What if you can't provide a permanent home for a dog? You can still help out by offering a much-needed temporary foster home to a dog.

Who do I talk to if I want to foster a dog?

Call the Supervisor of Canine Services at 604-871-6885.

Why should you foster a dog?

Providing a foster home to a dog helps:

• You, by providing you with all of the joys of having a dog at home
• A dog that could really use a loving home, while it waits to find a permanent home
• Your family learn about compassion, nurturing, generosity and responsibility
• The Shelter, because we only have a limited amount of space, staff and resources to care for animals
• The Shelter maintain its pro-adoption policy

What kinds of dogs need fostering?

The dogs in greatest need of foster care are:

• Older dogs
• Dogs with health problems
• Mother dogs with puppies not old enough to be weaned
• Dogs with behavioral problems
• Dogs who are not used to living indoors
• Dogs who have been at the Shelter for more than three months

What does it take to foster a dog?

To be an effective foster parent to a dog, you need love, lots of patience, and time to spend working with a dog. It also helps if you have:

• A safely fenced yard
• A safe uncarpeted room or crate for housetraining (if needed)
• At least one person home a lot of the time (or able to visit at lunch)
• Some knowledge of dog behaviour or training

Saying goodbye

When your foster dog finds a permanent home, it can be tough to say goodbye. Feel proud of the love and care you've shown your foster dog, and know that another family is happy to have a great dog joining them.