Adopt a Foster Dog and Be Their Hero!

Less than 7% of homeless dogs are in foster homes. Thus, adopting a foster dog takes a bit of work, but I can attest that it’s worth the effort.

You may know that the inspiration for this blog is Henry. He’s my adopted cockapoo. Before I adopted him, he spent four months as a foster dog. Let me re-phrase just a bit – he spent four months in foster care before he found me.

Today, and with Henry’s approval, let’s dig in and discover how to adopt a foster dog. Henry can hardly wait to share this story and hopefully help more of his foster friends get adopted.

The steps to adopt a foster dog are easier than you may think as these dogs wait for their furever homes.
disclaimer note
Budget Tip:

Yes, even a foster dog has a adoption fee. But, remember you are saving a life and allowing another dog to be saved. Plus, if you adopt your dog from a charity organization, you may be able write the adoption fee off as a donation. You'll need to talk with your CPA to verify.

Either way, when you adopt a furry buddy, you're saving two lives - that of the one you adopt and the one who can move into that space you made available. It's a win-win-win for you, your new buddy, and a furry friend you'll probably never know.

What does it mean to foster a dog? 

A happy pup is the product of being at a pet fair where they focused on how to adopt a foster dog

A foster dog is a dog that lives in someone’s home until it finds a fur-ever home. Foster dogs are generally associated with non-profit rescue organizations, such as the one that rescued Henry. 

Some organizations will rescue dogs from shelters who are doing poorly in the scary environment, but may thrive in a foster home. Certain breeds do much better in a foster home and have a better chance of adoption through this route. These breeds include, but aren’t limited to, huskies and shelties.

Are you wondering if you can afford a new dog? Find out in this article. You can even download a free budget template and work your way through your own budget as I walk you through it.

Note: You can find all breeds available for adoption. Many rescue organizations focus on certain breeds such as huskies, bullies, shi tzus, golden retrievers, and shelties. Heck, you name the breed and you can find a rescue organization. However, don't overlook a specialized rescue organization for your pup. My Henry, a cockapoo, was fostered by a chihuahua organization.

How do you find a foster dog?

There are three main ways to view a dog in foster care.

1. Online website

learn why adoption photos are accurate like Henry's in this article on how to adopt a foster dog
As proof that you should never take posted foster photos as gold, Henry’s foster photos didn’t resemble him.

Most rescue organizations will post the dogs and pets they have in foster care on their websites. 

Henry Tip:

DO NOT take the pictures that are posted with as gold. Honestly, the descriptions can be way off as well. What you’re mainly looking for are the criteria, if any, listed (such as male, female, puppy, adult, senior, special needs, socialized well with other animals, don’t put in a home with small children, etc.) You get the picture. Anything more than those basics can be way off the mark, including the photo.

2. Pet fair

wanting to adopt a foster dog is foremost of a man at a pet fair

Keep your eyes open for any pet fairs in your area. A lot of foster organizations will bring their pets out for a pet fair. Henry found me at a huge multi-rescue organization pet fair. There were 10-12 organizations represented. This may not sound big to you. But for my area, it’s huge.

Look for a pet fair sponsored by your local:

For Henry’s pet fair, each organization brought all their foster dogs that were prepared to be adopted. Some may have just had surgery and were not ready to find their furever home immediately. But you could still meet the pup and get to know him or her.

Thus, if you think a dog is a good fit, you can go back when they are available for adoption. That’s actually a great idea because you can prepare even more for your new furry buddy by dog proofing your home and buying supplies.

3. Schedule an appointment for a meet and greet

a man calls to adopt a foster dog

If you can’t find any foster pet fairs, you can always schedule an appointment with the foster parent or organization to see any dogs who may fit your criteria. Of course, this is a longer process but will work just the same. Be patient because everyone’s schedule is different. Remember the goal is to adopt a dog that fits your family. That’s worth the effort!

Are you stumped as to what to call your newly adopted dog? Or maybe you don’t think you can change your dog’s adoption name. Learn how to allow your rescue dog to pick his or her own name in this article.

What do I do at a pet fair to adopt a foster dog?

finding the right pup and learning how to adopt a foster dog is on display while these pug wait to be adopted

Honestly, pet fairs can be overwhelming. For Henry’s pet fair, I arrived about an hour early to figure out where each breed and type of dog would be and then walked around a little.

This particular pet fair included a yard sale as a fundraiser. So there was plenty to do while waiting. My yard sale junkie friend who accompanied me that day loved this part. 

Paws up when the foster dogs arrive

a family plans to adopt a foster dog at a pet fair

It wasn’t long before the dogs started arriving.

Once the dogs arrived, the handlers unloaded the pups. They all had to go potty and stretch before they were ready to look for their new dog parents. 

