Have you ever wondered what it’s like to foster dogs? We’re here to break it down for you. Essentially, it involves helping an animal rescue shelter by offering foster care to a dog or any other animal in their care while they find it a forever home. Doing this helps the shelter lighten their load for providing daily care to cats and dogs—and frees up their kennels for taking on other animals who aren’t in the best position to be homed even for fostering just yet. Once the dog is with you, you’ll have to care for him in the same way you’d care for your own pet. From grooming and training the dog to taking him to the vet, you help transform it into the best pooch for his forever home.
Animal enthusiasts who cannot adopt rescue pets can volunteer as a foster in their area. Dog lovers based in Perth and Western Australia can take a look at this list to find out which local rescues welcome those eager to foster dogs. At the same time, our quick guide shares online communities and virtual reading materials to help you become a well-informed dog foster:
Rescues in need of dog foster carers
Most animal shelters and rescue centres will require foster applicants to fill out their questionnaire and send pictures of their home. This is to guarantee that the applicant has the physical, mental, emotional, and even financial capacity to support the pet. At the same time, it informs the rescue what type of dog care experience the applicant has. That way, the rescue can assign the most suitable animal to the foster. Dog moms with newly born puppies, shy or unsocialised pups, pooches that lack behaviour training, and seniors with chronic illness are just some of the types of canine rescues that require foster care.
Perth
- Best Friends Animal Rescue
- Dalmatian Rescue Association of Western Australia
- Desperate For Love Dog Pound Rescue
- Dogs’ Refuge Home (WA) Inc
- H.A.A.R.T (Homeless and Abused Animal Rescue Team)
- Perth Chihuahua Rescue
- Perth Rescue Angels Inc
Western Australia
- Animal Protection Society of WA
- Bunbury Animal Rescue Rehome Care Inc
- Don’t Go Astray Inc
- K9 Rescue Group
- RSPCA WA
- SAFE (Saving Animals From Euthanasia)
- SAFE Perth (Saving Perth Animals from Euthanasia)
- Saving Animals Matters
- WA Pet Project
- WISH Animal Rescue Team
A foster carer may be urgently needed by these animal rescues, so if you’re interested in volunteering for them, follow their social accounts to get instant updates. In addition, you can also discover more rescue groups that need fosters via PetRescue’s list.
Facebook groups to join
Join these online communities so you can interact with other canine foster parents and rescue volunteers:
- Animal Foster Carers, Perth WA – Anyone working or volunteering in the animal welfare industry is invited to join this group. Aside from foster parents, it welcomes veterinarians, pounds, shelters, and rescue groups found in Perth.
- Adopt/Foster/Rehome – Pets in Need Australia – This country-wide network aims to connect animal rescue groups with individuals willing to foster or adopt pets.
- Adopting & Fostering Pets (Aust.) – With over 12,000 members, this public group shares posts regarding rescue animals that need urgent fostering or are ready to move into their forever homes.
- Animal Foster Carer Network Australia – Created in 2014, this closed Facebook group links rescues with reputable foster carers.
- Foster Carers Express (for animals only) – Pet foster parents from Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand are encouraged to join this community, so they can get news from shelters in their area.
- Perth Animal Foster Carers – Formed in 2015, this online platform invites foster carers from different rescues to “come together, share ideas, and hopefully inspire others.” At the same time, it encourages Perth-based rescues to post requests for animal rescue assistance if they cannot fit an animal into their rescue.
If you’re already volunteering for a shelter in Perth or WA, you may want to join their Facebook group:
- Dogs’ Refuge Home Foster Team – Registered foster volunteers associated with Dogs’ Refuge Home are encouraged to join this community. The online venue is a place where they can share photos, provide information, and ask for help.
- K9 Rescue Adopted and Foster Dogs – This group was formed for adopters and foster carers of the WA-based K9 Rescue Group. It gives parents the opportunity to ask for advice and share updates on how their animals are doing.
Additional dog fostering resources
These resources will assist you in becoming a better foster pop or mum.
Dog training classes offered by RSPCA WA
- Puppy Kindy for puppies 8 to 13 weeks old
- Level 1 for pooches beyond 13 weeks old that require basic manners training
- Level 2 for canines that need to learn complex commands
- One-on-one classes that can address specific behaviours
Guides from Waldo’s Friends
- How to crate train a dog
- Groom a dog without worries
- Safely clip a dog’s nails
- How to potty train and crate train a puppy
- Remove ticks and fleas on a dog
- Soothe an anxious dog
- Stop a dog from barking
TIP: Avoid getting penalised by checking out the state’s existing dog laws.
Sign up and be a foster carer for rescue dogs today! Read these stories and discover how dog fostering changed the lives of these volunteers. Or if you’re curious about foster caring for cats, check out this blog post.
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