Information For People Interested In Becoming A Little Legs Foster Carer
HOW LONG IS FOSTER CARE NEEDED FOR
Have you been thinking about signing up to help foster little dogs but aren't sure what's involved? Fostering is a very rewarding experience and almost anyone can do it! The time frame for fostering a dog can be from 2 to 12 weeks as an average estimate. It is hard to predict exactly how long a foster dog will need your help as some are adopted within days and others may have next to no interest for 4 weeks and then BAMM! suddenly everyone wants him!
WHAT'S INVOLVED
All Little Legs dogs needing foster are either on death row in the pound or are being surrendered by their owners for various reasons. We try to gain as much information and background history on each dog as possible so as to correctly place them into suitable long term care. Temporary carers are sometimes required if a dog is in immediate danger and needs out of their current situation urgently before a permanent foster home can be sourced. In most cases we would prefer to send the dog/s straight to their permanent foster home as moving a dog from place to place causes stress and confusion on an already confused or anxious dog.
In cases of surrender dogs we will liaise with the owner while sourcing appropriate placement and once a foster home is found we will ask the carer to contact the owner to arrange a meeting time and place for collection or hand over of the dog. We will need to be kept informed and will continue to correspond with the owner until the dog is safely in the care of a Little Legs foster carer.
In relation to dogs being collected from the pound, we will need to know details of who will be collecting the dog and the day and time. We will liaise with pound staff to ensure the collection goes smoothly. Transport assistance can also be arranged sometimes if a carer is unable to collect the dog.
CARER RESPONSIBILITY
Carers are required to transport foster dogs to and from an approved vet for all medical needs and vet work. The List of Approved Vets please advise which vet you are able to use. All dogs (if not already done) will need to be health checked, vaccinated, microchipped, desexed, heartworm tested & on prevention, up to date on intestinal worming and flea treatment before leaving your care for their forever home. Please ensure you record the monthly date for heartworm prevention tablets so that these are kept up to date. All vet visits are to be approved by Little Legs.
All dogs will be advertised for rehoming on our Facebook page, website & Petrescue. It is your responsibility to provide Little Legs with plenty of good photos and information on your foster dog to give them the best chance at finding their forever home, please remember that the first thing to grab potential adopters attention is the photo!
You must complete the Foster Dog Questionnaire on the website for each dog within one week of taking in the dog, profiles need to be done a week after arriving into our care.
Please put an ID Tag on your foster dog as soon as you take them into care, this can be something as cheap and easy as the key tags that you write your phone number on, this is very important as new dogs can often be frightened and confused and may run at that first chance they get. Please inform LLs immediately should your foster escape and conduct a door-to-door search of all neighbors, you will also need to inform council and check the pounds and RSPCA.
Please allow your foster dog slow introduction to others, provide them with a safe, quiet place where they can retreat and take in their new surrounds, remember your foster dog doesn't know you, your family, your home, there are many new sounds and smells. If they have come from a private surrender they are no doubt sad and confused and missing their people and home. If they have come from a pound or shelter they can be fairly high strung, pounds are a noisy and frightening place and can leave a lasting imprint on the calmest of dogs. Give them time to adjust, if they are nervous or fearful allow them to come to you, do not force anything.
KENNEL COUGH AND OTHER DISEASES
Diseases such as Kennel Cough are very common in dogs rescued from pounds. Kennel Cough is very much like the human common cold and can be contagious to other dogs. Affected dogs will display symptoms such as wheezing or coughing, persistent sneezing and running noses. It is best to separate affected dogs from other dogs within the home and to keep the affected dog at home during recovery. Antibiotics are available from Little Legs approved vets and recovery is generally between one to two weeks depending on severity. If you suspect your foster dog has kennel cough, please contact your Coordinator ASAP.
Parvovirus is another far worse disease. Parvo is extremely contagious and potentially deadly. Common symptoms include loss of appetite, diarrhoea, lethargy and vomiting. If you suspect Parvo, it is very important to act fast! Please contact your Coordinator ASAP if your foster dog displays one of or a combination of symptoms.
