Fostering
Fostering an animal is a highly rewarding experience. In most cases, you are saving that animal's life. Fostering a dog not only saves that pup's life, but allows us the space and resources to save another from the shelter or neglect.
What makes fostering great?
Fostering is more flexible than adoption. It’s temporary, and you can choose how you do it. You might prefer to foster senior pets, special needs, or maybe only puppy litters during puppy season. Fosters are even needed for shorter periods, during health recovery, babysitting while other fosters are on vacation, and to give our boarding dogs a mental break via our Mental Paws Program.
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Fostering plays an essential role by socializing and preparing animals for their forever home. You provide a safe and loving environment with adequate attention and interaction. With great patience and understanding, you will be the first to find out about your foster dog's unique personality and special qualities, which helps the rescue find the best possible home.
We supply food, crates, medications, beds, toys and any other support. You provide the love, comfort, structure, and security to prepare your foster animal for a successful adoption and happy life.
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Babysitters Needed!
If you're not quite ready to foster, then you could be a babysitter instead. When our foster parents go on vacation, their foster pups need babysitters. By providing babysitting services, either in your home or in the foster's home, you allow a foster dog to stay in a warm and loving environment instead of having to go to boarding.
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Being a babysitter is a great option for those who are not able to commit to a possible long term foster. Each month we post a list of foster dogs who need babysitting and the dates needed. So, you'll know exactly how long you're needed before your babysitting gig starts.
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If you're interested in babysitting you'll still need to be approved just like our foster parents are. Please complete the foster application and let us know that you're interested in being a babysitter.
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Mental Paws Program
Mental Paws is a 2-week foster program intended to give dogs in boarding at Renegade time in a home while they await a foster or adopter. It has been proven time and again that when dogs are able to get short breaks from life in the kennels, their stress levels decrease and their wellbeing significantly improves.
Having the dog in a home environment also lets us learn more about the dog outside of kennels! This information, along with pictures, helps us to better match the dog with future adopters. Aside from giving the dogs a much needed break, this is a great way to explore what it's like to foster without a long-term commitment!
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Fill out our foster application and let our team know that you're interested in the Mental Paws Program! Our team has a list of dogs that need a 'mental paws' and will be happy to match you with one that fits your household and lifestyle. Once a match is made, we will provide you with supplies for your short-term foster's stay!
It's an amazing feeling knowing you've helped save the life of an animal who might not have had a chance otherwise, but it's an even better feeling being able to share that with my daughter. Throughout this journey, she has learned so much about responsibility, compassion, and diligence. She currently wants to be a vet when she grows up, and I hope these skills she's learned so far will help her to make an even bigger impact in animal welfare in her future.
- Victoria, Renegade Foster
Fostering has taught me a lot about love and resilience. Watching these scared pups blossom from learning how to dog, to having unconditional love for humans- after all they have been through has been eye opening. Without fostering, so many of these dogs would not be here today. If everyone fostered even one dog, it would make a world of a difference. although I’ve only been able to foster 3 so far, it’s been the best decision I’ve made.
- Tori, Renegade Foster