FOSTER
Each week Soul Dog is asked to help between 15-80 dogs and cats from the Ute Mountain and Navajo Reservations, with the majority being puppies, often with their mothers, surrendered due to lack of spay/neuter resources. If Soul Dog cannot take them and pick them up weekly, they are euthanized. There are no other groups helping the animals at three of four Navajo animal control facilities, so the responsibility falls to Soul Dog to save these lives week after week. It is an emotional and heartbreaking decision, but if there is no space at the shelter and fosters don’t step up to help, there is simply no option and great animals die. Fostering is simply stated, a lifesaving endeavor! It is a tough gig. It is hard work, and it can be extremely difficult to part with your foster when the time comes, thus the term “foster-fail” and the reason so many fosters are one and done. While it is not an easy job, it is quite possibly the most rewarding thing one can do.
What does fostering entail?
Fostering is giving an animal(s) a temporary home while they await a spot at the shelter or an adoptive family. The duration can be anywhere from a minimum of two weeks to several months depending on the needs of the animal. The foster can either purchase the food and other items needed for the animals stay in their home, and receive a donation receipt (tax deductible as allowed by the law) or Soul Dog can provide the needed supplies. Anything purchased where the foster would like reimbursement for must be approved in advance by the foster coordinator.
Fosters can provide the animals in their care with an advantage towards finding a permanent home, as they often extradite an animals transition from a shelter environment by working on potty-training, basic commands and proper in-home behaviors. The more that is known about an animal, the easier it is to find an adopter.
All medical care that may arise while the animal is in foster is covered by Soul Dog Rescue, provided the foster follows outlined protocol and is in communication with the foster coordinator BEFORE medical care is given. Any foster who chooses to seek medical care on their own, without gaining approval, will unfortunately be responsible for incurred charges and will not be reimbursed. It is very important to understand and follow foster protocol for medical situations.
All of our animals come from the reservations in the Four Corners area. The majority of animals in this region are not sterilized or vaccinated, they suffer from internal and external parasites, broken limbs that have healed incorrectly, skin conditions, malnutrition and other often gruesome injuries. Disease can be prevalent and often life-threatening viruses are a reality with many puppies and kittens being at risk for life-threatening illnesses. When a foster takes them into their home, often they have only had an initial consult with a staff medical team member, so there may be things not visible upon the first exam that come up later, such as fecal worms, fleas and ticks, mange, parvo and distemper. Soul Dog wants fosters to be aware that they are not getting perfect animals that have been in loving homes with access to veterinary services and medicines, these animals have lived tough lives and are lucky to be alive. They are survivors that will thrive in time.
Fosters are often asked to help find the animal in their care a permanent home by networking the animal to friends, family and co-workers. Fosters are asked to utilize their personal social media avenues to get as much exposure as possible and increase adoption opportunities for their foster animal. Fosters are also asked to help get their animals to adoption events and meet and greets with potential adopters. The foster coordinator always takes location into consideration and strives to make transporting animals as seamless and easy as possible to events.
To reach the foster coordinator email foster@souldog.org or call the shelter at (303) 857-6789. All fosters must complete the foster packet and a home check by the Soul Dog staff.
