Want a dog in your life but can't afford one? Consider fostering!

Dogs bring so much to our lives and many of us grew up with them. But the family pooch probably couldn't go to college with you, and now that you're out on your own, you can't afford to commit a portion of your meager starting salary to feeding and caring for a dog. Don't lose heart! You can still have a dog in your life, and all the benefits you reap from that relationship, without the financial expense. There are hundreds of dogs rescued from shelters, found as strays and never claimed, or given up by their owners for a variety of reasons who are all in search of new homes, but need a warm, safe, loving place to stay while they wait.

Foster 'parents' don't have to be dog 'experts' or trainers. The most important things a foster can provide for the dog(s) in their care temporarily are their time and TLC. As a foster parent, you'll open your home to a dog in need, give it a warm place to sleep, some toys to play with, food, water, and all the lovin' they can handle. Some dogs may need to remember (or be taught) that pottying happens outside, some need more practice walking on a leash, others may just need patient humans so they can learn to trust again.

When you volunteer to foster a dog, you can usually request the type of dog you'd like to get: male or female, size, age (not everyone is cut out to handle a puppy), energy level (depending on what kind of exercise routine you can provide), whether it gets along with other animals (if you or your roommate already has a pet), and other limitations.

So what about the financial end of things? Most rescue organizations pay for the expenses of their dogs in foster care, including food and any necessary vet bills, and many even provide a leash. You provide a bed (try thrift stores--they always have lots of fluffy comforters or even baby crib mattresses that dogs would love), some toys, and rides to the vet and adoption events that some groups hold at local pet supply stores to show off their adoptable dogs.

Fostering a dog usually isn't a long-term commitment--some dogs may be adopted just days after you get them, others may take a couple weeks or even a couple months. If you will provide the rescue group with a description of how great your foster dog is, they can add that to the dog's webpage on sites like PetFinder and AdoptaPet, making them more appealling and adoptable. The faster dogs get adopted, the more can be rescued, so everyone wins.

One active rescue group in the Denver area is Colorado Canine Rescue. One of their foster parents reports this:

"It's so rewarding to bring a foster dog into my home. When I think about the sad, stark life these dogs left behind it's heartwarming to see how they thrive and become wonderful pets. Almost every day Chico, my current foster dog, does something that makes me laugh out loud. It has been great staying in touch with the family who adopted my first foster dog to see how she has become a beloved member of their family. Foster homes provide the opportunity for the dogs to learn a routine, follow 'house rules', and bond with people and other pets. It also provides the opportunity to learn more about the dog's personality and behavior to help ensure a better fit between the dog and the adopting family. Amy Taylor has done a great job ensuring that the dogs selected for me to foster fit well with my lifestyle and my own two small dogs, and that has played a factor in this being such a fun experience."

Do you have a favorite breed? Search for rescue groups in the area that deal with that breed (try "boxer rescue denver" or "lhasa apso rescue boulder" and see what comes up). Don't care about breed, but want a furry friend to share your home? There are many non-breed-specific rescue groups and shelters in the area that are in need of foster homes, so just ask if you can help. Here are a few local groups you might want to check out:

Colorado Canine Rescue

DMK Re-homing

All-Breed Rescue Network

Fostering isn't for everyone--if you would not be able to part with your foster dog when it gets adopted without throwing yourself on the railroad tracks, you probably aren't a good candidate. But if you can be happy by doing all you can while the dog is in your care and smile when it trots off with its forever family, you might be! And if you don't have the space at home for a dog or work too-long hours, but still want canine companionship, consider volunteering as a dog walker or kennel assistant at a shelter--they always need more help and the dogs will love your company!

-------------------------