Street Wise Canine
Day 1: Understanding Foster Care + Your Role

Day 1: Understanding Foster Care + Your Role

Learn what foster care really means and what's expected of you

🎯 Today's Goal

Understand your role as a foster parent BEFORE your dog arrives. Know what you're responsible for, what the rescue handles, and how to read your foster's background information.

1. What Is Foster Care?

Foster care means providing a temporary safe home for a dog while they wait for their permanent family. You're like a bridge between their past and their future.

✅ Your Job as a Foster Parent:

  • Provide daily care: Food, water, shelter, exercise
  • Create safety and routine: Help them feel secure
  • Observe and document: Note their personality, likes, dislikes
  • Provide basic training: House rules, simple manners
  • Prepare for adoption: Help them become family-ready
2. What's NOT Your Job

It's important to know what you're not responsible for:

❌ What You DON'T Have to Do:

  • Fix serious behavioral problems: That's for professional trainers
  • Pay for medical care: Rescue covers vet bills
  • Find the adopter: Rescue handles applications and screening
  • Be perfect: You're learning too, and that's okay
  • Keep them forever: The goal is finding their perfect family
3. Understanding Your Foster's Background

Your rescue will give you information about your foster dog. Here's how to read it:

📋 Common Terms and What They Really Mean:

"Good with kids": Was tested briefly, but watch how they do in your home
"House trained": Knew the routine in their old home, may need reminders in yours
"Dog reactive": Gets excited or scared around other dogs - manageable with training
"Shy": May be fearful due to past trauma - needs patience and gentle handling
"High energy": Needs lots of exercise and mental stimulation
"Owner surrender": Previous family couldn't keep them - often well-socialized
"Stray": Found wandering - background unknown, may need more socialization

🔍 Important: Shelter Behavior vs. Home Behavior

Dogs act very differently in shelters than in homes! A "shy" dog might actually be confident once comfortable. A "friendly" dog might be overwhelmed and need space. Give them time to show their true personality.

4. Communication with Your Rescue

📞 When to Contact Your Rescue:

🚨 Call IMMEDIATELY for:

  • Medical emergencies or injuries
  • Aggressive behavior toward people
  • Dog escapes or goes missing
  • You feel unsafe

📅 Schedule a Call for:

  • Behavioral questions or training advice
  • Supply needs (food, crates, toys)
  • Timeline changes (vacation, work schedule)
  • General progress updates
5. Emergency Contacts

Fill this out NOW and save in your phone:

Rescue Coordinator: _________________________

Emergency After Hours: _________________________

Assigned Vet Clinic: _________________________

Emergency Vet Clinic: _________________________

Foster Mentor/Buddy: _________________________
6. Setting Realistic Expectations

Foster dogs need time to adjust. Here's what's normal:

📅 The 3-3-3 Rule:

  • 3 Days: To decompress and stop feeling overwhelmed
  • 3 Weeks: To learn your routine and start showing personality
  • 3 Months: To fully settle and feel at home

Remember: You're fostering, not adopting, so you might see them through the first few weeks of this process.

📋 Day 1 Readiness Check

Before your foster arrives, make sure you're prepared:

✅ Knowledge Check (Click when complete):

📚 I understand what foster care means and my role
📞 I have saved all emergency contact numbers
📋 I have received and read my foster dog's background information
🏠 I know the difference between shelter behavior and home behavior
⏰ I understand the 3-3-3 rule and realistic timelines
❓ I know when to contact rescue vs. when to wait and observe

📝 Questions or Concerns:

🎉 Day 1 Complete!

You now understand your role as a foster parent and what to expect. Tomorrow, we'll prepare your home environment before your foster arrives.

Next: Day 2 - Setting Up Your Home + Safe Spaces