Residence
FOSTER HOME REQUIREMENTS
* ShepHeroes foster homes must be located within our geographical coverage area and where ShepHeroes volunteers can support them. As we add new volunteers, our areas of support may grow, however there may still be some locations with too much distance to travel. Please inquire if you have questions about your location.
* We prefer for children living in your home to be ten years or older. If younger than ten years old, have experience or familiarity with dogs. We may make exceptions on a case by case basis depending on the combination of foster dog and the foster family. This is a safety consideration for all.
* If you do not own your home, you will need your landlord’s written permission to have a foster dog in your home.
* If you live/own a town house or condominium, you will need the association’s written permission to have a foster dog in your home.
* If you have roommates in your home, you will need their written permission to foster. In addition, if you are approved as a foster home, your roommate(s) will be required to sign a liability waiver. .
Fencing and Resident Pets
* All foster home applicants must have a fenced area attached to their home’s back or side door. The fenced area is for the dog’s safety and your convenience. The fence needs to be a minimum of 4′ high and 5′ high is preferred for most dogs. The fence doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, nor does it have to encompass your entire yard. An "invisible" fence alone cannot be used for foster dogs since most German Shepherd Dogs will run through the boundary.
* For older adult, senior and some special needs dogs, the fencing requirement may be waived since exercise requirements for some of these wonderful dogs can often be fulfilled with leash walks and in-house play. * If you own a dog, it needs to be at least tolerant of other dogs and you must have the ability to separate the dogs from interacting with each other if necessary. We want to minimize the risk of fighting. If you have more than one dog in your home, we will need to proceed cautiously, as the risk of fights in the home increase with multiple dogs. A new foster dog also changes the dynamics of the other dogs in your home.
* If you own a cat(s), small dog, or other small animal (e.g., ferret rabbit, etc.), and knowing that it's usually difficult to keep smaller animals away from a foster dog, we may put you on a waiting list to complete the fostering process until we can work through a solid segregation plan, have a dog that is used to living with small animals, or have a dog that does not have a prey drive (chase behavior) to go after small animal(s).
* If you are currently fostering for another rescue but are also approved to foster for us, we will wait until your current foster period is over with the other rescue before placing a ShepHeroes foster dog in your home.
Policies and Considerations
* You must agree to follow ShepHeroes' policies and guidelines regarding treatment of and training for the dog.
* Foster dogs legally belong to ShepHeroes. You cannot show the dog to non-ShepHeroes adopters or place the dog in a new home on your own. The foster dog may have already be matched with an approved adopter, but if you otherwise know of someone who is interested in adopting, please ask them to complete an adoption application so they can be vetted and approved by one of our adoption counselors and subsequently considered to adopt one of our dogs.
* We need understanding and patient foster homes who are willing and able to commit to fostering a dog until s/he is placed in a permanent adoptive home. The average placement time for a ShepHeroes dog is about 3-4 weeks but could be longer depending on many things, like medical care, extra training, and/or finding the right approved adopter match for the dog.
* If you have constraints in how long you can foster or prefer to be a relief foster family for a foster dog that needs a temporary placement due to plans of the regular foster family, we are happy to work with you based on your schedule. All we ask from you is that you provide us with the details of your availability and enough significant lead time (at least two weeks) for planning purposes.