Most dogs come into care already vaccinated and as such Parvo is very rare. In the case of receiving a non vaccinated dog ( either as it is a surrender dog with history unknown or a very young puppy with no vaccinations as yet) it is MOST important that the foster dog is NOT taken out of the foster yard until 2 weeks AFTER the vaccination is administered. This means NO WALKS, NO TRIPS TO THE BEACH, NO VISITING DOGS and so on.
DOGS PARKS & OFF LEASH AREAS
Please note LLs has a strict policy on not allowing our foster dogs to be off leash in any public area or taken to a dog park. This is due to the risks involved to both our dogs, other dogs and members of the public. Any breach of this policy will result in termination of registration and you may be liable for any damages or injuries sustained to or caused by the foster dog.
ADOPTION PROCESS
Any enquiries will be initially assessed for suitability and then asked to complete the Adoption Application. Once the Adoption Application is received it will be emailed to you for your approval as initially suited, you will then need to call and discuss further and arrange a meet and greet. You will need to let your coordinator know if a meet and greet is arranged so that our adoptions coordinator can send out the adoptions email detailing the adoption process, trial process and payment details.
At the meet and greet, please ask as many questions as needed to ascertain suitability, and please ensure you disclose all relevant information on your foster dog do that there are no surprises for new owners. A visit at the new home for the meet and greet is a good idea if you are able as this gives you the chance to check out the new home and where the dog will be kept. Please remember we do not aim to just rehome our dogs, our aim is to rehome them to their perfect forever home!
Once the meet and greet is completed please give your coordinator your feedback as final approval is based on foster carers feedback.
Full payment is required before foster dogs can leave your care and all vet work must be complete prior also, if not already complete you will need to book the vet work as soon as possible after successful meet and greet.
TRIAL PERIOD
Little Legs offers a 7-day trial period for all adopted dogs (adoptions by foster carers not included). This trial period starts the day the foster dog leaves your care; you will need to advise your coordinator of the day the dog is leaving. New adopters can return the dog to the foster carer within this 7-day trial for a refund of the adoption fee (less an administration fee of $70).
Ensure you keep in regular contact with your coordinator and we hope to form the start of a terrific foster relationship.
Have you been thinking about signing up to help foster little dogs but aren't sure what's involved? Fostering is a very rewarding experience and almost anyone can do it! The time frame for fostering a dog can be from 2 to 12 weeks as an average estimate. It is hard to predict exactly how long a foster dog will need your help as some are adopted within days and others may have next to no interest for 4 weeks and then BAMM! suddenly everyone wants him!
WHAT'S INVOLVED
All Little Legs dogs needing foster are either on death row in the pound or are being surrendered by their owners for various reasons. We try to gain as much information and background history on each dog as possible so as to correctly place them into suitable long term care. Temporary carers are sometimes required if a dog is in immediate danger and needs out of their current situation urgently before a permanent foster home can be sourced. In most cases we would prefer to send the dog/s straight to their permanent foster home as moving a dog from place to place causes stress and confusion on an already confused or anxious dog.
In cases of surrender dogs we will liaise with the owner while sourcing appropriate placement and once a foster home is found we will ask the carer to contact the owner to arrange a meeting time and place for collection or hand over of the dog. We will need to be kept informed and will continue to correspond with the owner until the dog is safely in the care of a Little Legs foster carer.
In relation to dogs being collected from the pound, we will need to know details of who will be collecting the dog and the day and time. We will liaise with pound staff to ensure the collection goes smoothly. Transport assistance can also be arranged sometimes if a carer is unable to collect the dog.
CARER RESPONSIBILITY
Carers are required to transport foster dogs to and from an approved vet for all medical needs and vet work. The List of Approved Vets please advise which vet you are able to use. All dogs (if not already done) will need to be health checked, vaccinated, microchipped, desexed, heartworm tested & on prevention, up to date on intestinal worming and flea treatment before leaving your care for their forever home. Please ensure you record the monthly date for heartworm prevention tablets so that these are kept up to date. All vet visits are to be approved by Little Legs.
All dogs will be advertised for rehoming on our Facebook page, website & Petrescue. It is your responsibility to provide Little Legs with plenty of good photos and information on your foster dog to give them the best chance at finding their forever home, please remember that the first thing to grab potential adopters attention is the photo!
