Oppertunities to Help at Weezie's Helping Hands

 Thank you for your interest in fostering!

Fosters play THE most important role in rescue and our ability to save more lives.   Weezie's Helping Hands does not have a “shelter” base of operations. We rely solely on fosters to give our dogs a safe home, basic training, and assistance in making them adoptable. 

If approved, you will be entered into our database as a Foster.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL FOSTERS:

•  Complete the application.
• Read and agree to all terms and conditions provided in the Foster Application
•  Approval of Foster/FWITA Application and Home Visit

RULES FOR ALL FOSTERS: 

•  All dogs must be walked on a leash at all times, unless in the secure backyard of the foster/adopter’s home or in an enclosed dog park.
•  All dogs must be INDOOR dogs and live primarily inside the home with you;  We do not allow any dogs to be kept as “backyard dogs,” even if you have an outdoor dog house/run/kennel.
•  Any BITES or aggressive behavior must be reported to Weezie's Helping Hands immediately.
•  Any lost or missing dog must be reported to Weezie's Helping Hands WITHIN 1 HOUR of becoming missing.
•  Any sick or injured dog must be reported to Weezie's Helping Hands immediately.
•  All vet visits for foster dogs must be pre-approved to be covered by Underdog.
•  Fosters agree to respond to calls or emails from URAZ and/or potential adopters within 24 hours.
•  Any foster needing to go out of town/vacation/etc. must notify Weezie's Helping Hands immediately. If the dog will be going to a pet-sitter, boarding, or family member or friend during this period, the rescue needs to be notified of who that contact is.  Any  person caring for the dog must also agree to Weezie's Helping Hands Rules , as well as the Foster Information and Instructions.

PLEASE READ WHAT YOU ARE AGREEING TO IN APPLYING TO FOSTER:

We ask that before you agree to foster ANY dog for Weezie's Helping Hands, you are absolutely certain that you are 100% committed to doing so.  Many of the dogs we intake are from the County shelter, with little to no information on their background. Therefore, oftentimes we have no idea what we are getting.  Fosters need to be aware of this and not expect a "perfect" dog.  If your dog has behavioral issues, we can provide a trainer to make them more adoptable. If it is discovered the dog is not dog/cat friendly, the foster will need to work with the situation to keep the dog separated from others. Many dogs come ill or with medical issues, and the foster needs to be aware they are agreeing to work with whatever those situations may entail as well. In short, by agreeing to foster, it is expected that the foster will work with the issues that a dog may come with until the dog is adopted.  Weezie's Helping Hands cannot simply "move" or pick up a foster at the drop of a hat because things are not going well or it's "not a good fit".  It is a true commitment to the dog whatever it may come with, be it good or bad.  

For example, if the dogs turns out:

•  Not to be housebroken
•  To have behavioral issues
•  Is not good with other dogs
•  If you have to keep separated from other dogs
•  If it's not good with cats or tries to attack cats
•  Is not good with kids
•  If it has had zero obedience training and/or is 'too high energy'
•  If it has medical conditions, both known AND unknown
•  If it is destructive and chews things it shouldn't.

The only caveat is if the dog is deemed aggressive by our trainer(s) and poses a risk or danger to the public at large. (We would first have the dog evaluated, most importantly for a medical cause.  If medical is not the cause, then we would weigh the evaluation by our trainer and vote as a Board to have the dog euthanized.)

Again, there is absolutely no way to simply "find a foster" or move a dog. Fosters will need to have a backup Contingency plan already in place, prior to applying to foster. Suitable alternative placement for the dog should already be established in the event for ANY reason they can no longer foster.  To reiterate, as a foster, you are aware and agree that you are fully committing to the dog regardless, until adopted.  That means you are committing, recognizing there is little we know about the dog prior to coming into rescue. This means committing to what we know about the dog, BUT more importantly, what we don't. We understand this is a big ask, but is the only way we can efficiently and successfully continue to run a stable rescue.