Thank you for considering becoming a LEARN volunteer. Most desperately needed are foster homes for rescued dogs. Foster homes are the backbone of our organization. The more foster homes in our network, the more dogs we can save. 

Click here for a Volunteer Application Form

The Cold, Hard Facts About Fostering.....

How long will the dog be in my home?
The foster home will keep the lab for a two week minimum.  Beyond that, there are no guarantees that the adoption will take place in a certain amount of time.   In some cases that could be two months or longer.  We require our foster homes to be committed to fostering.  The less we have to move a lab around from foster home to foster home the better the lab will be.

What am I responsible for financially?
Foster homes are responsible for providing a loving home, premium food, fresh water, healthy treats, and safe toys for the foster lab.  L.E.A.R.N. will cover all medical expenses.  Keep in mind you are liable for anything that the foster lab may chew or destroy.  (i.e. a couch, your clothes, etc.)

What are my other responsibilities?
The foster home will also need to complete any veterinary visits.  This can include getting the dog up to date on shots, spay/neuter surgery, or other special needs.  The foster home will then submit veterinary expenses for reimbursement. 

The number one goal for the foster home is to prepare the dog for adoption.  Aside from veterinary care, this may include obedience training, housebreaking, crate training, socialization, general nutrition, and anything else that the dog may need.

What do you know about the lab that I am fostering?
Most of our labs come from shelters or are surrendered directly from their owners.  We can only rely on the information that is provided.  Recognize that not all owners tell the truth about the pet that they are getting rid of.  And everyone has a different perspective of what different behavior problems are. 

We try to personally have a L.E.A.R.N. volunteer temperament test the labs that we take in, but in some cases that is not always possible.  Then we must rely on the shelter or owner's opinion.

Depending on where the dog is located, our group of volunteers will coordinate transportation of the dog to the foster home.

Is it my responsibility as a foster home to get this lab adopted?
No, we work as a team.  As a foster home, you will certainly want to help get the word out on your foster lab, or any of the other dogs we have available.  Besides the web page, we also do public relation shows where some of the foster dogs accompany us.  Taking the foster dog for walks also helps as well as making up poster/flyers.

What risks are involved in fostering?
There are risks anytime you bring a strange dog into your household.  We ask that you exercise caution until you are comfortable with the new dog.  We recommend crating the foster lab initially until you are certain of its behavior.

Health risks can be that the lab has Canine Cough (ask your vet about getting your own dog a Bordatella vaccination). Or, the lab may have worms that were not detected with a fecal exam.  There may be other hidden health issues that get discovered at your initial vet appointment, which will need to be treated.

The other risk is that your heart will break every time your foster dog gets adopted.  But isn't that better because you know you helped save a lab?

Click here for a Volunteer Application Form