Fostering: A Refuge In The Middle Of The Storm

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.

Ready to foster? Here are the steps.

Submit Application

The first step in the process is to 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 the foster is an approved tenant.

Phone Interview

After the application has been reviewed, the volunteer will contact you to go over your application and answer any preliminary questions.

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.

Foster Agreement

Once you are approved, we will send you a Foster Agreement with the terms and conditions of our rescue.

You’re Approved! Now What?

Once you are approved, we will then 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.

Training and Rescue Support System

One of our volunteers will train you on keeping specific paperwork regarding each dog, vetting protocols, and our Rescue’s basic policies and procedures. Some of our fosters prefer to foster dogs in a certain age group or energy level, or 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.

Veterinary Care and Other 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 in the state, and continue to approve new ones as foster homes open in specific areas. If your foster dog needs to see the vet for any reason, please contact our Medical Director for approval. We pay for all our vetting services at the time they are done, but pre-approval is mandatory.

In cases of life threatening emergencies, we urge foster homes to contact our Medical Director as soon as possible. If our Medical Director cannot be reached, our rescue will not refuse payment for any life saving veterinary intervention.

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 your him/her like a member of the family.

Helping your Fosters Find 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, 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.

NEXT STEP: FOSTER APPLICATION

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.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!