What is fostering?

Fostering is caring for a dog while we approve a forever home.

Do I need experience?

No, you don’t.

Do fosters get paid?

Unfortunately, no, we are 100% volunteers.

What do I need to do if I want to foster a dog?

You will need to fill out the foster application on our website. We will then process your application.

Where do I see the dogs that need fosters?

Once you are an approved foster/volunteer, you will be added to our private volunteer’s Facebook group.  We will post the dogs that need fosters there, and you can comment if you are available to foster.

Am I financially responsible for the dog?

No, we pay for their vetting and necessities and you provide your home and love.

Do I get to choose which dog I can foster?

Yes, unless that dog has a foster already.

If I decide to foster, what will come with the dog?

Dog gets a leash, collar, HHOFL tag

Can I get dog food?

Yes, if you need food we will provide.

Can I get a crate for the dog?

Yes, we can provide one if needed.

Can I get a bed for the dog?

Yes, we can provide one if needed, it needs to be picked up in Altamonte Springs.

Can I get toys for the dogs?

Yes, you can. However, this needs to be picked up in Altamonte Springs.

What if the dog I am fostering is too much and we can no longer foster?

You must communicate with a board member and we can give you some solutions.  If the dog still needs behavior that needs to be addressed, we will put you in contact with one of our trainers and/or he/she will be moved to another foster/trainer/boarding.

What if the dog is being reactive to my child(ren)?

You must communicate with us immediately and we will try to move asap.

Is there transportation provided if I can’t pick up the foster dog?

Yes, just let us know so that we can post for a volunteer.

If I am fostering a dog and need to leave town do I have to take the dog with me?

No, we will look for a temporary foster.

Can I change the name of the foster dog?

Unfortunately no. It will create a nightmare of names due to medical records already with their names that we cannot change.

If I have a cat, can I foster?

Yes, but if we know that the dog is not cat friendly or has a high prey drive, we do not place them in homes with families that have cats.

Are the dogs housebroken or crate trained?

Most of the time we do not know if they are crate trained or house broken. Many of the dogs come from shelters and until they are in a home environment we will not know until they have a chance to decompress and get used to the foster home’s routine.

How long does a dog take to be adopted?

This varies, it can be as little as day, the average is 3 weeks, but medical dogs or special need dogs will require a longer period.  This also changes depending on low or high season when dogs are being surrendered such as 4th of July weekend, Christmas, Memorial Day, etc. 

Do I need a fence to be able to foster?

No, you don’t but you do need to have some experience if that is the case.

What procedures will the dog have done prior to us fostering?

Spay/neuter, DHLPP vaccine, Rabies vaccine, Bordatella vaccine, microchip, heartworm test, and fecal test. Some dogs are medical dogs and they will have additional procedures and will have medicine for treatment.

Can I give a bath to my foster dog?

Yes, if you feel comfortable.  We do have shampoo and supplies you can pick up in Altamont Springs. 

How soon can a dog get a bath?

If the dog has been spayed/neutered they must wait at least 2 weeks prior to being bathed. You must get approval from a board member prior to giving them a bath.

Will the dog be provided with heartworm and flea/tick prevention?

Yes, they will be given to them prior to them being sent to the foster home or mailed via UPSP.  You will also receive a paper to write down the date prevention was given.  Consecutively, prevention will be mailed monthly until dog is adopted.

Once I get the flea/tick prevention do I have to do anything?

Yes, you must apply, fill out the date on the paper it was given to the dog and send a picture via email or via Facebook messenger to Paula Lossner.

If my foster dog needs additional vet visits, do I have to take him?

Yes, you can, but if you can’t, we will find a volunteer transporter.

What happens if my dog needs immediate medical attention?

If the dog needs medical attention you must first communicate with Francia Vogini via Facebook messenger or call her at her cell phone.

What tags does the dog have?

• A bone shape Husky Haven of Florida tag.  This tag has a 3–4-digit code that is unique to this dog.  That tag must never be removed and will go with the adopter in his/her martingale collar.

• Sometimes a microchip tag, 3-12-digit number, they might be different in color.  However, not all dogs get this since many microchip companies do not provide a tag.

• Sometimes a rabies tag.  Some shelters or vets do no provide us with one but the adopter will receive medical records indicating they have been administered.

If the dog needs grooming, can I get him groomed? If so, who pays this bill.

Grooming is very expensive and it’s a luxury that we can’t afford on all dogs.  We do have to do them in certain cases when it’s medically necessary.  If that is the case, we will look for a groomer that could donate their services.

We hear this often: “I love them too much and would break my heart having to let my foster go”!

Many fosters will say they rather cry watching a foster pet leave their home to live a full life of happiness and joy in a loving home.  Many animals die because no one stepped up to help, the animal will die alone, frightened, and sad in a shelter.

Can I post a picture of my foster dog on social media?

Yes, you can post a picture of the foster dog in social media. However, we ask you to tag Husky Haven of Florida so people know where to get information on the dog.

What if fall in love with the dog and want to adopt?

You, as a foster, get first priority; however, you must express your desire to adopt prior to that dog having a commitment from an approved adopter.

If I want to adopt my foster dog do I pay an adoption fee?

Yes, you pay the same adoption fee that we charge our adopters.

If someone I know wants to adopt my foster dog, what do I tell them?

To apply on our website www.HuskyhavenFl.org/adopt

Do I need to do anything while I foster the dog to get him adopted?

No, we process all the applications and paperwork.  We will contact you once we have an approved adopter so that you can call them and answer any questions they may have.

Do I have to drive the dog to their forever home?

No, the adopters will come to you.

Where do we meet potential adopters?

Preferably in your home, but if you are not comfortable, we suggest a nearby park.

Do you screen potential adopters?

Yes, we contact their vet and 3 personal references, we inspect their home, and they must pass our interview process. It is a very detailed process, so rest assure they have passed all our requirements.

During the meet and greet, if they decide to adopt the dog, do I have to do any paperwork?

Normally no, the adoption contract and payment will have been drafted and received prior to the meet and greet.  However, that is not always a guaranteed.  If that is not the case, the application processing volunteer will communicate with you.

Is there anything I need to do prior to handing them the dog?

• Yes, we ask you take several pictures of the adopting family with the dog in “landscape mode” and send it to us. This is very important so that we can do our annual video.

• We ask you to explain the tags the dog has. This is very important, specially about the HHOFL tag.

• We ask you to explain how the martingale collar works. The clip on leash should be attached to loop ring.

What if the adopter asks me for medical paperwork?

Please let them know that they will receive an email with instructions within the next 5-7 days with instructions and medical records attached

Can I keep in contact with the adopters?

Absolutely, we actually strongly encourage it.

How do I introduce new dogs to my home and my own dogs?