Thunders Angels Dog Rescue | Volunteer FOSTERING

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Available DogsHalf RoundPage 7Half RoundHalf RoundHalf RoundHalf RoundPage 8FOSTERINGThe Importance of FosteringFoster families are the true lifeline of our rescue. We do not have a central location or shelter to board dogs so the more available foster homes that we have, the more dogs we can save from death in the gas chamber. Our foster families will tell you that fostering a dog is a one of a kind experience -- for every dog that is fostered, there comes a different story; some will make you laugh, some will make you cry, and some will make you do both at the same time! But without a doubt, there is no other experience quite like fostering a dog. Giving a dog a second chance at life may be the most rewarding activity you will ever participate in. PLEASE NOTE: Although fostering can be a rewarding experience, it is not like pet sitting for your neighbor. It is a big responsibility and requires work. Dogs of all types come into our rescue with varying levels of training -- some of them may have never lived inside with a family before; housebreaking, training, vet appointments, and grooming are all part of the experience. Thunder's Angels requires that you treat your foster dog like an adoptive dog -- you shouldn't ask to relinquish the animal at the first sign of something you dislike. If you rescue an urgent dog, you will be responsible for committing to that dog until s/he is adopted (regardless of what medical or behavioral issues may arise). Our organization is staffed by volunteers who each have their own dogs and their own fosters in their homes -- in order to save as many dogs as possible, we do not have any extra space in our foster network so it becomes very difficult to locate a different foster home for a dog once you've agreed to help him/her. Behaviors like chewing, messing in the home, or excessive barking are not a reason to surrender a foster dog - they are to be expected until a dog has had sufficient time to train with you and learn the rules. We have many years of experience and are willing to work with you on resolving any issues your foster dog may have (and if necessary, we will hire a professional to assist you) but we do not have the ability to bounce dogs from one foster home to another if you are simply not happy with certain aspects of the dog's personality. Please consider this before committing. REQUIREMENTS FOR FOSTERING:The ability (both financial and emotional) to provide housing, food, love, training and care for a dog while they await their forever home with a new family -- this can last a few weeks or a few months depending on the dog. (Thunder's Angels will pay for all of the dog's medical care.)A valid driving license and regular access to a vehicle.A residence within 60 minutes of Philadelphia, PA. (Every dog in foster care will need to see a vet at least once or twice before adoption. We ask that fosters be willing to drive the dog to vet appointments. Our regular veterinarian has offices in Blue Bell, PA and also within the city of Philadelphia so you must be able to take the dog to either of these places.)Previous dog experience -- you don't have to have another dog living in your home but at some point, you should have lived with another dog and learned the basics of caring for a canine companion (i.e., the need for daily walks, proper feeding amounts, knowledge of flea/tick prevention, etc. Training experience using positive reinforcement techniques is always a plus too!)Patience and a willingness to work through any behavioral issues that arise. Since our dogs are coming from a shelter environment, we typically get very little information about them -- they may not be housetrained, they may bark when left unattended, they may have separation anxiety, or they may have no behavioral issues at all; but either way, we ask that you treat every dog coming into your home as a new puppy and be patient with the dog(s) until you have had time to successfully teach them the rules of your home. Strong Communication Skills, Honesty, and Reliability -- communication is an important aspect of fostering; although you foster the dog within your own home, you are still working as part of a group within an organization. As a volunteer, you should feel comfortable communicating with other group members if you need help with anything or if you just want to share your excitement and enthusiam to keep others motivated. We also hope that you will remain honest throughout the process so that we can get a fair temperament evaluation of the dog to help him/her find the best adoptive home possible. Lastly, you will need to be reliable in caring for your foster dog.THE FOSTERING PROCESSReview our Foster Contract (below).Complete a Foster Application (below) and we will follow up with a phone interview.If approved, we will put you in touch with a Foster Mentor to help prepare you for the arrival of your new dog.You will need to pick up the dog from the transport arrival (this can be anywhere from Center Valley to South Philadelphia and various spots in between) and observe the dog for two weeks. During this trial period, you will be trying to get an assessment of the dogs behavior in various situations (ex: in noisy areas, with children, cats, other dogs, etc.) and learning their quirks so that the information can be passed along to the potential adopters in an effort to find the best home for the dog. After the initial two weeks, you will be responsible for submitting photos of the dog and completing a questionnaire to create his/her bio for our website. While the dog is in your care, you will also be responsible for providing for the dog until adoption (i.e., basic training, transporting to vet visits). Foster parents are also encouraged to participate in community adoption events and meet-and-greets to give the dog more exposure.Once we have received an approved adoption application for the dog, the foster parent is responsible for providing input on how well they feel the dog will fit with the potential family and will also be responsible for bringing the dog to a home visit. Upon completion of the home visit, the foster parent is responsible for meeting with an adoption counselor and turning the dog over to the adoptive family at a time and location which will be pre-arranged. When you foster dog finds a new home, it can sometimes be bittersweet. You'll be encouraged to talk with your Foster Mentor about this ahead of time but keep in mind that foster families are encouraged to keep in touch with adopters, and most do! Many of our foster families stay in touch with adopters via facebook and email and some even visit with them regularly or dog-sit when the adopters are vacationing. You can learn even more about fostering by visiting our FAQ Page. After reading the FAQ's, if you still aren't sure if you should apply, please email our Fostering Team Leaders, Melissa and Micah at melissahales_gmail.com Once you're ready, please read the contract and fill out the application below - the dogs are waiting for you! foster applicationfoster contractHomeEducationEdu GassingEdu TrainingEdu PitbullsEdu SpayNeuterUrgent DogsUrgent Dogs TWOUrgent Dogs THREEAdoptable DogsAdoptable Dogs2Adoptable Dogs3Adoptable Dogs4Adoptable DaisyAdoptable ReenieAdoptable QueenAdoptable MicheleAdoptable BuddyAdoptable FuzzyBearAdoptable RomeoAdoption PoliciesFAQsVolunteerSuccessSavedBeforeAfterJustFunNews and EventsSupport Our WorkContact Us