PAWS2FREEDOM
FOSTER
PLEASE SAVE A LIFE
Dear Treasured Supporters!
Fostering is one of the most rewarding ways to help a rescue dog. And Paws2Freedom covers all major costs, like vet bills. Our fostering process is designed to ensure the right match between each dog and their foster family. It includes an application form, a friendly telephone chat, home & garden videos and a home visit.
We offer several different types of fostering, including emergency fostering, short-term fostering, longer-term fostering, rehabilitation fostering for dogs who need extra time and support before finding their forever homes or joining our home-life sanctuary family, as well as sanctuary fostering for dogs who will remain with you under our care for the rest of their lives. Whether you can help for a few weeks, a few months or offer a forever foster home, every fosterer plays a vital role in changing a dog’s future.
Throughout the placement, you’ll always have the full backing and support of the Paws2Freedom team.
Ron
Ron was found abandoned at a pet shop and was never reclaimed.
He then spent the next four years in a loving family home where he was given every opportunity to thrive. Sadly, family circumstances changed…
Jack
Born in Dubai, Jack came to the UK at just a year old, full of zest, energy and high hopes.
Sadly, he was placed in an inexperienced home, where he was treated unkindly…
Honey
Honey’s journey began on the tough streets of Bosnia, where she was found as an abandoned pup.
She was taken to the busy Bark Ark Rescue Shelter and this became her world…
Our Fostering Process
Foster a Dog - Save a Life
Every dog that comes into foster care is given something priceless: a safe place to land, a warm bed, a full tummy, guidance, patience and love. For many dogs it is the first time they have ever experienced life as part of a family.
At Paws2Freedom our foster homes are quite literally lifesavers. Every time a foster dog moves on to their forever home, another vulnerable dog gets their chance. One foster space can save many lives over the years.
Whether a dog comes from death row in a UK pound, an overseas shelter, life as a stray or from a family who can no longer care for them, fostering gives them the opportunity to begin again.
Most importantly, you are never alone. Our foster carers become part of the Paws2Freedom family and we are always here to offer support, guidance and advice whenever it is needed.
Why Foster?
Fostering is one of the most rewarding ways you can help a rescue dog.
Every dog that comes into foster care is given something priceless: a safe place to land, a warm bed, a full tummy, guidance, patience and love. For many dogs it is the first time they have ever experienced life as part of a family.
At Paws2Freedom our foster homes are quite literally lifesavers. Every time a foster dog moves on to their forever home, another vulnerable dog gets their chance. One foster space can save many lives over the years.
Whether a dog comes from death row in a UK pound, an overseas shelter, life as a stray or from a family who can no longer care for them, fostering gives them the opportunity to begin again.
Most importantly, you are never alone. Our foster carers become part of the Paws2Freedom family and we are always here to offer support, guidance and advice whenever it is needed.
Traditional Foster Care
Traditional fostering provides a temporary home whilst we search for the dog’s forever family.
As a foster carer you help the dog settle into home life, learn routines, build confidence and prepare for adoption. You become an important part of their journey and help us understand their personality, likes, dislikes and ideal home.
Watching a nervous dog blossom into a happy, confident companion is one of the greatest rewards rescue has to offer.
Behaviour Rehabilitation Foster Care
Some dogs come to us because they need a little extra help learning that the world is not such a scary place.
These may be dogs who are worried around strangers, uncomfortable around other dogs, lacking confidence or struggling with behaviours that have developed through fear, uncertainty or past experiences.
Behaviour rehabilitation fostering is a very special and rewarding role. It involves providing a safe, structured and understanding environment where a dog can slowly build trust, gain confidence and learn new ways of coping with the world around them.
These dogs are often incredibly rewarding to work with, but they do require experienced and committed foster carers who are willing to work closely with our team and follow guidance tailored to the individual dog.
Progress is not always measured in giant leaps. Sometimes it is a dog choosing to approach someone for the first time, relaxing in a new environment, or learning that other dogs or unfamiliar people are not something to fear.
Watching those small victories grow into life-changing transformations is one of the most rewarding experiences rescue has to offer.
Because of the nature of this role, behaviour rehabilitation foster carers need a good level of dog experience, patience, realistic expectations and a willingness to work closely alongside Paws2Freedom throughout the dog’s journey.
Sanctuary Foster Care
Some dogs need something a little different.
Our sanctuary foster homes provide a permanent home for dogs who may never be suitable for adoption due to age, health conditions or behavioural challenges.
These dogs remain under the care of Paws2Freedom for the rest of their lives but live as cherished family members in their sanctuary foster homes.
Some are elderly dogs who deserve a comfortable retirement. Some have ongoing medical needs. Others require experienced handlers who can help them safely navigate life.
We also occasionally look for hospice foster homes for dogs approaching the end of their lives. These incredibly special foster carers provide comfort, dignity, companionship and love during a dog’s final chapter, ensuring they never feel unwanted or alone.
"I Could Never Let Them Go..."
This is probably the most common thing we hear from people considering fostering.
And honestly?
You probably will fall in love with them.
You will celebrate their first happy tail wag, their first cuddle on the sofa, their first confident walk and all the little milestones that make rescue so special.
And yes, when they leave it can be emotional.
But here’s what experienced foster carers will tell you: the sadness is outweighed by the joy.
- The joy of seeing a dog who arrived frightened, confused, unwanted or simply out of options walk off into the life they deserve.
