Can I foster a dog?
Sometimes people’s circumstances can change forcing them to make the heart-wrenching decision to rehome their dog. A relationship breakdown can mean the dog is now left alone for long periods and the owner may not have the disposable income to provide a dog walker or day care. Illness can mean that the owner is no longer able to walk and care for their dog.
Finding a suitable new home can take time, this is where fostering comes in. Fostering bridges the gap, providing these dogs with a loving temporary home while they await their forever family.
Are you able to be a home away from home for a dog in need?
If you are interested in fostering a rescue dog the first step is signing up to be added to our list of potential foster carers in the UK.
Sign up to be added to our list of foster carers in the UK
We will contact you annually to check if you would still like to be on our list of contacts. Successful foster application form and home check are required before a dog can be placed in your care.
How does it work?
Our process to be a foster carer is similar to our adoption process, we ask you to complete a form to detail your experience with dogs, any current animals in your home and which dogs you would consider fostering. For example, you may currently own a calm older dog and you would prefer to foster older dogs rather than younger ones or it may be the other way round.
You don’t have to currently own a dog to be eligible to foster one, however, we are looking for people who have experience with dogs and access to a secure garden.
The next step is to do a home check, as we do with all our adopters, to ensure your garden is safe and secure for any foster dogs you welcome into your home. This check may be done in person or virtually.
How much notice would we get?
It is likely that a dog needing foster care needs to move from their current home quickly, this can mean we don’t have a lot of notice to arrange a foster home and transport there. Don’t let this put you off though this may not always be the case. If you are not able to take a dog for foster due to the short notice this does not prevent you from staying on our lists of contacts for any future dogs.
How much would you tell me about the dog?
Everything we know, from when they arrived in the UK, how long they have been in their home, their character traits and anything else we find out from their owner eg if they pull on the lead. We will always ask lots of questions when a dog is being surrendered so we can best place them in their new home, the more we know the better and we will not keep any information from you.
Can I find a home for my foster dog myself?
Your foster dog can dawn an eye-catching “adopt me” bandana and you will meet lots of people while you are out and about walking them, you may well come across someone who falls in love with them! If you have anyone interested in adopting your foster dog this is fantastic, please direct them to our website for them to complete an application form and we will take it from there.
Do I have to pay to foster a dog?
No, Spanish Happy Tails Rescue UK will cover essential expenses such as food, dog insurance and any vet costs. A foster carer supplies a patient, understanding and stable home for a dog who has just had its life turned upside down. Fostering is a truly impactful way to contribute to animal welfare and make a difference in the life of a deserving dog.
How long is dog fostering for?
Choosing to be a foster carer is emotionally rewarding but it can also be difficult to say goodbye. While the dog is in foster we will work to find them their new home this means the length of foster stays can be unpredictable, it might be a few weeks or it could be months. Foster carers volunteer their time and energy knowing that they made a positive impact on the dog’s life, whether that is for days, weeks or longer.
If fostering a rescue dog sounds like something you would love to do, complete the form below and we will get back in touch within 2 working days.
Sign up to be added to our list of foster carers in the UK
We will contact you annually to check if you would still like to be on our list of contacts. Successful foster application form and home check are required before a dog can be placed in your care.