Foster to save a life
“I am the bridge between what was and what can be. I am the pathway to a new life. I am made of mush, because my heart melted when I saw you, matted and sore, limping, depressed, lonely, unwanted, afraid to love.
For one little time you are mine. I will feed you with my own hand. I will love you with my whole heart. I will make you whole. I am made of steel, because when the time comes, when you are well and sleek, when your eyes shine, and your tail wags with joy then comes the hard part.
I will let you go not without a tear, but without a reget. For you are safe forever. A new dog needs me now.” -Diane Morgane
FOSTER PROCESS
The foster process involves the following steps:
Foster application
Video interview including home visit - please note we require all adult household members to be in attendance
Reference checks
Foster onboarding including signing a foster agreement & matching you with your foster dog
Meet & greet with applicant & arrangements for pick up from final adopter
After submitting a foster application, our foster coordinators will review your application and reach out to schedule a video interview. At the video interview, you will be asked to provide a virtual home tour of the main areas of the home and a Foster Coordinator will walk through the fostering process with you. We require that all adult members that will be caring for the dog be present for the interview as we go over important details related to caring for rescue dogs and important processes. After the video interview, the Foster Coordinator will contact the references you listed in your application and you will be informed of our decision. If approved to foster, you will be asked to sign our Foster Agreement and Foster Manual. As dogs arrive into our care, we will contact you with a foster match, that is made based upon your availability, your experience level, and your ability to foster. Once matched with an incoming dog, you will be provided with the arrival date and pick up location for your foster dog. Once a potential adopter is identified and interviewed, the Adoption Team will reach out to you to book a meet and greet with them. After the meet and greet, you will be given the opportunity to provide share your feedback about the applicant. If the applicant is approved, an Adoption Coordinator will reach out to coordinate a pickup time.
FOSTER REQUIREMENTS
Primary applicants must live within our foster radius (within 2 hours of Calgary with a focus on Exshaw, Canmore, Banff, Cochrane and Calgary).
Primary applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
All adult members of the household who will be caring for the dog must attend the foster interview.
Foster dogs require breaks every 3-4 hours and therefore, HMR requires fosters who have schedules that can accommodate that timing or have a plan in place to ensure that this can be met.
All fosters must have a vehicle or access to one to be able to pick up their foster at intake and transport it to and from the vet (all vet appointments are scheduled and paid for by HMR at an approved clinic).
We prefer that applicants have lived at their current address for at least three months. This is to ensure that foster parents have had time to settle into their new surroundings and can provide stability for the foster dog who themselves have already undergone multiple changes in a short time.
Because of potential behaviour/training concerns, we generally don’t place foster dogs in homes with children under the age of five. Fosters with children will be approved on a case-by-case basis.
If applicants have another animal at home, they must introduce the animals properly in accordance with HMR resources for how to do this.
HMR cannot make any health guarantees or warranties for foster dogs. This is why it is essential for any resident animals to be completely up-to-date on vetting including vaccinations and flea/tick preventative medication.
HMR does not allow foster parents to take foster dogs to dog parks, so we ask foster parents to take fosters dogs on walks to exercise them.
All fosters should understand that there will be an adjustment period and their foster dog may experience behavioural and/or health issues related to the change in environment. Fosters should seek professional assistance from HMR if they have concerns about their foster animal.
If at any time, for any reason, a HMR foster decides not to keep their animal, they agree to return the animal back to a HMR representative. Under no circumstance will the foster surrender a HMR animal to a local shelter or an unauthorized person.
FOSTER FAQS
What is Heart Mountain Rescue’s foster home radius?
Exshaw, Canmore, Banff, Cochrane and Calgary. If you would like to foster outside of this radius, please send an email to foster@heartmountainrescue.org and we will consider an exception for dedicated individuals.
What is the average time of fostering?
The average time for a dog being in our foster care is between 1-3 months, depending on the dog’s age and medical/behavioural background. If you're unable to commit to this length of time, you can still apply to be a HMR-approved sitter or temp foster. We ask that you fill out our foster application and indicate that you're available for these positions on the form.
Does fostering cost money?
We provide foster kits that include all basic necessities for the dog's care. This consists of a crate, dog food, dog bowls, collar, identification tag, leash and toy. Foster parents are welcome to provide their own crate, food, bed and other items if they choose to do so, as this frees up resources for our rescue to use on others who may require more assistance. Any non-essential items such as additional toys and treats are to be bought at the foster parent's own expense if we do not have any available.
Are medical expenses covered?
The rescue covers all necessary medical expenses unless the vet visit is due to the foster parent's negligence. All foster dogs visit our partner vet within the first week of being in our care. All dogs receive deworming meds when they arrive in our care. Flea/tick preventative is given during warm months. If your foster dog requires medical attention, you must contact your Foster Coordinator immediately, and they will book you an appointment at an approved clinic.
