confinement parts, because I am accustomed to cuddling with my dog(s)) and having them near me when I am home. There's more, but you get the gist....

Oh, and this is not even important, just a nit, but I can't give her a bath (because of touching), and this dog NEEDS ONE! She is very stinky. She is in her pen right now across the room and I can smell her from here. I have tried the spray bath stuff (which still requires touching) but she still reeks. I think I may have to break the rules and take her to the groomer. Then it's not ME being involved and she probably wouldn't bite the groomer. The tech at the vet's yesterday trimmed her toenails and she was fine. When she's outside of her home environment with strangers, I haven't experienced the biting ambushes (that I recall).