Do you know the top 23 myths of dog adoption? Find out in this article.

Henry arrived last

Henry’s trailer rolled in last. It was an old, round, silver trailer straight out of the 1950s. The trailer pulled in near the entrance, parked, put up a shade tent, a little fence, and fake grass.

Then the fun began!

One by one the little, barking, and cute chihuahuas popped out of the trailer like a clown car. Yes, I said chihuahuas. They each relieved themselves on the wanna-be grass and continued barking.

Adorable, but not exactly what I was looking for, or so I thought. After all, I wanted a hypoallergenic pup to be a therapy dog for kids. So, I turned and was about to leave the gated area thinking there must be a dog at one of the other booths I overlooked.

Then it happened!

Out popped this black ball of fur. He was bigger than the rest of his trailer mates and very calm. He didn’t have a thing to bark about.

He suddenly saw me, came over, and sat at my feet as if to say “I’m yours” or maybe “your mine?” 

My friend screamed, “You better take that dog!” 

Do you hate leaving your dog at home when you go to work? In this article, discover easy ways to take your new dog to work. 

Is this foster dog the right dog for me?

a man decides to adopt a foster dog at a pet fair

While Henry made a heck of a first impression. One I will never forget. I was set on a dog that could be a therapy dog for kids. I mean, it was the top of my dog criteria list. 

I picked up this black pup. He melted in my arms. I walked to one of the handlers to ask about him an his background.

He seemed to meet most of my criteria.

Are you not sure what to look for in your new dog? In this article, I walk you through how to create your own dog criteria list. 

How much does a foster dog cost?

a woman looks to adopt a foster dog at a pet fair

The fee for a foster dog will vary. It’s based on age, sex, breed of dog, area, and organization. Henry was $100. However, most of the organizations should be non-profit, and sometimes you can write these expenses off your taxes. It’s a question, you’ll need to ask your CPA.  

Also, don’t forget that you are saving two dogs with an adoption – the pup you adopt and the pup who will take your new buddy’s spot in the foster home.

Are you looking for a second dog? Not sure if it’s a good idea? In this article, I walk you through whether a second dog is a good idea or not.

Is there anything else I need to know to adopt a foster dog?

a woman wants to adopt a foster dog and shows off her yard

Most organizations ask you to fill out an application. They may also require a home inspection to make sure your new pup will be safe both inside and outside.

However, other organizations will require a background check to verify you don’t have any abuse history. This will all vary based on the foster organization. Henry’s adoption was very basic. I filled out a simple application with my name, address, and paid the $100. That was it.

Do you wish you had a pretty dog yard but you have a kibble budget? You can achieve the yard of your dreams with a few key tricks. In this article, I guide you through the process of creating your dream backyard.

Does my adopted foster dog come with anything? 

a woman takes her adopted dog to a pet to get supplies

Whether or not your dog comes with a leash, collar, food, or toy will honestly depend on the organization. Some foster organizations will provide a few items. While others will only give you the dog.

Either way, try to get the name of the food and the amount of food your new dog has been eating. It will save your dog and you a lot of discomfort. Henry’s foster only provided a slip collar/leash. Additionally, I was unable to find out the exact food they were feeding him. So, he went on chicken and rice as I transitioned him to a new food.

If you have not prepared for your dog, you will need to do an emergency shopping trip for the essentials. Also, if you have budgeted for the supplies and just have not purchased them, it can be fun to buy them with your new dog. I did this with Henry. It was fun because he picked out red for everything. Yep, he’s a red dog. My little black rescued cockapoo dog loves red!

Do you wonder if your dog has a favorite color? There’s an easy little quiz. I did it with Henry. Learn about it in this article.

What’s next when I adopt a foster dog?

an adopted get his first vet check up

You will want to schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. Henry saw his vet the next day. He got a clean bill of health. Plus, I got a little bit of good news. I was told Henry was not microchipped. But he was chipped! My vet found it gave me his microchip number so I was able to transfer the information to me very easily.

Is your fence not adequate for your newly adopted dog? Learn how to quickly put up a temporary dog fence in this article.

Honestly, there have been a few bumps in our journey as we got used to each other. But I wouldn’t trade the experience or Henry for anything. Oh yes, he got a bath that adoption day. A four-hour ride in a little trailer with 30 barking chihuahuas doesn’t equate to smelling like a bed of roses. Well, let me just say, I think he was waking the dead with his aroma.

Related articles:

Ready to Upgrade Your Life? Then Adopt a Foster Dog!

husky puppies in foster care wait to be adopted

While you can research those less than 7% of foster dogs, you really need to see them in person. I skipped over Henry’s online photos without even giving him a second glance. If possible, the best way to view foster pets is at a pet fair where you can see many dogs all at once. However, if this isn’t an option, you can schedule appointments with the foster organizations of those dogs that may be a fit for you. 

