How to Become a Great Dane Foster Home

With more foster homes, Great Dane rescue groups can save more homeless dogs.

Of the four million pets euthanized each year in our nation's shelters, one in four is purebred, according to The Humane Society of the United States. Purebred rescue groups, like many Great Dane rescue groups across the United States, offer a safe alternative for unwanted or neglected purebred dogs. Because Great Danes often do not kennel well, rescue groups depend on foster homes to provide stable and safe temporary homes until they can be placed in permanent homes. In getting to know their charges, foster homes provide essential information to potential adopters, helping to ensure a solid, long-term match.

Instructions

Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Portions of Neighboring States

1. Visit the Great Dane Rescue website (greatdanerescueinc.com).

2. Click "Help Our Cause" on the top menu bar.

3. Click "Become a Foster Home Volunteer" on the left navigator.

4. Review details of Great Dane Rescue Incorporated's foster care program. While the rescue covers necessary veterinary expenses, foster parents are responsible for purchasing high quality dog food and toys. Likewise, foster parents are expected to exercise, socialize and groom their charges.

5. Complete the volunteer form at the bottom of the page. A volunteer will call you to begin the foster home application process.

California

1. Visit the Great Dane Rescue of Northern California website (gdrnc.org).

2. Click "Fostering a Dane" on the top menu bar.

3. Contact the foster/volunteer coordinator using the email address provided to learn more about Great Dane Rescue of Northern California's program or to begin the application process.

Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming

1. Visit the Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue website (rmgreatdane.org).

2. Click "Fostering" on the left navigator.

3. Review details of Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue's foster care program. The rescue covers necessary veterinary expenses, food distributed monthly and professional training for some dogs. When available, the rescue can provide a crate, gentle leader, or collar and leash, if not already supplied. While foster parents are not required to contribute financially, they are responsible for basic care, showing the dog to prospective adopters and monthly participation in a "Meet and Greet" event.

4. Download and complete the foster application. Return by email or postal mail to the address provided at the bottom of the application.

Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania

1. Visit the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League website (padanerescue.com).

2. Click "Volunteer" on the top menu bar.

3. Click "Fostering" on the pink sub-menu bar.

4. Review the "Frequently Asked Questions" related to Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue's foster care program. While the rescue covers necessary veterinary expenses, foster parents are responsible for costs associated with dog food and toys, transportation and grooming or nail trimming. Likewise, foster parents are responsible for feeding, exercising, socializing, grooming and medicating (if necessary) their charges.

5. Call the rescue group at the number provided at the bottom of the page or download and complete the "Volunteer/Foster application." Return the completed application to the appropriate address listed at the top of the application.

Florida (Central)

1. Visit the Central Florida Great Dane Rescue website (cfgdr.org).

2. Click "Volunteer" on the left navigator.

3. Contact the volunteer/foster home coordinator using the email address provided learn more about Central Florida Great Dane Rescue's program or to begin the foster care application process.

Florida (Southwest)

1. Visit the Southwest Great Dane Rescue website (swgdr.org).

2. Click "Fees & Process" on the left navigator.

3. Review the foster requirements. Note that the rescue does provide food and medical care. You are responsible to send monthly updates for their website.

4. If you have not previously adopted from Southwest Great Dane Rescue, you must submit an adoption application to be considered for fostering. Click "Application" on the left navigator. Specify "Foster Only" or "Foster with Option to Adopt" at the top of the application. Complete the application and submit.

Washington

1. Visit the Dane Outreach website (daneoutreach.org).

2. Click "How to Help," followed by "Foster" on the left navigator.

3. Review details of Dane Outreach's foster care program. The rescue provides food, veterinary care and a crate. The foster home is only responsible for the intangibles like basic care and affection.

4. Contact the foster home coordinator using the email address provided at the bottom of the page.

Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia and West Virginia

1. Visit the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League website (magdrl.org).

2. Click "Volunteering" followed by "Fostering" on the left navigator.

3. Review the "Frequently Asked Questions" related to Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue's foster care program. While the rescue covers necessary veterinary expenses, foster parents are responsible for costs associated with dog food and toys, transportation and grooming or nail trimming. Likewise, foster parents are responsible for feeding, exercising, socializing, grooming and medicating (if necessary) their charges.

4. Click contact the "local MAGDRL Coordinator" link near the bottom of the page.

5. Contact the area coordinator for your jurisdiction. Provide a phone number for a volunteer to contact you to start the application process and phone screen.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cannot find your state among those listed above, visit the Great Dane Club of America's rescue page (gdca.org/rescue) for a comprehensive, state-by-state list of rescue groups and/or individual rescuers. Great Dane Rescue Inc. has a similar list on their "State Rescues" page (greatdanerescueinc.com/events/state_rescues.html).

• Most rescue groups are staffed entirely by volunteers. It may take a few days to receive a response to inquiries, but do not be deterred.

• While some foster parents do adopt their charges, most rescues caution against using foster care as a way to "try out" a dog before adopting. If you do decide to adopt your foster Great Dane, know that you may be required to complete the rescue's standard adoption process and adoption fees may apply.

• Fostering a Great Dane is a big commitment. Make absolutely certain you and your family are prepared for time, effort and funds necessary to successfully foster a Great Dane. As most of the rescue groups have neither a physical shelter nor an abundance of foster homes, you will most likely be expected to care for your charge until the Dane is adopted into a permanent home.

• Many Great Danes come to the rescue groups with no background or history. Therefore the groups may not always know if the dog is housebroken, socialized or has had basic training. Foster homes may be called upon to help with these basic skills. While challenging, such efforts are critically important in helping to prepare these dogs for a permanent home.

• Not surprisingly, foster parents become attached to their charges, often making it emotionally difficult when the dogs are adopted. Focus on the positive aspects of the role you played in the both the dog's and adoptive family's lives, rather than the loss. Ask the adoptive family about periodically sending updates and/or photographs.

References

• Humane Society of the United States; Adopting from an Animal Shelter or Rescue Group; Oct. 28, 2009
• Great Dane Rescue Inc: Events and Information - State Rescues
• Great Dane Club of America: Rescue
• Dane Outreach: Foster
• The Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League: Fostering a MAGDRL Great Dane

Resources

• Great Dane Rescue: Become a Foster Home Volunteer
• Great Dane Rescue of Northern California: Fostering a Dane
• Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue: Fostering Information
• Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League: Foster a Dane -- Love, Protect, Foster
• Central Florida Great Dane Rescue: Volunteer Information
• Southwest Great Dane Rescue: Fees and Process