About fostering

What does it mean to foster a dog?

Fostering means welcoming a rescue dog into your home and caring for them while they wait to be adopted.

At Starting Over Dog Rescue, our dogs live with volunteer foster carers across Victoria rather than in a traditional shelter environment. It means they get to spend their time in a real home, with a warm bed, regular walks, plenty of attention and people around them.

For some dogs, foster care might only last a few weeks. Others will need a little longer to find the right home.

Our foster carers are a huge part of what makes Starting Over Dog Rescue possible. Every new foster home gives us another place where a dog can be safe and cared for while we find their new family.

Why do dogs need foster care?

Dogs come into rescue for all sorts of reasons.

Some have been surrendered by their previous owners. Others come to us from pounds or situations where their owners can no longer care for them. Sometimes we know quite a lot about a dog's history and sometimes we know very little.

A foster home gives a dog somewhere safe to settle while we get to know them.

It can be difficult to know what a dog is really like when they're stressed or in an unfamiliar environment. Once they're living in a home and getting into a routine, their personality usually starts to come through.

Their foster carer gets to learn the little things that can make a big difference when finding them a home. Do they like other dogs? How do they go with children? Do they want to be involved in everything you're doing, or are they fairly independent? Do they need lots of exercise? Are they happiest snoozing on the couch?

We also learn where they might need some extra help. That could mean basic training, building their confidence or simply giving them time to get used to living in a home again.

Everything we learn during foster care helps us find a family that suits that particular dog.

Am I suitable to foster?

Probably!

Our foster carers come from all sorts of households. Some work full time, some have children, some already have pets and some are retired. You don't need to have fostered before and you certainly don't need to be a dog trainer.

What matters most is whether we can find a dog that suits your household and lifestyle.

You'll need enough time to properly care for a dog and a home and property that is safe and secure. Everyone you live with should be comfortable with having a foster dog in the house. If you're renting, you'll also need to make sure you're allowed to have a dog at the property.

Having children or another pet doesn't necessarily prevent you from fostering. We'll take your household into account when looking at which dogs might be suitable for you.

Being realistic about what you can manage is important too. If you're new to fostering or don't feel confident handling certain behaviours, tell us. We'd much rather find a dog that's a good fit for you.

What will I need to do?

Day to day, fostering looks a lot like caring for a dog of your own.

You'll feed them, walk them, play with them, give them somewhere comfortable to sleep and include them in everyday life. You'll help them get into a routine and spend some time getting to know them.

Some dogs will arrive in care and settle in very quickly. Others might be nervous, confused or unsure about their new surroundings. It can take a little while for a dog to relax enough for you to see what they're really like.

Your foster dog may also need some veterinary care while they're with you. Often this is routine care such as vaccinations, microchipping or desexing. Occasionally a dog will have more complicated medical needs.

You'll need to be available to take your foster dog to one of our nominated veterinary clinics when required.

Does fostering cost anything?

No. Starting Over Dog Rescue provides what you need to care for your foster dog.

Depending on the dog, this can include food and bowls, bedding, toys, crates or enclosures, collars and tags, healthcare supplies and medications such as flea and worming treatments.

Approved veterinary care is also covered by Starting Over Dog Rescue through our nominated veterinary clinics across Victoria.

There may be plenty of time and love involved in fostering, but we don't expect our foster carers to fund the cost of caring for the dogs they take in.

How long will my foster dog stay with me?

We ask foster carers to look after their dog until we find their forever home.

All of our dogs spend at least two weeks in foster care, although many will stay longer. There isn't really a standard timeframe because every dog is different. Some receive a great application quickly, while finding the right home for another dog can take more time.

We try to avoid moving dogs unnecessarily once they've settled into a foster home, so it's worth considering the commitment before you put your hand up.

Of course, sometimes circumstances change. If something unexpected happens or the placement isn't working for you or the dog, speak to your coordinator. We'll work out the best way forward.

Will I have support?

Absolutely.

Every foster carer has a coordinator who can answer questions and guide them through the process. If you're unsure about something your foster dog is doing, need help organising their care or simply want some advice, there are people you can talk to.

You'll also become part of our foster carer community. We have hundreds of carers who share advice, compare experiences and celebrate when dogs find their homes.

Some dogs come into care feeling pretty overwhelmed. You might have a dog who is frightened of something you didn't expect, struggles when left alone or needs a bit more help settling into everyday life.

You aren't expected to know how to handle every situation. Talk to us when you need help and we'll work through it with you.

Helping your foster dog find a home

One of the great things about our foster model is that the person who knows the dog best gets to have a say in where they go.

When your foster dog is ready for adoption, you'll help write their profile. This is where all the things you've learned about them become really useful.

You'll be able to tell potential adopters what they're like to live with, what they love doing, the kind of household they might suit and any quirks or needs their new family should know about.

You'll also go through the adoption applications you receive and help choose the applicant you think is the best fit.

After living with a dog every day, you'll usually have a pretty good idea of what sort of home will make them happy. We trust our foster carers to be an important part of that decision.

Is it hard to say goodbye?

This is probably one of the most common concerns we hear from people thinking about fostering.

And yes, sometimes it is.

You've had this dog living in your home. You've fed them, walked them, worried about them and probably let them take over a decent portion of your camera roll. By the time they're ready to leave, you've usually become pretty attached.

Seeing them go home with the family you've helped choose can also be one of the best parts of fostering.

You get to see a dog who arrived needing somewhere to go leave with people who are excited to make them part of their family. You'll know far more about them than you did when they first walked through your door, and you'll have played a big part in getting them there.

Some foster carers take a break afterwards. Others are ready for their next dog almost immediately. And occasionally a foster dog ends up staying for good. We have a name for that too: a foster fail!

Thinking about giving fostering a go?

You don't need years of experience with rescue dogs to become a foster carer.

You do need a safe home, enough time to care for a dog and a willingness to be patient while they settle in. We'll work with you to find a dog that suits your household and support you while they're in your care.

For every dog we take in, we need somewhere for them to go. Having more foster carers means we can say yes to more dogs that need our help.

If you've been thinking about fostering, we'd love to have you join us.