Image credit: @artbyamalyah
[3/25/20 NY, NY] Now’s the time to step up for homeless dogs! Many of you are feeling like your life is out of control. Well, saving a dog is very much within your power. You can make a difference, in so many ways.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Foster a larger-size dog. You might think that your first foster dog should be a puppy, or a small dog. Or your studio apartment might feel tight. Or your building has a dog weight-limit. But did you know that many medium and large dogs are much easier than puppies, and can be even more snuggly than small dogs? More of them to spoon, for cozy nights-in! And it’s worth checking with your building’s management company if they can make an exception during these trying times, for a dog who is larger in size and won’t have any opportunities to meet adopters in the coming weeks or months. Don’t let size turn you away from meeting an amazing companion. View our list of dogs and cats .
Transport a dog from a shelter to a foster home! This effort can make a difference between life and death. Often, dogs are overlooked due to slight distance, and that’s a very solvable problem. Let’s work together! One, two hours is all it takes. Be sure to sanitize and limit personal contact. And you’ll go home feeling like a superhero!
Share a dog in foster care! No one is able to attend adoption events these days, and foster parents and pups could use all the encouragement you can offer! Once a dog leaves his/her foster home for their “forever home,” that foster home is open for a new dog in-need. So help those dogs find love.
Apply to our Foster Roster (NYC), and in Nashville.
Donate to help dogs during this crisis! $5 makes a huge difference, please support us. Venmo: @foster-dogs. $10 helps cover our Foster Roster pleas, $25 allows for a paid ad for a foster dog needing extra promotion, $50 covers cab fare from the shelter to a foster home, $100 covers purchase and delivery of a large dog crate to a new foster dog.
COVID-19 FOSTER DOGS INC FAQs [view our traditional fostering FAQs here & manual here]
Can dogs transmit coronavirus? The World Health Organization has stated that there is no evidence that companion animals can transmit COVID-19 to humans, or vice-versa. Hand-washing and dog-bathing is highly recommended when transferring a dog between homes, to avoid contamination. View ASPCA image on the matter.
How do I find a list of dogs in need of foster homes [NYC-only]? First, apply to our Foster Roster. We’re sharing a fresh list of dogs, with information provided to us directly from the shelters, updated twice daily to help give a chance to every dog in need. Foster Roster applicants will have options for additional perks such as @fosterdogs sharing your dog on social media, virtual community support, and monthly prizes as rewards for a job well done.
When will I hear back if I emailed about fostering a dog? I’m so anxious! In the month of March alone, we’ve received nearly 1,000 applications to foster. That’s over ten times our normal rate, so bear with us while we do our best to make a positive impact. When emailing about a specific dog, be sure you’ve included the dog’s rescue group so the shelter can be in touch with next steps.
How do I pick up a shelter dog, if he/she is at a shelter outside of my area? Will you provide transportation? Though Foster Dogs is unable to provide transportation, our Facebook “Foster Forum” community of amazing foster folks (mostly in NY, but others around the world) is eager to help one-another. If you need a ride home from the shelter with a dog, there may be people who want to help in that way! If you’re fostering a dog you “met” through our Foster Roster, we can help with cabs, by reimbursing if you confirm with us in advance and sending a receipt to roster@fosterdogsnyc.com.
How can I adopt a dog these days? There will be an incredible amount of dogs for adoption, though processes might be different such as video meet-and-greets, or scheduled appointments with shelter staff. We’re thrilled to debut our weekly Virtual Adoption Events on Instagram, featuring dogs in foster care in NYC and around the country, with live Q&A and great chances to see a dog in his/her element, having fun at home! See our Events page for upcoming dates. As always, check out adoption websites such as PetFinder or Adopt-a-Pet for more dogs in your area.
