Foster a GSP

Due to the recent changes in the economy, we are seeing more forclosures and people moving from houses to apartments, sometimes surrendering their GSPs to the shelter or abandoning their GSP at their former homes. There are more dogs needing our help, and we need more foster homes to help all these dogs. Won't you consider becoming a foster home?

Foster homes are priceless to us!  Without foster homes we cannot rescue dogs from shelters. We always need more foster homes because there are always dogs that need us. Some of our foster homes foster continuously, some from time to time, and others as vacation help when our regular fosterers are away.

Once you have decided you are interested in (or might be interested in) fostering a German Shorthaired Pointer, let the foster coordinator know by contacting foster@NorCalGSPrescue.com, and completing the volunteer application at www.gsprescue.org/volunteer_form.html.  The foster coordinator will contact you to answer questions you may have and to find out a little more about you.

The foster coordinator will then set up an appointment for a home visit. During the home visit, she or another volunteer will meet you and any current dogs, and give you suggestions for preparing your house and yard for the foster dog. She will review with you what sort of dog you are interested in fostering:  some people prefer only male or only female, some prefer senior dogs, etc.  This will help her in matching the foster dog to you and your lifestyle. 

Once a dog in a shelter is identified, you will be contacted via e-mail as to your interest in fostering this dog (please do not contact the shelters directly yourself unless you wish to adopt a dog from them – our intake coordinator speaks to the shelters daily regarding the dogs and we want to avoid any confusion).  We do not accept dogs into the rescue program unless we have a foster home for them.  If you agree, the dog is taken to the vet to be spayed/neutered, and receive all necessary shots and check-ups. The dog is then brought to your home.  You care for the dog until it is adopted. Most dogs remain in their foster homes a few months. We require the dog to be in foster care at least two weeks before it is adopted. Special procedures apply for puppies.

Once your dog has been placed with a family, you can determine when you are ready for the next one. Some people accept dogs back-to-back, others take breaks in between, it is up to you.

If you are not certain you are able to foster a dog, the best way to find out is to try it! Go through the process as described above, and if you like it, you can continue to be a foster home. If it doesn’t work out for you or your situation, just let us know, and perhaps you’ll be able to assist us in another capacity.

Also consider becoming a volunteer.