Foster Care or Foster to Adopt

Fostering a homeless dog can be a very rewarding experience. It may not be for everyone- however as it takes a lot of work and TLC to help a formerly abused and neglected dog learn to trust people. Some may have behavior issues that will need work to fix. Because of our thorough tick borne disease screening, dogs in our foster care program will need daily meds and some with other health issues like heartworm will need twice a month meds. We do have a wonderful network of former foster homes and adopters in a Facebook group that offers support.

Here are some of our Foster or Foster to Adopt policies and procedures:
• Maintain proper identification on your foster dog at all times the dog is not in a crate. You will be provided an IBR collar with the IBR phone number on it. Please also provide a tag with your name, phone number, and address in addition to the IBR collar.
• Notify an IBR board member immediately if your foster dog becomes lost or missing.
• Notify an IBR board member immediately of any undesirable behaviors in your foster dog including growling for any reason, aggression, biting, excessive fearfulness, etc.
• Notify an IBR board member immediately if your foster dog becomes ill or exhibits any of the following symptoms - coughing, diarrhea, soft stools, worms, lethargy, vomiting, skin rashes, or hair loss.
• Notify an IBR board member BEFORE taking your foster dog to the vet for any and all procedures. You must have the board’s permission.
• Keep your foster dog current on Heartworm Preventative and Flea & Tick Preventative from May through November.
• Provide clean drinking water and a high quality dog food – we recommend Earthborn Meadowfeast for puppies.
• Maintain a current vetting report for your foster dog including all medications and procedures done to the foster dog while in your care.
• Work on crate training and Keep your foster dog safely confined to a crate when unsupervised.
• Never allow your foster dog to be unattended in the yard.
• Never allow your foster dog to run at large.
• Never take your foster dog to the dog park without prior permission from the IBR board members.
• Teach basic house manners.
• Never use a choke chain, prong collar or electronic collar unless instructed to do so by a board member of IBR.
• Join the IBR Facebook Group by invitation https://www.facebook.com/groups/436928689692842/802532283132479/?notif_t=group_comment
• Cooperate in arranging transport of the foster dog for treatment deemed appropriate by the IBR board members
• Changing homes is traumatic and they may become unhousebroken, shake or act VERY timid. Dogs may also be very clingy and not want you out of their sight.
• MUST be 18 years of older with proof of birth date.
• HAVE identification showing your present address.
• HAVE knowledge and consent of your landlord. Here is our foster care adoption application in WORD and PDF. Please email the completed application to IBR Adoptions--as we are having technical difficulties with our online adoption template. Applications can also be faxed to 630-509-3712.