Foster Care with Tiki Animal Rescue

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Why is foster care so important?

Fostering is important because it helps reduce overcrowding in pounds and makes space for another dog to be saved. It also helps prepare animals for adoption by giving them a chance to live in a home, where they receive love, their true personality can develop and they can work through any fears they may have. We can only take on a dog if we know we have a carer to foster them. The pound is a very stressful environment to most dogs and they may face a very uncertain future without a carer available.

 How much time do I need to put into it?

This completely depends on the dog, what age they are, where they have come from, or what they have been through. With dogs over 12 weeks that are fully vaccinated, you will need to have time for walks, training, socialising, playtime and cuddles. With puppies under 12 weeks, there is no walking or training but you will need more time supervising, playtime and lots of cuddles. Young pups are only suited to people that are home more often, than not. You will also need to be able to take your foster to any vet appointment and occasionally to any events that we attend.

Are there any financial obligations?

Tiki covers all vet costs, worming and food. We have crates and pens that carers can access and some other accessories but a lot of carers often like to purchase bedding, bowls, toys themselves.

How long would I need to keep a fostered pet for?

Each dog is different. They could be with you for a few weeks, or it could be several months. A dog that may be malnourished or has some behavioural issues, will always take longer than a healthy, well adjusted dog.

What happens if I want to keep a foster pet?

If you fall in love and want to keep your foster pet, you can make it official and adopt your foster pet. In the rescue world, this is known as a “foster fail”. There are many carers that have adopted their foster.

What happens if I don’t like a foster pet?

You will need to carefully choose your foster, because there is generally no carers free to take them from you and all carers have different requirements. Of course, if there is a major issue, we will work to resolve this.

Can I choose a particular breed or size?

Yes you can but it is very rare for Tiki to take on small breeds. Due to the pounds we work with, it is more likely the dogs will be medium to large size. You will find that most rescues are the same unless it’s a breed specific rescue.

Can I just care for puppies?

Yes you can but the process is very different to caring for older dogs. If a litter comes in, we will not separate them until they turn 10 weeks of age. If you were more interested in puppies under 10 weeks, you can’t be working, as they need constant monitoring. It’s not always as simple as just feeding a puppy a bottle, Most people are under the impression that raising puppies would be fun, which at times it is but often it can be the hardest job in rescue.

On average, how many pets will a carer foster?

Usually one at a time until you gain experience, or you can remain only taking 1. If you are caring for pups under 10 weeks, we do not split them into pairs and send to different carers. You must be prepared to take on a litter. Sometimes that may only be 3 puppies but other times it could be 8. We have had a carer with 11 before, so that needs to be carefully considered before becoming a puppy carer.

 Can I foster when I have pets of my own?

Yes of course, as long as they are social and accepting of other dogs. It is extremely important to choose a foster that will fit in with your pets. You should make sure you are able to separate your pets from your foster if there are issues, this can often be needed if you own cats. While your cat may be ok with dogs, your foster may not be so good with cats. Unfortunately we often aren’t able to find out what dogs are like with cats, which is why it is important that you are able to separate them if necessary

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