Foster Care Guidelines
Foster homes are vitally important in the quest to find the right homes for our dogs. We would like all of the boxers in our care to come into foster homes rather than kennels as a fosterer can give us a better idea of the personality of a dog in a real home environment, thus making the matching process easier and more likely to succeed.
Fostering requires you to look after the dog as if it were your own, for as long as it takes to find a permanent home. This can be days, weeks, a month or more. Foster parents will assess each dog’s temperament in order to establish the correct family placement. When fostering you may also need to assist with toilet training or lead work and general manners in order to help them find that new forever home.
We work as a team with our foster carers, providing support and advice. We will always be there if you encounter any problems. Good communication is the key to doing the right thing for the dog and the foster family. Knowing the complete story of a dog’s behaviour assists tremendously in overcoming issues and also in putting together a description of a dog to ensure we encourage interest from suitable adopters.
Before any dog leaves for their new home they should be neutered, micro-chipped and in good health. If you live near to one of our rescue co-ordinators we will expect you to use their vet for any treatment needed and this way the costs will be billed directly to the Rescue. If location makes this impossible and you need to use your own vet, then we will ensure the cost for all pre-agreed treatment is reimbursed in a timely fashion.
Please note– the Rescue WILL NOT pay for blood tests, fine needle aspirates or histology on surgically removed lumps. If your vet is recommending any of these procedures please contact your rescue co-ordinator immediately.
Taking in a rescue dog is not an easy job, but if you are a boxer lover you will find it very rewarding to know that you have helped by offering a safe, comfortable haven during a very traumatic time for any dog. Adoption allows you to help only one or two dogs but fostering will allow you to help many more. Each dog will be different from the last. Some will fit into your life easily and others may require patience and gentle handling to gain trust. For the first few days you will need to be around all the time to reassure the dog.
There are three basic rules to settling a dog in swiftly: regular exercise, regular routine and some basic house rules- all accompanied by loving human companionship.
Foster Care Agreement
1. The foster carer agrees that the foster dog(s) in their care remain(s) the legal property of Boxer Dog Rescue Northern England.
2. The Foster Carer agrees to provide the foster dog(s) with all the care and attention necessary to ensure its health and well being. This will include providing sufficient food, water, exercise and necessary veterinary care.
3. The foster carer agrees not to let the foster dog off lead in public in order to comply with BDRNE’s liability insurance. Extendable leads may be used but the dog must always be under the full control of the fosterer and be walked on a short lead on pavements and around people or traffic. Please limit use of an extendable lead to open green areas/beaches
4. Whilst the dog is in their care, the fosterer agrees to arrange for the dog to be scanned for a microchip and report the number to the rescue co-ordinator. If the dog has no microchip, the fosterer must arrange for a chip to be implanted ASAP.
5. If the dog is entire the rescue co-ordinator will ensure the fosterer arranges for it to be neutered (unless the dog is too young to be neutered, or for any other reason otherwise discussed with the Rescue).
6a. If the dog needs veterinary attention the fosterer must liaise with the rescue co-ordinator before taking the dog to the vet (except
in the case of an emergency and the co-ordinator is not contactable). Pre-agreed vet treatment will be funded by BDRNE, either directly to the vet or by reimbursement to the fosterer.
BDRNE cannot guarantee to reimburse non-emergency vet treatment unless the treatment is authorised by a rescue co-ordinator.
BDRNE will not pay for blood tests, fine needle aspirates or histology on surgically removed lumps. If your vet is recommending any of these procedures please contact your rescue co-ordinator immediately.
6b. In a medical emergency the fosterer must seek veterinary treatment immediately for the dog and contact the rescue as soon as possible. If in the event the dog is lost or stolen the fosterer must inform the Rescue and the proper authorities as soon as possible.
7. The foster carer must not rehome any dog themselves. All dogs must be rehomed only through Boxer Dog Rescue Northern England. If a foster dog needs to be moved from a foster home, it can only be moved by arrangement from BDRNE. No foster dog should be passed on to anyone else without BDRNE’s knowledge or without the written consent of the BDRNE Committee.
8. The foster carer must promptly notify the rescue co-ordinator of any changes in address, contact number or veterinary details.
9. The foster carer agrees to immediately surrender custody of the dog to a BDRNE representative upon demand. If the foster carer wishes to adopt the dog, this must be discussed with the rescue co-ordinator and adoption can only take place with the agreement of a BDRNECommittee member. All relevant procedures will take place, as per any other adoption of our dogs.
I understand that I have no legal ownership of my foster dog and I agree to Boxer Dog Rescue Northern England rehoming the dog elsewhere or taking the dog back into their care whenever they wish.
Download and print our Fostering Agreement
Click Here or on the icon to download a printable PDF of this agreement.