I live in a small home/condo/apartment. Can I still foster?
Absolutely, we do not disfavour any living situations! No matter what living situation, we just require that you provide the time and exercise your foster dog needs.
If I have other animals, can I foster?
Yes, however, all other animals in the household must be entirely up to date on vaccines (especially rabies) and must be on tick + flea prevention before bringing an HMR animal into your home. All pets in the home must be spayed/neutered. All cats must be indoor cats, and we approve households with cats on a case-by-case basis, depending on if the cat is dog savvy and has experience with dogs.
Can I travel while fostering?
If you have to travel for any reason (work/vacation/etc.) while fostering a dog, please let us know as soon as possible to allow us time to find an approved sitter. We require fosters to advise us at least 10 days in advance if a sitter is needed. Fosters are not allowed to leave their foster dog with anyone unless they have permission from the rescue- this includes friends, babysitters, other fosters, foster to adopt situations, etc. These dogs are our responsibility, and we need to know where they are and under whose care at all times. So, if you're travelling outside of the city in which you live and intend to bring your foster dog (cottage weekend, etc.), we ask you to let us know in advance.
Can I foster if I have children?
We approve foster homes with children on a case-by-case basis. We believe fostering is an excellent way for young children to learn to care for an animal, but we want to make sure the parents understand how to properly create a safe space for the dogs and the children. The children in the home must know that dogs require their own space, must come to them on their own terms, and must be able to understand dog body language. If you're applying with children under the age of 14, we ask that you come prepared to the interview with a list of rules and boundaries you've set in place to ensure a safe space for the dog and your kids.
I work out of the home from 9-5pm. Can I still foster with Heart Mountain Rescue?
Many of our foster parents work outside the home, and we can accommodate many work schedules by appropriately matching dogs to them. However, we have a policy that requires any foster home that will be gone for more than 7-8 hours in a day to have a plan to provide a mid-day bathroom break/exercise time for their foster dog. This could be having another individual in the home responsible for mid-day breaks or finding a volunteer walker to let the dog out for you. It is essential to have this plan in place before receiving a foster dog into your care, so if this policy applies to you, please come prepared to your foster interview with your plan for ensuring the dog can have a midday break.
What if I need additional supplies?
If you need any additional supplies for your foster dog, please contact us at info@heartmountainrescue.org and we will get you the supplies needed for your foster dog if they are available. As a volunteer-run rescue, we ask that you please provide a minimum of 10 days’ notice if you require additional supplies to allow our team to coordinate a pick-up/drop-off with you.
Can I choose the dogs I want to foster?
No! Unfortunately, with so many dogs urgently requiring foster homes, we do not allow foster parents to pick and choose their foster dogs. As part of our foster interviewing process, we work to thoroughly understand your experience level, living situation, and availability, which we use to match you with an incoming foster dog.
Can I bring my foster animal to public parks/off leash parks or group play dates?
We do NOT allow our foster dogs in public off-leash settings like dog parks or off-leash pack walks. Dog park play dates can be highly unpredictable and breeding grounds for diseases and illnesses like kennel cough. As we do not have a complete background on all the dogs at a dog park, an off-leash play date at one can quickly turn into an expensive vet visit or even create a bite history for a dog. If you would like your foster to join a group playdate, we ask that you wait until their decompression period is over and only go with dogs you know are up-to-date on vetting. Dogs can be unpredictable and we want to do everything possible to keep you, other pets and our foster dogs safe.
What if my foster animal is not working out for me?
We typically do not move dogs from foster homes once they have been placed in care, as it adds additional stress to the dog in an already new and stressful situation. If you find yourself having issues, please reach out to your Foster Coordinator right away so that we can assist you and your dog. We have a great support network and a responsive and knowledgeable team of Foster Coordinators who will work to set you and your foster dog up for success.
What if I want to adopt my foster?
You may apply to adopt your foster and will need to go through the same adoption process as any other applicant. Foster homes are very different from forever homes, which is why when fosters are interviewed and onboarded, it is based on caring for a foster dog for a short duration of time until it finds a long-term forever home. Adoption applications and interviews are longer and more thorough to see if you are a long-term match for the dog.
Can I schedule a meet and greet?
No! All meet and greets are organized by our Adoption Team, and fosters cannot schedule a meet and greet with potential applicants without our permission. We require all potential adopters to apply online and to be pre-screened before planning a meet and greet. This process must be followed even if a friend, family member or co-worker wants to adopt your foster dog. Let us know if you would like to recommend someone, so our team can be on the lookout for their application.
When do I hand off my foster animal to their adopter?
Do not transfer your dog to an adopter until you have approval to do so. Once the dog is adopted, all HMR supplies must be returned; please do not give these supplies to the adopter. If you have any further questions, please contact us at foster@heartmountainrescue.org.