Foster Glossary
Common words in Foster care:
Terms that the foster community often takes for granted. Those new to fostering might feel like they are learning a new language! Here’s a quick list of some go-to terms you’ll be hearing often:
Foster-Based Rescue: An organization in which all animals are based in foster homes, no brick-and-mortar shelter facility.
Open-Intake Animal Shelter / Open Admission: A shelter (typically a city shelter) that is “open intake” takes in all companion animals that come through their doors, regardless of health, behavior, or number of animals in the shelter.
Transport: When a rescue group brings dogs from outside their area. This is typically by van, sometimes by airplane.
Foster-to-Adopt: Fostering for a temporary amount of time until you officially adopt
UTD: up-to-date (on vaccinations)
High-value: something that the dog wants and is very motivating. Good for training, but could make the dog guard it, so be careful taking a high-value item away from a dog (trade for other treats and take it when the dog isn’t looking).
Resource guard: a dog may try to protect things that it finds valuable: these could be food, bowls, chews, beds, or even people. It’s important not to push a dog that growls or acts defensive, and instead trade for something else motivating (like deli meat or cheese) and remove the item when the dog is distracted and at a safe distance.
“No-kill”: a term that is popular with Best Friends Animal Society, it is a way to describe an organization that does not euthanize for space, medical, or manageable behavior. It does not mean that no animals are ever euthanized, and a live release rate of greater than 90% is generally considered the threshold for “No-kill”. The NYC ACC shelter has a live release rate around 95%!
Separation anxiety: when a dog gets nervous about being left alone it may bark, cry, whine, dig, etc. There are many ways to work on this with your foster dog!
Parallel walk: walking 2 dogs near each other but not letting them meet, touch, or smell. This can help with dogs who can be nervous to get to trust each other before an official introduction.
Decompression: a period of time where a dog may still be sleeping off the stress of the shelter or acting up with a change to a new home. Over time, a dog’s true personality will start to shine!
E-Collar: Elizabethan collar, aka: cone -- after surgery
Ex-pen: a doggy “exercise” pen or gate
“Paws off the ground” refers to puppies who haven’t had all their shots yet so shouldn’t walk on the ground outside the home. Be sure not to let them chew on shoelaces or shoes either!
“Foster Fail” refers to someone who intended just to foster and ended up adopting their foster dog.
