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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

 

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Fostering

We are few, but we save many. Apply to become a foster for a homeless pet and help us save even more Alaskan dogs. 

What does it mean to be a foster? What is my role/responsibility?

The goal of fostering is, to provide a loving stable home until they can find their new permanent home.

AARF will provide you with food and a crate for your foster. As we are 100% foster based and do not have a location that we operate out of, we depend on fosters and donations to keep the rescue going. If you want to purchase other things for your foster (beds, toys, leash, collars, food, pee pads) you are welcome but not required to. We will also provide all medical for your foster while it is in our care.

As a foster your role it to provide boundaries, discipline/structure and affection. The more training and good behavior your foster has, the more likely they are to be adopted. One of our main tasks of fosters is to work on crate training with their dog or pup. Part of your role as a foster will also be to make sure your foster is able to attend the spay/neuter appointment and attends our weekly adoption clinics once cleared for adoption.

What does a foster do with their dog/puppy once they get it?

The best answer is to treat them like they are your own. This is why it can be hard: You may find that you will put in a lot of time training, and effort into your foster only to have them become a highly adoptable dog for someone else. It can be hard to let them go, but the goal of fostering is to save as many lives as we can.

What happens if I fall in love with my foster and want to adopt them?

This is so common it has a name: Foster-Fail. To start we typically encourage people to be matched with a dog they may not necessarily be interested in adopting. This way it allows a foster to experience the process of fostering while saving a rescue dog’s life. That said, it happens. We approach these situations on a case-by-case basis

Why do adoption groups need foster homes?

There are many reasons a dog might need foster care. Some of the most common include:

  • Too young to be adopted and needs a safe place to stay until he or she is old enough to go to a forever home.  
  • A dog is recovering from surgery, illness or injury and needs a safe place to recuperate.
  • A dog has not lived in a home before or has not had much contact with people and needs to be socialized.

If you are ready for the rewarding experience of fostering, you can complete our foster home application