FOSTER PUPS

What is fostering?

Fostering is providing a temporary or transitional environment to a rescue dog. Foster homes provide stability, structure, routine and love. They require patience and dedication to helping your foster dog become the best, most adoptable version of themself. Essentially, you are preparing your foster dog for the real world.

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What is expected of me as a foster parent?

We expect that you are committed to your dog for the duration that they are in our care. During that time, you’re expected to communicate with us and provide updates via video, pictures and conversation. You are expected to care for, protect, and advocate for the dog while they are in your care. This includes feeding a nutritional diet, providing affection and enrichment, and alerting the Be Like Josh team to potential concerns. 

 

 

What is provided?

All of the dog’s costs are covered during their time in foster. The Be Like Josh Foundation covers 100% of veterinary costs, food, bedding, supplies and grooming. You never have to come out of pocket for anything unless you choose to. We are also available to coach you, guide you and offer feedback. If there are behavioral needs that need to be addressed, we provide in home training. If your foster dog has special needs, we make sure that they are also covered.

 

 

Can I adopt my foster dog?

Absolutely. All of our foster families have first choice once their foster dog reaches adoptable status and their request to adopt comes before any other applicants.

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How long do foster dogs stay?

Every case varies. It is hard to say how long a dog will stay in foster. Typically, we have three foster phases:

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Intake and Observation - This period of time is usually about a week. This is the initial week your foster is living with you where we observe and report. Your main objective is to gather pertinent information and communicate it to us so that we know how to proceed with each case and develop a plan to get them to adoptable status. This is when we make vet appointments, physical therapy visits and diagnostic care.

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Critical Care / Healing / Recovery - this time varies. This is when your dog has their unique needs and medical needs met and they are given time to rest and recover from medical procedure, treatment, medication or behavioral training. During this time, there may be follow up vet visits, therapy appointments, Wheelchair fittings, dental recovery etc. This is the period of downtime.

 

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Networking - This is when your dog has become the best version they can be and have earned adoptable status. We begin networking them on our social media platforms and interviewing potential adopters. During this time, we will arrange meet & greets and trail overnight stays. You may be required to answer questions or provide information to potential adopters.

 

 

What background do I need to foster or foster for special needs, specifically?

You do not need any experience or special training to be a dog foster or special needs dog foster. We will train you and coach you every step of the way and teach you everything you need to know to be a successful caregiver. You only need to be patient, loving and committed to the project.

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Do I have to live in the Phoenix area?

Typically, our foster families live in or around the Phoenix area where the Be Like Josh foundation is based. Most of our dogs require a lot of hands on care by us so it is important for us to be close by. However, there are instances where we need help out of state for very short duration. These are typically interstate transport related short term fostering but essential to our organization, nonetheless. The best way to be an out of state rescue partner, is to follow our social media pages so you can stay in the loop on short term cases throughout north America.