Fostering A Golden
We desperately need caring, responsible, dog-experienced
people to fill the vital role that foster homes play in
saving unwanted Goldens.
Here's how it works:
Note: In the interests of reading ease, we will refer to your foster Golden boy or girl as he/him.
You will be required to complete an adoption/foster application. Approval of that application will depend on results of past/current veterinarian care, interview and home visit by a GCGRRinc. member.
The member will call you when a Golden needs fostering.
GCGRRinc. makes every effort beforehand to ensure that
you foster a dog whose needs and characteristics are
compatible with you, your family and lifestyle. If this does
not turn out to be the case, then we will place the dog with
another foster family and let you know when we have a dog
that would be suitable for you. When the dog comes to
you, he will have been to a vet where he will have been
evaluated, heartworm and intestinal worm checked, and health
permitting, brought current on all the vaccinations,
micro-chipped, and neutered/spayed if necessary.
Note: In the interests of reading ease, we will refer to your foster Golden boy or girl as he/him.
You will be required to complete an adoption/foster application. Approval of that application will depend on results of past/current veterinarian care, interview and home visit by a GCGRRinc. member.
The member will call you when a Golden needs fostering.
GCGRRinc. makes every effort beforehand to ensure that
you foster a dog whose needs and characteristics are
compatible with you, your family and lifestyle. If this does
not turn out to be the case, then we will place the dog with
another foster family and let you know when we have a dog
that would be suitable for you. When the dog comes to
you, he will have been to a vet where he will have been
evaluated, heartworm and intestinal worm checked, and health
permitting, brought current on all the vaccinations,
micro-chipped, and neutered/spayed if necessary.
GCGRRinc. will cover all pre-approved veterinary costs
and medications, heartworm preventative, flea/tick control
and a collar and leash. A
GCGRRinc. ID tag will also be
provided. You will cover the cost of food and toys you
choose to purchase for him. Charges that you incur will
probably be considered charitable donations and therefore,
tax deductible, so you should check with your accountant or
tax attorney as to how you can go about that.
The dog will be with you for a minimum evaluation period of
two weeks, during which time we will ask that you evaluate
his personality, likes/dislikes, needs, behavioral patterns
and overall temperament, and establish what sort of family
it would be best that he be adopted into. You will report
all you learn about him to your Rescue Representative--this
will allow him/her to evaluate which applicants would be
suitable for the dog.
During his stay with you, you will be responsible for:
-
Daily feeding, walking and exercising (dog MUST be kept on leash when outdoors if not in a fenced in yard)
-
Reinforcing basic obedience commands such as sit, come, down, stay, and house training
-
Basic grooming such as brushing, baths
-
Providing an abundance of love and attention
The duration of his stay may range from as short as two
weeks to a few months. All the while you will have the
support of an experienced, reliable and responsive
GCGRRinc.
member, and other fosters, upon whose knowledge you can draw
at any time.
IF you
decide that you cannot give him up then you have the option
to adopt him yourself and will make the same adoption
donation as anyone else. Foster homes do have the FIRST
right to adopt their foster Golden. But remember--while yes,
you will become attached to the dog (how could you
not?), you are providing love and stability to a dog that is
in dire need of that attention at this stressful time in its
life and that there is always another dog coming into the
Rescue that is in need of the same nurturing and care from
you.
When
a potential
adoptive family has been identified and approved, you will
be asked to meet with the family and introduce your foster
to them. This usually happens in your home as this is the
location in which your dog is most comfortable and allows
the new family to meet him in a relaxed setting; however
other options may need to be discussed. While the potential
adopter "interviews" the dog, you will have an opportunity
to interview them. You know your foster best, you are his
representative, and you will be there firsthand to see how
they interact with the dog, and he with them. Even though
the family has been approved by
GCGRRinc., if you are not
completely comfortable with this family taking him, you have
the right to veto any home. If you do not want the dog to go
to this family, just let your
GCGRRinc. Representative
know and he/she will inform the family that this is not the
right dog for them. For you, this is a decision--for the
Golden, it is his life.
If you give the final approval to the adoptive family, then
they may take the dog home with them that day, or they may
ask to wait in order to think it over or prepare for his
arrival. You will complete a form giving the new family all
the information that you have gathered about the dog, and
you will review the adoption contract with them prior to
their signing it. Then the dog will leave with his new
family. No doubt you will shed a few tears as he climbs into
the car with his new family because you already are missing
him, but it is a testament to the fact that you have taken a
frightened, confused, neglected rescue golden and turned him
into a happy, confident dog ready to join his new family in
his new forever home.
There is another rescue golden that now needs your love and
care and is waiting for that safe place in your home.
If you are ready to open your heart and home to foster a Golden, please click HERE to print and complete an Adoption/Foster Application. Once completed, please return by Email to: Info@gcgrr.org or Fax to: 941-743-4155.
If you are ready to open your heart and home to foster a Golden, please click HERE to print and complete an Adoption/Foster Application. Once completed, please return by Email to: Info@gcgrr.org or Fax to: 941-743-4155.
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