NBSTR Foster Program

New Beginnings does not use a shelter to house its dogs. Rather, we have a network of individuals who open their homes and hearts to our rescue's dogs.Our foster homes are dedicated the to nurturing, loving care of each dog for the entirity of its stay in our foster program. In turn, our rescue provides the financing for the vetting our dogs may need to become whole, healthy, and adoptable. The home atmosphere of the foster experience helps the dog to better make the transition to its future adoptive home, and adoptive homes are chosen by the foster moms based on the individual needs of the dog that they have come to know so well.

 If you have space in your home - and in your heart - to help our dogs by fostering, please read our Frequently Asked Questions and  if you're inspired, apply to begin the wonderful experience of giving a dog a second chance!

We can help you learn a lot during the process, but the bare qualifications to foster are: a home that does not preclude having a dog in residence, ability to get the foster dog to its medical and grooming appointments, some ability to communicate with the board of New Beginnings and also other New Beginnings volunteers, basic knowledge of dog care/feeding/medical needs/behavior. Oh, and you should love dogs and take an active interest in helping homeless dogs find their forever homes.
NBSTR funds all medical costs for its foster dogs, but you may choose to donate toward the medical costs, if you wish. Medical procedures other than standard (vaccinations, spay, heartworm testing and preventative) must be okayed by the NBSTR board before proceeding. Grooming, food, and other items such as toys, beds, etc, are usually supplied by the foster family. However, NBSTR has several resources for necessities such as doggie panties, belly bands, blankets, and other items that can be provided without charge for use for your foster dog.
Yes. We want you to make comfortable choices. When we know of a dog in need, we tell every volunteer. But each volunteer should take in to their consideration the ability to safely foster any dog in need.
Once you're an approved foster home, just watch the email list and the nightly updates for announcements of dogs needing foster. You can also take things in to your own hands by watching your local city pounds, shelters, and "free to good home" ads in the newspapers for local dogs you might help. Once you locate a dog you would like to foster, just let a board member know. If there is a dog locally, make the board members aware of it. You can assess the dog, but do not take the dog in to your custody unless you are willing to foster it yourself or know that another foster home is available. However, do not let that stop you from alerting one or more board members about the dogs' plight - even if you can't help, someone else might be able to. All paperwork must be completed before custody is transferred to New Beginnings.

If something happens that makes it necessary for you to cease fostering, please notify a board member or members immediately so plans can be made. NBSTR expects dogs to remain in foster homes until they are adopted; if a volunteer must send a dog to another foster home, they are asked to be patient while arrangements are made.

A foster dog may remain in foster care from just a couple of weeks to months at a time, depending on the circumstances. If it is very important to you that you do not have to keep a foster dog over a certain amount of time, you must give that guideline before you take a foster dog.

NBSTR learns of a dog in need, and a "call" goes out on our email list and nightly update. Often someone near the location of the dog will be asked to evaluate the dog before it comes into the foster program.
Someone volunteers to foster the dog. Release of ownership papers are signed by the current custodian. The dog is then picked up by a NBSTR volunteer and transported to its new foster home.
The foster home spends time evaluating the dog for its health needs, behavioral needs, temperament and personality. The foster home stays in contact with the board and other volunteers about the dog.
The foster home provides photos and information so that the dog can be posted on Petfinder when it is ready for information. The foster home may also provide information to the NB email list and the NBSTR newsletter editor, etc.
Optionally, the foster family can take part in Petco adoption days at a location near them and other NBSTR events, to showcase the dog.
When applications are received by the NBSTR board for the dog, they are sent to the area application coordinator and copied to the foster home of that dog. The foster parent may want to call references and set up a home visit, or they may choose to have someone more experienced do this for them.
When an appropriate potential home is located, the foster home makes arrangements for the family to adopt the dog.
We let the foster mom (or dad) make that decision; however, if they are uncomfortable in choosing, there are lots of experienced volunteers to help them make a great choice.
You are obligated to care for the dog's physical and mental needs. You are obligated to treat the dog as one of your own, and to take part in its adoption process by providing information about the dog, monitoring applications, and keeping the board and other members apprised of the dog's progress, etc. You can not put the dog in physical danger or neglect the dog in any way. Agreeing to foster a dog implies agreement with all NBSTR fostering guidelines, and the foster home is subject to these guidelines.
Although the dog is in your physical possession, New Beginnings Shih Tzu Rescue has all rights over the dog. Foster homes may not make decisions for the dog regarding its health, care, or adoption and cannot  give the dog away or board the dog in a kennel or with another person, or have the dog euthanized without NBSTR board approval.


Foster homes are expected to anticipate that there will be a settling-in period in which the dog may exhibit house-soiling, some fear behavior, small squabbles with the foster mom's own dogs, strong attachment to one or more people in the home, etc. 

It is also not unusual for a dog to have ongoing "issues" such as potty training, good manners, etc. Foster homes are expected to do what they can to the extent of their knowledge to help improve these issues. If the issue is something beyond the foster home's knowledge, they can ask for help and suggestions from other volunteers and the board. NBSTR is also willing to have the foster family work with a dog trainer/behaviorist if needed.

A severe or extended illness may change the foster situation as well. Our rescue is responsible for the welfare of all of our foster dogs. We ask our volunteers to commit to caring for the dog until a more appropriate foster placement can be facilitated.

If the problem is severe and becomes a risk to the foster dog, the foster family (including their own dogs), and others, or seems to be getting worse, the board must be notified immediately. Although we can't always be prepared for all problems no matter how we screen or approach a situation, we will do what we can to help both the dog and the struggling foster home.

Fostering is a very rewarding and worthwhile undertaking..but it can also be more work than anticipated. It will take patience, tenacity, patience, compromise, patience, and faith. If you find yourself moved by the plight of homeless dogs and wanting to do something about it hands-on, fostering may be just the thing!
You will be added to our New Beginnings email list, which is a forum that is exclusively for New Beginnings members to communicate about fostering and other rescue-related subjects. You will also have access to NBSTR's board members. Through these resources, you should be able to find the help you will need. We will also provide you with a fostering "mentor" should you want one.

Yes, and yes. Many of our foster homes have "foster-flunked" at least once. There are just those dogs who call to your heart, and who are you to say no? However, keep in mind the inevitable fact behind fostering is that it is usually temporary. You WILL get attached in some way. You WILL feel sad about the dog leaving your home. Don't let every small tug at your emotions stop you from placing a dog in its forever home....it's a great feeling to see a great match take place and to witness the smiles on the faces of the adoptive family.

Adoption fees must be paid in full as if the dog were being adopted to a non-volunteer. If you have paid for the dog's healthcare out of your own pocket, you may deduct these from the adoption fee, providing documentation of the expenses.

One last word about the foster program: please do not think of it as a "try before you buy" situation if adoption is what you actually have in mind. We cannot allow our dogs to be "shopped" as fosters to faciliate a potential adoption. If you want to foster, do it for the right reasons. The dogs will thank you, and so will we.

aaaaaaaaaaaaiii