- The joy of knowing that you were the bridge that got them there.
- The joy of receiving updates, photographs and stories from their new family and seeing just how happy they have become.
Most importantly, the moment one foster dog leaves, another is already waiting in the wings.
- A frightened dog in kennels.
- A dog sitting in a pound with nowhere to go.
- A dog whose owner can no longer care for them.
- A dog who simply needs somebody to say, “Yes, I can help.”
Without foster homes, many of these dogs would never get their chance. Some would spend months in kennels. Others may not survive at all.
Unlike adoption, fostering allows you to help not just one dog, but many dogs over the years.
Every goodbye creates space for another new beginning.
And whilst foster carers often say they are changing a dog’s life, the truth is that the dogs change theirs too.
Many of our foster carers start with one dog and quickly discover that fostering becomes one of the most rewarding things they have ever done.
Why Some People Choose to Foster
People become foster carers for all sorts of reasons.
- Some simply want to help save lives and give vulnerable dogs a second chance.
- Some have recently lost a beloved dog and are not yet ready for another lifelong commitment, but still miss the companionship, routine and joy that dogs bring.
- Some love the idea of sharing their home with dogs whilst helping many dogs over the years rather than adopting just one.
- Others would love a dog of their own but are worried about the financial commitment of veterinary costs, particularly as costs continue to rise.
- Some of our sanctuary foster carers enjoy all the rewards of giving a dog a loving forever home, whilst knowing that Paws2Freedom remains responsible for veterinary care and ongoing support.
- And some people simply discover that fostering becomes a way of life.
Whatever your reason, fostering offers the opportunity to enjoy the companionship, love and friendship of a dog whilst making a truly life-changing difference.
Not everyone is in a position to adopt, but many people can foster. And for the right person, fostering can be one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable.
What Makes a Great Foster Home?
The most important requirement is simple: the dog must be safe, loved and well cared for.
We are looking for foster carers who have:
- A genuine love of dogs
- Previous dog ownership or dog handling experience
- A secure garden
- Plenty of time to dedicate to their foster dog
- Patience, kindness and understanding
- A willingness to work closely with our team
- Access to the internet and WhatsApp for communication and updates
- Their own transport for vet visits, meet and greets and other dog-related appointments
- Big hearts and realistic expectations
Social media is entirely optional, but foster carers do need to be contactable online and willing to communicate regularly with our team via WhatsApp.
Foster carers may be able to specify whether they would be more comfortable fostering a small, medium or large dog. However, fostering is about helping the dogs who need us most, so we are generally unable to offer a choice of specific breed. Instead we carefully match each dog to the home that we feel suits them best.
We may accept homes with older, dog-savvy children where the individual dog is suitable.
Many of our foster dogs settle beautifully with other dogs, cats and family life. However, some arrive with limited or unknown histories, and not all dogs have been assessed around children, cats, other dogs or small animals before entering foster care.
For this reason, foster carers with resident pets must be able to safely separate animals if needed, particularly during introductions and settling-in periods. This may only be temporary, but it is important that foster homes have the ability and willingness to manage this should the need arise.
Dogs arriving from council pounds, boarding kennels and other kennel environments can occasionally develop kennel cough, even when they appeared perfectly healthy when leaving the facility. Kennel cough is generally a mild, self-limiting illness, similar in many ways to a common cold in humans, but it can be highly contagious to other dogs.
For this reason we require all resident dogs in foster homes to be vaccinated against kennel cough as an additional precaution. Whilst the risk is relatively low, we believe it is far better to take sensible precautions to protect both foster dogs and resident dogs.
We will always share everything we know about a dog and provide guidance, support and advice throughout the fostering process.
Most importantly, we are looking for people who can offer stability, commitment and a safe place for a dog to simply be a dog.
What Does Paws2Freedom Cover?
Paws2Freedom covers veterinary costs and agreed care expenses for foster dogs.
Foster carers provide food, which may occasionally include a specialist diet depending on the dog’s individual needs. If additional support is needed, please talk to us. We will always do our best to help.
Foster carers are responsible for providing transport to routine vet appointments and other agreed dog-related activities.
As a very small rescue run entirely by volunteers, we rely heavily on donations and fundraising. Whilst any contribution towards a foster dog’s care is always hugely appreciated, it is never expected and never a requirement of fostering.
What matters most is that the dog receives excellent care and has everything they need to thrive.
The Fostering Process
Our fostering process is very similar to our adoption process, but without the adoption donation.
1: Application Form
Complete our fostering application form and tell us a little about yourself, your home and the type of dog you feel able to help.
2: Telephone Chat
We will arrange a friendly chat to discuss your experience, answer any questions and help determine whether fostering is right for you.
3: Videos
We’ll ask for videos of your home and garden, along with a short introduction.
4: Home Check
One of our volunteers will visit your home and discuss fostering in more detail.
5: Meet & Greet (Where Possible)
Depending on the dog’s circumstances, we may arrange a meet and greet. However, this is not always possible, particularly in emergency situations, with overseas dogs or dogs coming from pounds or kennels.
6: Foster Agreement
Welcome Your Foster Dog Home
7: Ongoing Support
You are never on your own. We remain available throughout your fostering journey to offer support, guidance and advice whenever needed.
Application Forms and FAQs
If you would like to complete an adoption or foster form, please use the link below which will take you directly to our Forms Page.
We suggest that you take the time to read our New Rescue Dog FAQs too.