A 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue with a passion to save animals one waggy butt at a time.
Foster-to-Adopt Program
Our Foster-to-Adopt Program is designed to help both dogs and adopters find the perfect match. This program allows potential adopters to foster a dog for a trial period before making the adoption official. It’s a great way to ensure that both you and the dog are a good fit for each other!
Why We Encourage Foster-to-Adopt:
We highly encourage foster-to-adopt because it’s truly a win-win for everyone! Sometimes, people adopt a dog and later realize that the match isn’t quite right. We don’t want that to happen—we want everyone to feel comfortable and confident in their decision. By fostering first, you can get to know the dog’s personality, needs, and behavior in your home environment before making a lifelong commitment. This approach helps ensure a successful, happy match for both you and the dog!
Benefits of Foster-to-Adopt:
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Allows both the dog and adopter to bond before committing.
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Helps ensure a successful and lasting adoption.
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No pressure or obligation to adopt—only the perfect fit!
How it works
Application Process:
Start by completing our adoption application. This helps us learn more about your home, lifestyle, and preferences so we can match you with the right dog.
Meet & Greet:
If your application is approved, we’ll arrange a meet-and-greet with the dog. If you like the dog, you can bring the dog with you!
Trial Foster Period:
We will give you a foster contract to sign (opposed to adoption contract). During the foster-to-adopt trial, the dog will live with you. This allows you to see how the dog fits into your home, routine, and family dynamics. We provide all necessary supplies, food, and medical care during this time. There is no set time frame. If the dog is already in our rescue (not in the shelter) you can do a day - out, a night sleepover, weekend, or as long as you want! Most people opt for fostering until they know for sure their decision, this is typically a few weeks - but entirely up to you to decide!
Ongoing Support:
We provide a lengthy “foster cheat sheet” with info on our vets, what we provide, and so much more. We are always available to answer questions, provide guidance, and support you. We want both you and the dog to feel comfortable and happy! I will also check in to make sure all is well!
Finalizing the Adoption:
If everything goes well and you decide to make the adoption official, we’ll finalize the paperwork and transfer ownership.
If It’s Not the Right Match—That’s Okay!
We understand that sometimes a dog may not be the perfect fit—and that’s completely okay! The purpose of this program is to help both you and the dog find the best match possible. By fostering, you’ve still helped us learn more about the dog’s personality, which is a vital part of helping them find their forever home. If this pup isn’t the one for you, we can adopt them out to someone else or place them in another foster home. You’re also welcome to try fostering another dog—we encourage you to try as many as you wish until you find the right match! Dogs are a big commitment, and we want to ensure it’s the perfect fit for everyone involved. We don’t have a strict time frame for you to decide and are flexible to ensure the best outcome for both you and the dog.
Another Reason We May Require Foster-to-Adopt (not all cases):
In some cases, we may require a foster-to-adopt arrangement even if you know for sure you want to adopt. This happens when a dog still needs vetting or additional care before the adoption can be finalized. We want to make sure the dog is fully healthy and ready for their forever home before completing the adoption process. During this time, you’ll foster the dog with our support and care, and once all necessary vetting is done, we’ll finalize the adoption. This helps ensure both you and the dog start your journey together on the right paw!