Foster Info

Every week, MLRR receives pleas to help Labs in desperate need. But the number of dogs we can save depends on one very important thing: foster homes.

Without foster families, we simply cannot say yes to many of the dogs who need us.

A foster home helps us understand how a dog behaves in a home, what type of family may be the best fit, and whether there are medical or behavioral needs to address before adoption.

And that is where you can make an enormous difference.

What is a foster home?

A foster home provides temporary, in-home care for a Lab who is waiting for a forever family.

While your foster dog is with you, we ask that you treat them as part of your family. You will help us learn about their personality, routines, likes and dislikes, and what type of home will help them thrive.

Some dogs arrive already housebroken and well trained. Others may need help learning house manners, gaining confidence, recovering from a medical procedure, or simply figuring out what it means to live safely in a home.

Fostering can last anywhere from a few days or weeks to a few months, depending on the dog and their individual needs.

Why are foster homes so important?

We can only rescue as many dogs as we have places for them to go.

Foster homes allow us to save dogs from shelters, owner surrenders, and other difficult situations while giving each dog the individualized care and attention they need.

Some foster dogs are healthy and ready for adoption almost immediately. Others may need medical treatment, recovery time, training, confidence-building, or simply a quiet place to land.

Every foster home opens the door for us to save another dog.

Is there a foster dog for my household?

Probably!

There really is a foster dog for almost every type of home. We bring in tiny puppies, young energetic Labs, easygoing adults, scared or shut-down dogs who need extra patience, dogs recovering from medical procedures, and wonderful seniors who simply need a soft place to land.

Our foster team works directly with each family to find a dog who fits your household and lifestyle.

• Have cats? We can look for a cat-friendly dog.
• Have a resident dog? We can look for a foster who enjoys canine friends.
• Need a smaller, calmer, or older dog? Tell us.
• Prefer puppies, seniors, or short-term fostering? Let us know.

What does fostering cost?

Advice and assistance are always available from the MLRR team, including access to our network of positive, force-free trainers when needed.

What we need from you is a safe home, some patience, and a willingness to love a Lab for a little while.

Can I foster while waiting to adopt my own dog?

Absolutely!

If you are already an approved MLRR adopter and are waiting for the right dog to join your family, you are welcome to foster in the meantime.

Why not save a life while you wait?

Fostering does not mean you lose your opportunity to adopt. If another MLRR dog becomes available while you are fostering and you think that dog may be your perfect match, you can apply to adopt that dog just like any other approved adopter.

Many wonderful MLRR adoptions happen this way.

Some foster families already have an MLRR dog and simply want to help save another. Others know they will eventually want another Lab but are not quite ready yet. And some are waiting for the perfect match and decide to foster while they wait.

Whether you foster one dog or ten, you have changed a life.

Can I adopt my own foster dog?

MLRR does not operate as a traditional foster-to-adopt program.

We value the relationships we build with our foster families and rely on experienced fosters who can help dogs safely transition through rescue and into permanent homes.

Think of it as earning the ability to “skip the line” for your own foster dog after you have helped several dogs on their journeys to forever homes.

What do we know about the dogs before they arrive?

We tell our foster families everything we know about each dog. Sometimes that information is extensive, while other times it may be limited—particularly when a dog is coming directly from a shelter or an unknown situation.

We evaluate dogs before bringing them into rescue whenever possible, but, as with any dog, behavior can change as a dog adjusts to a new environment and we cannot make guarantees.

MLRR does not knowingly accept dogs with a history of biting people.

Throughout the fostering process, our team is here to help you understand your foster dog, work through challenges, and make the experience as successful as possible.

I’m interested! How do I get started?

Complete our Foster Application. Once we receive your application, our team will review it and arrange a home visit with one of our volunteers.

The home visit gives you an opportunity to ask questions, learn more about how fostering works, and talk with us about the types of dogs that would be the best fit for your home.

Once approved, we will work with you to match you with a foster dog based on the dog’s needs and compatibility with you, your lifestyle, and your existing pets.

If you would rather talk with someone before applying, please reach out to Natalie, our Foster Home Coordinator, at foster@mlrr.org. She would be happy to answer questions and help determine what type of foster dog would work best in your home.