Although the aim is to send dogs straight to their forever homes, sometimes it’s just not possible and foster homes are needed. This can be for a variety of reasons: their new home isn’t quite ready for them yet, they have already arrived in the UK but their adoption just hasn’t worked out or circumstances have changed, they are struggling in Spain in the shelter environment (particularly hard for the really young dogs, older ones, or those with medical conditions or injuries), or they just haven’t had any interest and have been in the shelter for many months.
Whatever the reason, a foster home can be a great stepping stone for a dog to their forever home.
If you offer to take on a foster dog, here’s what you need to know:
1. We will change the microchip into your name whilst the dog is in your care.
2. Please ensure you have a dog tag ready for them with your contact details and address, so you can attach it to their collar as soon as they arrive.
3. Please do not change the name of the dog whilst they are in foster, they already have webpages and paperwork using their original name.
4. We will buy a suitable harness for each foster dog and post direct to you (unless you ask to use your own harness or the dog has one already).
5. While a dog is in foster care, TSPP will usually be responsible for any reasonable veterinary and medical costs that may arise. To ensure we can support you appropriately, all non-emergency vet care and treatment must be discussed and agreed in advance. Unfortunately, we may be unable to cover costs that have not been approved beforehand, except in genuine emergencies. As we are a small organisation, it is important that all foster dogs are insured so that everyone is protected should unexpected situations arise. We therefore ask that an insurance policy is taken out in your name, for practical reasons, with cover for illness or accident of up to approximately £5,000. Lifetime cover is not required, as you are not the dog’s permanent home, which helps to keep costs down. Many foster carers kindly cover the cost of insurance themselves as a donation; however, please do let us know if you need any support with this. Prior to the dog arriving, please provide a copy of the insurance certificate to your rehomer for our records. Please note that if insurance cover is not in place and vet treatment is required, responsibility for the associated costs will rest with the foster home.
6. Whilst in your care, please do not let the dog off the lead on walks unless in a secure enclosed dog field or unless discussed with one of the team. If you have low fences, please keep dogs on a long line in the garden until you are confident they will not escape. All dogs should be supervised in the garden. Remember that the first few days after arrival are the most risky for a dog escaping.
7. While we are finding a home for a dog in your care, the more photos and information you can give us the better. Videos of the dog interacting with people and dogs (and cats if suitable) are really valuable and really help potential adopters visualise the dog.
8. We will advertise the dogs and work hard to find them homes, and we really appreciate any help you can give with homing our dogs. We are sometimes able to home dogs locally to foster homes through chance meetings on walks, friends and family etc. If this does happen, it’s important that everything goes through the rehoming team so that the adoption procedure is followed and we can ensure that it is in fact a wonderful home. When a dog has found their forever home, please keep us updated about handover etc. Equally, once the dog has a home to go to, we will put you in touch with the new adopters so that you can keep in touch if you would like.
9. We understand that life happens and sometimes foster homes aren’t able to keep a dog as long as expected. If this happens, we will appeal for emergency foster. However, it does help if you are able to give us as much notice as possible.
10. If you decide you would like to adopt your foster dog, please let us know as soon as possible. It can be tricky once adopters have been found and emotions are involved but we will always try to do what is best for the dog.