You must complete the Foster Dog Questionnaire on the website for each dog within one week of taking in the dog, profiles need to be done a week after arriving into our care.
Please put an ID Tag on your foster dog as soon as you take them into care, this can be something as cheap and easy as the key tags that you write your phone number on, this is very important as new dogs can often be frightened and confused and may run at that first chance they get. Please inform LLs immediately should your foster escape and conduct a door-to-door search of all neighbors, you will also need to inform council and check the pounds and RSPCA.
Please allow your foster dog slow introduction to others, provide them with a safe, quiet place where they can retreat and take in their new surrounds, remember your foster dog doesn't know you, your family, your home, there are many new sounds and smells. If they have come from a private surrender they are no doubt sad and confused and missing their people and home. If they have come from a pound or shelter they can be fairly high strung, pounds are a noisy and frightening place and can leave a lasting imprint on the calmest of dogs. Give them time to adjust, if they are nervous or fearful allow them to come to you, do not force anything.
KENNEL COUGH AND OTHER DISEASES
Diseases such as Kennel Cough are very common in dogs rescued from pounds. Kennel Cough is very much like the human common cold and can be contagious to other dogs. Affected dogs will display symptoms such as wheezing or coughing, persistent sneezing and running noses. It is best to separate affected dogs from other dogs within the home and to keep the affected dog at home during recovery. Antibiotics are available from Little Legs approved vets and recovery is generally between one to two weeks depending on severity. If you suspect your foster dog has kennel cough, please contact your Coordinator ASAP.
Parvovirus is another far worse disease. Parvo is extremely contagious and potentially deadly. Common symptoms include loss of appetite, diarrhoea, lethargy and vomiting. If you suspect Parvo, it is very important to act fast! Please contact your Coordinator ASAP if your foster dog displays one of or a combination of symptoms.
Most dogs come into care already vaccinated and as such Parvo is very rare. In the case of receiving a non vaccinated dog ( either as it is a surrender dog with history unknown or a very young puppy with no vaccinations as yet) it is MOST important that the foster dog is NOT taken out of the foster yard until 2 weeks AFTER the vaccination is administered. This means NO WALKS, NO TRIPS TO THE BEACH, NO VISITING DOGS and so on.
DOGS PARKS & OFF LEASH AREAS
Please note LLs has a strict policy on not allowing our foster dogs to be off leash in any public area or taken to a dog park. This is due to the risks involved to both our dogs, other dogs and members of the public. Any breach of this policy will result in termination of registration and you may be liable for any damages or injuries sustained to or caused by the foster dog.
ADOPTION PROCESS
Any enquiries will be initially assessed for suitability and then asked to complete the Adoption Application. Once the Adoption Application is received it will be emailed to you for your approval as initially suited, you will then need to call and discuss further and arrange a meet and greet. You will need to let your coordinator know if a meet and greet is arranged so that our adoptions coordinator can send out the adoptions email detailing the adoption process, trial process and payment details.
At the meet and greet, please ask as many questions as needed to ascertain suitability, and please ensure you disclose all relevant information on your foster dog do that there are no surprises for new owners. A visit at the new home for the meet and greet is a good idea if you are able as this gives you the chance to check out the new home and where the dog will be kept. Please remember we do not aim to just rehome our dogs, our aim is to rehome them to their perfect forever home!
Once the meet and greet is completed please give your coordinator your feedback as final approval is based on foster carers feedback.
Full payment is required before foster dogs can leave your care and all vet work must be complete prior also, if not already complete you will need to book the vet work as soon as possible after successful meet and greet.
TRIAL PERIOD
Little Legs offers a 7-day trial period for all adopted dogs (adoptions by foster carers not included). This trial period starts the day the foster dog leaves your care; you will need to advise your coordinator of the day the dog is leaving. New adopters can return the dog to the foster carer within this 7-day trial for a refund of the adoption fee (less an administration fee of $70).
Ensure you keep in regular contact with your coordinator and we hope to form the start of a terrific foster relationship.
