Fostering
A REFUGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM
What does it mean to be a Foster?
We will rely on you to provide a temporary home to homeless Bostons who have lost their families or have been abandoned or abused. Our foster homes help each Boston heal and get prepared for their fur-ever homes. Without foster homes, dogs would die in shelters.
If you have been thinking about becoming a foster parent for one of our wonderful Boston Terriers, you need to know that your help is critical in saving the lives of America’s Favorite Dog. Boston Terrier Rescue of Florida, Inc. does not have any shelter facilities. Instead, when a dog comes into our rescue, we immediately seek to relocate him or her to one of our pre-approved foster homes. For this reason, foster homes are vital to meeting our organization’s objectives: giving needy dogs a shelter and love while we find them a fur-ever home.
Read below about our process.
01
Submit Application
Fill out our foster application as honest and complete as possible. One of our volunteers will review your application and check your personal and veterinary references. If you are renting, we will also need to contact your landlord to make sure the foster is an approved tenant.
02
Phone Interview
After the application has been reviewed, the volunteer will contact you to go over your application and answer any preliminary questions.
03
Home Visit
We will then set up a home visit to verify your home is a safe place for a Boston. The home visit is also a time where one of our volunteers can answer any questions that you may have and discuss safety precautions with you.
04
Foster Agreement
Once you are approved, we will send you a Foster Agreement with the terms and conditions of our rescue.
Once you are approved...
We will work with you to find the right foster for your home. If you are new to fostering, we have a great support system to help you with any questions or concerns that you may have.
01
Training & Rescue Support
Volunteers will train you on keeping specific paperwork, vetting protocols, and our Rescue’s basic policies and procedures. Some fosters prefer to foster dogs in a certain age group or energy level. You may decide you want additional training to work with emotionally or physically challenged Bostons or become specialized to work with certain chronic issues such as seizure disorder, deafness, blindness, or other illnesses.
02
Veterinary Care & Expenses
Boston Terrier Rescue of Florida, Inc. provides all of the necessary vet care, monthly or maintenance medications and prescription foods for dogs on special diets. You are responsible for providing the foster with regular food, flea prevention, and – most importantly – lots of love.
We have a list of approved veterinarians throughout many areas and continue to approve new ones as foster homes open in specific areas. Proceedures for vet care, including emergencies will be thoroughly explained. Our rescue will not refuse payment for any life saving veterinary intervention.
03
Foster Responsibilities
We rely on our foster homes to assess the dog’s behavior, personality, and health. We depend on our fosters to provide a safe, stress-free environment where emotional wounds can be healed. Your task is to prepare your foster to go to a furever home. However, while the Boston is in your home please treat him/her like a member of the family.
04
Help Finding a Permanent Home
Perhaps the most difficult part of fostering is giving your foster to the adoptive family – letting go. When the day to let go comes, it is both the best day and the worst – as every foster learns. Remind yourself that this is your true mission and that what you are doing is the best for your foster. It is so easy to fall in love with a Boston. However, when that time comes it is time to make room in your home and heart for the next baby that needs you.
Ready? We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!