Fostering a dog saves a life. If you would like to help us by fostering please fill out our Carer Application.

Foster care consists of providing a safe, loving, temporary home for a dog until a permanent adoptive home can be found.

All dogs are screened for health and temperament before entering our program. We can only rescue as many dogs as we have foster homes!

We provide basic supplies, veterinary care and guidance. You provide the love, training and home. The dog provides you with love, joy, and the satisfaction of having saved a life.

The time involved is usually from four weeks to several months. The dog is posted on two websites: ours and Pet Rescue, and monthly advertisements are placed in local papers.

Foster home responsibilities:

• Provide a temporary home for the dog.
• Be patient. Understand that all dogs are rescue dogs and their behaviour can be unpredictable. Be prepared for some adjustment in the beginning. It can be stressful for both you and the dog to be in a new situation.
• Be willing to foster your dog from the time of its rescue to its adoption. The amount of time needed to find a permanent home for a dog can vary from weeks to months.
• If you are working full time, provide a safe place for the dog to be while you are gone. If the dog will be outside while you are away be sure to provide a shelter for the dog to retreat to during stormy or hot weather. A fence of at least 6 feet is recommended to prevent a dog from jumping over. If the dog is to remain indoors we highly recommend crate training to keep both the dog and your home safe and secure. We will provide a crate if requested.
• Foster homes sign a Foster Agreement and agree to abide by 4 Paws Rescue NSW policies. See the Foster Manual for more information.
• Notify your 4 Paws Rescue NSW contacts immediately in the event the dog is sick or lost (your foster agreement includes the names and numbers of your contacts). Take the dog to veterinary appointments..
• Notify your 4 Paws Rescue NSW contacts when you are going on holiday so we can provide another home for your dog to go to. Taking your foster dog with you also requires 4 Paws Rescue NSW permission.
• Keep 4 Paws Rescue NSW informed about your foster dog's personality, quirks, behaviour, etc. Your input is invaluable for describing the dog on the website and to potential adopters.
• Treat the dog as a member of your family.

Dogs are placed through the internet and advertising. After a home visit, all adopted dogs must have adoption papers filled out, signed, and the adoption fee paid before they can go home with an adopter. We welcome foster homes that work to find permanent homes for their foster dogs. 4 Paws Rescue NSW requirements must be met by all adopters. Parting with the first foster dog is very hard, but the rewards for saving more lives is beyond measure.