Providing Opportunity Become A Support Home
Fostering, Foster-to-Adopt (FTA)
Fostering. If you can fit a foster dog into your busy life, please consider becoming a foster home for one of GoldHeart’s Golden Retrievers/Retriever mixes in need.
The first step to be considered for the GoldHeart Foster and Foster-to-Adopt (FTA) program also requires completing an Adoption Application, where intent to Foster, FTA, and Adopt is relayed to the GoldHeart Team at the beginning of the application form. Please click here to get to our application page.
Our foster homes are essential to our mission of rescuing Goldens from abuse and neglect. The foster family cares for them and is the main participant in finding the “forever home” for their foster dog. Following the progress of your foster dog after they have been adopted is a most rewarding experience.
GoldHeart pays for veterinary care, any necessary grooming, flea treatment, and heartworm medication for the rescued Golden Retrievers. All you need to provide is a place in your home and hearts and the love these displaced Goldens that so desperately want and need it.
Join GoldHeart’s Team of Foster Homes to share the truly rewarding experience of coming home to your foster Golden’s happy smile and enthusiastically wagging tail, welcoming you back as if you are their long-lost best friend. The joy of noticing your success when he or she has learned to sit or walk on a leash without pulling too hard. Snuggling on the couch, knowing your foster dog is content by your side, and so much more.
The Foster Home Team is there to support you, help you and offer guidance through whatever questions or concerns may arise. If you have additional questions or would like to volunteer to be a Foster Home, please get in touch with our Foster Home Coordinator.
All of the dogs accepted into GoldHeart are carefully screened to ensure they have a Golden personality.
The Foster-to-Adopt (FTA) program was started as an alternative to placing incoming dogs in commercial boarding facilities when our limited number of foster homes is filled.
In order to be accepted into this program, Foster-to-Adopt applicants must have an approved application and home visit with GoldHeart Golden Retriever Rescue. In addition, applicants must agree to all the terms and conditions of the FTA Agreement and follow the adoption procedures described in the Foster and Adoption Information Packet that will be provided by GoldHeart.
We have a greater than 95% success rate with FTA placements, but in the event the dog is not a match with the family, there is no “penalty.” The dog is made available for adoption, and the FTA family only needs to have a willing heart to continue to foster the dog until the BEST Forever Home is found. The FTA family can continue searching for the right dog.
Starting in late 2014, FTA dogs are posted in their own category at our website, and enjoy an Adoption Pending status. When vetting is complete, adoptions are finalized, and these dogs are moved to our Happy Endings website section.
Additional Information
Long-Term Foster Dogs: On rare occasions and when approved by the GoldHeart Board, a dog who is already in foster care may become a long-term foster.
This could occur when GoldHeart learns a dog has a serious or terminal illness or it is otherwise in the best interest of the dog to remain in a loving foster home until its final sunset.
In addition, if a foster dog has complex medical and behavioral challenges that are anticipated to extend more than a few months, these dogs may be posted as Long Term Foster Dogs until such time that they are ready to look for a forever home.