Fostering

GAGAH is a foster based organisation, and our army of foster families really are our most valuable volunteers.

We ALWAYS need more foster homes. If you are interested in giving it a go please read the information below and APPLY!

What Does Fostering Involve?

The role of a foster carer is to look after a dog in their own home in exactly the same way you would your own dog by providing sufficient food, water, shelter and exercise.

All kit and expenses are covered, including veterinary bills. Food is provided if required.

The majority of hounds coming into our care will only have known a life in kennels, so you are the first important step on their road to a happy life as a much loved pet.

We ask you to teach them the basics including toilet training, and to assess their behaviours in a variety of situations to enable us to successfully match the dog to the right forever home. Key questions are:

Can the dog be left alone for a few hours?
Will the dog walk nicely on a lead?
How does the dog react to small dogs and other breeds?
How does the dog react to children?
How does the dog react to cats?
How does the dog behave in a busy situation (such as the hustle and bustle of a town/city)?

We will also ask you to take the dog to be vaccinated and neutered whilst in your care at one of our approved veterinary surgeries.

We require regular updates and photos which will be shared online to help us find a forever home.

Once a suitable forever home is found for your foster dog, you will be asked to contact the potential adopter to discuss the dog and to arrange a meeting. If the meeting goes well, the hound is ready to go to its new home. We will ask you to complete the Adoption Agreement with the new owner.

Support is always only a phone call away; we would rather know of any issues as soon as they occur so we can help to resolve them. On the rare occasion that a foster placement does not work out, the dog will be moved as soon as possible.

Who Can Foster?

Our only stipulation is no cats or very young children simply because we rarely have any prior knowledge of the dogs coming into our care.

We have foster families living in city flats, as well as those with large gardens in the countryside. If you work full time you can still foster as long as arrangements are in place for the dog to be walked at lunchtime – one of our serial foster carers even takes a foster dog to work!

How Long Will The Dog Be in Foster Care?

This can be anything from a few weeks to a few months until a forever home is found. Regular updates and photos really do help re-homing. If you have a limit on the length of time you can foster please discuss this with us in advance of each foster.

How Do I Become A Foster Carer?

The process is exactly the same as if you were looking to adopt a dog.

Step 1

Read the information pack

Step 2

Fill out an Application Form

Step 3

We will arrange a home visit. This is a chance for you to get to know us, our organisation and our expectations of foster carers. It also helps us to get to know you and your routine.

Step 4

If, after the home visit, both parties are happy to proceed then you will be asked to sign a Fostering Agreement. We will then be in touch as soon as we have a dog for you.

What Happens if I want to Keep the Dog?

We know it happens – a lot! If you find you really cannot part with your foster dog, please tell us as soon as possible. You are able to adopt the dog like anyone else, and join our growing team of Failed Fosterers!