Foster for Lurcher SOS

If any of you would like the joy of sharing your life with a hound but who may not be in a position to offer one a permanent home at the moment, do consider fostering for Lurcher SOS.
We are always in need of new foster carers for our dogs.

Frequently asked questions

  • Getting a dog out of a shelter environment removes the animal from a stressful, noisy environment, where they are isolated in a cage, and puts them in an environment where they can relax and interact with people and other animals. It is much easier to get a good assessment of the animal’s personality in a foster home environment.

  • Foster parents can provide potential adopters with important information.  You will be able to find out all the personality traits of a pet – are they potty trained? Do they like to fetch? Do they like kids or other animals? What are their little quirks and idiosyncrasies?

    Being a foster carer is rewarding and helps these abandoned and stray dogs settle into a home environment whilst they await their forever homes. You should be prepared to look after Lurcher SOS dogs in the same way as you would your own dogs until we find him/her a new home. You will need a secure garden with 6 foot fences and gates; to be at home for most of the day; patience and the time to help these hounds settle. And your children need to be 10 years old and older.

    Whilst in foster, your foster dog will need time to unpack any “baggage” and then the personalities of the dog will show. A big part of the role of being a foster carer is assessing the personality of these dogs to ensure that we match them to a home that is right for them. For example; are they cat friendly or not, (most aren't), do they have a particularly high prey drive, are they very active or are they chilled – and so on.

  • During their time in foster care all dogs, if not previously done, will be wormed, microchipped, neutered (if old enough) and vaccinated. We will cover the cost of all of this and any vet bills incurred whilst in your care. although if you can cover some of the food costs, that would be a great help to us.

    You will have our full support and back up at all times.

  • Yes, it can be a very emotional experience when the dog gets adopted and goes on to its permanent home, especially the first time that you foster a dog. We have been told that this gets easier as you foster more dogs. As a foster parent, you will be a key part in the adoption process. A lot of the emotional issues are relieved when you meet the adopters and you know that the dog is going to a good home. Adopters are usually more than happy to share their email address or phone number with the foster parent and let the foster know how the newly adopted hound is doing. Some will send letters and pictures!

Hear from some of our fosterers

  • I don’t have a dog of my own right now, so fostering gets me out of the house and keeps me active. Plus, I’ve met so many wonderful people in the sighthound community along the way! Not every dog is easy to foster—some come with challenges—but it’s all worth it when you see them thrive and go off to their perfect forever home. Knowing I played a part in their journey is an amazing feeling.

    Chris

  • Nothing beats the joy of helping your foster dog (or puppy!) to find the Happy Ever After they have always deserved 💕 Photo of me saying "be yourself, they'll love you" to my foster pup, Pickle 🥹

    Katie

  • Giving a temporary home to a dog in need, and helping to prepare them for life in their forever home is one of the most rewarding things we’ve done, and LSOS has been there all the way. It’s tough to say goodbye to a foster dog when they’ve become so much part of our life, but knowing that LSOS have found them their own safe and loving home makes it easier.

    Selam

  • Fostering has been a wonderful way to help without the lifetime commitment of adoption. LurcherSOS supports you so much, and it’s heartwarming to see these dogs go from scared and shy to confident and happy. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

    Taylor

  • I own a boarding kennels and cattery in Etwall in Derbyshire. Over the years, we’ve helped rehome 47 dogs, offering foster care, emergency boarding, and even adopting a few ourselves. It’s amazing to see the transformation in these dogs. Staying in touch with adopters and seeing the dogs thrive in their new homes makes it all worthwhile.

    Linda

  • Fostering is a vital part of rescue work, saving countless lives. We’ve only had six 'foster fails' to date, but even those have been wonderful opportunities to see how a new dog might fit into our resident pack and lifestyle—when there’s an opening, of course! On average, our foster dogs stay with us for about four weeks. Some stays are shorter, others longer, but every dog has been an absolute joy to know.

    Abby

Fostering Application