Foster Care Program
Fostering for K9 Partners for Patriots is an Honorable Undertaking Paving the Way for a Veteran’s Journey Towards Better Times.
Key Responsibilities of Fosters
Preparing a Rescue Dog for a Loving Home
Fosters provide the essential love, care, attention, and time needed for a shelter dog to transition from kennel life to the warmth of a home.
Fosters Reduce Veteran Wait Times
Fosters are crucial in drastically decreasing wait times for our program veterans. By opening their homes, they ensure that rescue dogs don’t have to linger in shelters, expediting the journey towards their life-changing partnerships.
Fosters Provide Valuable Feedback
Fosters offer invaluable insights into the dog’s behavior, personality, and compatibility, allowing us to make optimal matches with our veteran participants.
Socialization and Adjustment
Fosters contribute to the socialization process by exposing the dogs to different environments, pets, and people, ensuring they are well-prepared for their roles as service companions.
No Kenneling
We don’t kennel dogs at our facility, thanks to our dedicated fosters. This ensures that our dogs experience the love and comfort of a home environment, setting the stage for their success as service animals.
Resource Optimization
Fosters empower us to allocate precious resources toward training, veterinary care, equipment, and ongoing support for our veteran service dog teams.
- The Foster caregiver must be 21 years of age or older.
- Complete the K9P4P Foster Application.
- Home safety inspection.
- Must be able to bring the dog to the training campus once a week to socialize the dog.
- Previous experience with owning a dog or currently having pets.
- Willing to include the dog in family activities.
- Will allow the dog to live indoors as a member of the household.
- Spend time with the dog, such as cuddling, playing, and walking on a leash.
- Work on house training if needed.
- Crate train the dog. (Crate will be provided).
- Provide a safe, loving, and stable environment.
- Prepared to be patient with the dog and yourself. You’ll both need time to adjust.
Can I foster if I have animals of my own?
Absolutely! If you have a resident dog, we ask that you bring them to the training campus for a meet and greet. If introducing a foster to a home with resident cats, we recommend it be done cautiously. The foster dog should be on a leash and monitored carefully. For the initial introduction, we recommend a friend or family member assist. We do not require that resident animals and fosters be separated throughout the foster period, but you should take steps to separate them if you identify personality conflicts or to prevent the transmission of illnesses. Resident animals must be current on all vaccines and heartworm free.
Can I foster if I rent?
Yes, however, we would need written authorization from your landlord stating that it’s okay for you to foster before starting your foster period.
Can I return the dog if I can't foster him/her any longer?
We try very hard to avoid this type of situation. Foster periods can run from one to six months. We ask that fosters be fully committed to fostering for the length of time necessary until the dog can be paired with a veteran. Should an emergency arise, we will obviously find other accommodations for the dog.
We Provide the Essentials
We Understand the Commitment involved in fostering.
K9 Partners for Patriots makes the fostering experience seamless for our dedicated caregivers. We provide everything the foster needs, from food and healthcare expenses to toys, crates, leashes, and collars. Fosters receive comprehensive orientation and ongoing support, ensuring a rewarding and impactful journey as they contribute to the well-being of rescue dogs and our nation’s veterans.
Join us in making a difference—you provide the love, and we’ll take care of the rest!
Submit Application
Please submit your application below and our Foster Care Coordinator will be in touch with you shortly. Thank you for your time and generosity!
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