During my search process for Henry, I kept my list of dog criteria in my wallet. I’d refer back to it, especially when I’d get conflicted whether a certain dog was for me or not. Having taken the steps prior to the search to write out my criteria kept me focused. Although, a few times it was difficult. I mean after all, dogs are cute! But I have no doubt I made (or Henry made) the right selection. 

Finally, don’t be surprised if your dog only comes with his fur bagage. That’s okay. You can figure it out one paw at a time. Henry and I did. He’s without a doubt the most researched, valued and loved item in my home. Heck, we research our shoes, cars, movies, computers, lotions, potions, and who knows whatever pops into our minds. But none of those other things can love us like a rescue dog. More importantly, those things you can be returned if they don’t fit, but a living, breathing, feeling dog is family for the moment you say “I’ll adopt this one!”

About Terri Rodefer

Terri Rodefer is the founder of Tail Wag Wisdom, a blog focused on affordable pet care. She likes to say helping pet parents afford and love their animals even more, makes her tail wag. As a lifelong lover of all animals with a background in economics, biology, and marketing, allows Terri to bring a unique spin to pet care. 

10 thoughts on “Adopt a Foster Dog and Be Their Hero!”

  1. You really warmed my heart with this one. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful and detailed article.

    Fostering is such a wonderful solution in so many different ways, even if it’s not as easy as picking your dog out of a line up of cages at the shelter. Your more likely to get a true idea of the dog’s personality because he’s not shut down or panicked. You’re likely to get a less stressed dog when transferred from a home to another home.

    Fostering is also good for the fosterer too. I read so many posts on reddit saying, “I want to get another dog, but I don’t know if my dog would like it.” or “I think I want a dog, but I don’t want to commit and be stuck with a dog if I don’t like it.” or “I want a dog but I travel so much it wouldn’t be fair.”

    Fostering is a great option in all of these situations. You can test out whether your current pup is open to another pup without commiting to ownership. You can find out if you want a dog without permanence. You can keep a dog while you’re there, and travel between dogs.

    It’s such a wonderful scenario. Thank you for sharing this awesome post.

    Reply
    • Excellent point that fostering allows the foster parents to experience what another fur kid would be like in their home without making a commitment. I’m glad this post warmed your heart. Thank you sharing for experiences.

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  2. Adopting a Foster dog is amazing! We foster frequently and it allows us to really get to know a dog. That means there is fewer chances for surprises when they get adopted because we can help make sure that the new home will be a good fit. Thanks for breaking down this process because a lot of people have questions about how adopting a dog that’s in foster care works 🙂

    Reply
    • Good point. Most good foster parents will be able to work with the furry friend on issues so that the adoption is more successful. A good foster parent can also more accurately identify issues to alert a possible adopter. Super insights. Thank you for sharing!

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  3. Great post as it will help others who are looking to adopt. I went online, saw Nili sitting in the cage in the shelter and the rest is history. We used to have fantastic adoption events before COVID and I hope they will start them again. Henry is one lucky boy to have you as his Mom, extra cookie for Henry

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    • Nili, Layla, and Baby are all lucky to have you as their dog mom. Adoption is critical. Henry says thank you and says Nili needs an extra cookie too.

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  4. I love ❤️ Henry’s adoption story – he totally picked YOU! I’m so glad you adopted him, you’ve given him the most amazing life. I fostered many dogs when I volunteered for the county shelter & can tell you, Fostering absolutely saves lives!

    Reply
    • He did pick me! I’m grateful for it every day. I believe fostering saves lives as well. I hope more folks will become foster parents. Thank you for your volunteer work, Cathy!

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  5. This is a topic so near and dear to my heart. Especially lately, the shelters and rescues are busting at the seams to save dogs, and fosters are really, really needed so they can go on and save more. I pray one day this “toss away” society will get back to treating animals as the wonderful, deserving of happiness beings they are. I will never understand how this whole abandoned dogs became such an epidemic. Dogs are our family. They are give their love so freely and deserve it right back. Breaks my heart to see so many beautiful homeless dogs, just waiting…before it’s too late. Fostering is such a wonderful way for people to help.

    Henry is such a lucky boy, and I believe he sensed that right away and why he chose you!

    Terri, this is truly a heartwarming and needed post. Sharing everywhere!

    Reply
    • I don’t understand the throw away pet issue either. It’s mind boggling, shameful, sad, and disrepectful. I think Henry chose me as well. I’m lucky! I’m glad you found this post so heartwarming. Thank you, Dorothy!

      Reply

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