Open Your Home. Change a Life.

Fostering is one of the most impactful ways to support a rescue dog on their journey to a forever home.

By opening your home to a dog in need, you provide a safe environment where they can adjust, decompress, and prepare for adoption.

You’re not doing this alone. We’ll support you every step of the way.

Why Foster a Rescue Dog?

Every dog we rescue needs a place to land.

Foster homes allow us to:

  • Rescue more dogs in need

  • Learn each dog’s personality and behavior

  • Match them with the right adoptive family

  • Address the dog’s medical and behavioral needs

How Fostering a Dog Works

Fostering involves temporarily caring for a rescue dog in your home until they are ready for adoption. During this time, you’ll provide daily care, help them adjust to a home environment, and share insights about their personality, behavior, and health.

Each foster has support from an Intake Manager as well as Veterinarians, Trainers, and other resources when needed. Once the foster determines the dog is ready to adopt, they work with the adoption team to find the best match.

What It’s Like to Foster a Dog

Fostering is a temporary commitment that makes a lifelong impact.

  • You provide a safe, loving home.

  • We cover the cost of veterinary care and behavioral rehabilitation.

  • You help us understand the dog’s personality and needs.

  • Length of stay varies depending on the dog. Some dogs need just a few weeks while others may need several months.
A black lab its on a carpet in a living room.
Our foster pup Cooper had a rough start to his life. Knowing that you’re giving back and seeing him get better has been really rewarding. I love what Golden Bond does! The support all along the way has been amazing.
Katy M., Golden Bond Retriever Rescue foster family in Salem, Oregon,

We couldn’t have asked for a better first foster dog – Finn. You can’t quantify how rewarding it is fostering these dogs. It helps them live their best life possible. Golden Bond’s Intake Manager and resources on their website were super helpful. Jump in with both feet fostering a dog and you won’t regret it!

Emily B., Golden Bond foster family in Vancouver, WA, Your Content Goes Here

We’ve adopted one dog with Golden Bond and fostered two dogs so far. It’s rewarding to watch the dogs gain confidence, learn routines, and become more relaxed and happy. Our first Intake Manager, Maggie, was a gem. There is so much support throughout the process of fostering. It’s so satisfying to witness a dog meet their forever family for the first time!

Shaelyn C., Golden Bond foster family in Eagle Creek, OR,

You’re Supported Every Step of the Way

Even if you’ve never fostered before, you won’t be doing this on your own.

Each foster dog is paired with an Intake Manager who will:

  • Answer your questions

  • Provide guidance and support

  • Help you navigate any challenges

You’ll also have access to:

  • Training and behavior support

  • A network of experienced volunteers

  • Resources to help you feel confident and prepared

Is Fostering a Dog Right For You?

We’re looking for foster homes across the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, and Western Idaho).

Ideal foster homes include these characteristics:

  • Someone who can commit the time needed for a foster dog, from their first weeks of decompression through selecting the best adoptive “forever home”

  • A safe and secure house and area to exercise

  • Willingness to follow GBRR guidelines and leverage the many resources available

  • Resident pets who are adaptable and would happily co-exist with – or even welcome! – a foster dog

Additional considerations:

  • No children under the age of 10 in the home

  • A fenced yard is preferred, but not required

  • Renters may apply with landlord approval

  • Resident pets must be up to date on vaccinations

Special Need

We are especially in need of foster homes who:

  • Can take a dog for a month or longer

  • Have no other pets in the home

If you’re able to help in these ways, it makes a huge impact.

Foster FAQs: Fostering a Rescue Dog

Here are answers to common questions about how fostering works, time commitment, costs, and what to expect when caring for a rescue dog.

Getting Started as a Foster

No. Many of our foster volunteers are new to fostering. You’ll receive guidance, resources, and support from our team every step of the way.

Start by completing our Foster Application. Once submitted, a team member will connect with you to walk through next steps.

Apply to Foster

Foster Expectations & Support

The foster stay varies with each dog. It really depends on the individual dog’s situation. It is realistic to assume that a foster dog will be with you for a month to several months.

The application allows you to provide preferences on the kinds of dogs you foster. We will always attempt to match your preferences with what we know about the dog. We share all the information we have, and if you are asked to foster a dog that does not seem right for you, you can say no. 

Sometimes, but not always! Each foster dog is unique. The dog may have come from a difficult situation or due to unfortunate circumstances had to leave a person he or she loved. The first two or three weeks with a foster dog are crucial as they “decompress” and begin to feel comfortable. We have many resources to guide you through this process and help you and the dog succeed.

Golden Bond Retriever Rescue will provide the foster dog’s veterinary expenses and medications. Foster volunteers usually pay for leash and collar, harness, dog bed, food, treats, food and water bowls, personal ID tag (we provide a GBRR tag), toys, gasoline for trips to the vet, and such. We appreciate your donation of quality dog food for your foster, but we will reimburse you for this expense if your personal circumstances require it. We do not want lack of funds to prevent you from fostering.

You’ll be supported by an Intake Manager who can:

  • Answer questions
  • Provide guidance
  • Help troubleshoot challenges
  • Point you towards resources and materials

In the case of challenging behavioral issues we will provide a professional trainer. 

Foster Home Requirements

A fenced yard is Golden Bond Retriever Rescue’s preference as that provides the easiest environment for fosters to routinely provide outdoor exercise and enrichment for the dog. However, we will consider homes without a fence if the fosters are willing to comply with our other rules. Foster dogs must NEVER be allowed to run free. When outside the yard, the dog must be on leash at ALL times. Foster dogs are NOT allowed to be taken to dog parks.

Yes, as long as your landlord approves. We’ll ask for a letter and contact information to confirm any restrictions.

Yes, in many cases. Your current pets must be up-to-date on vaccinations, and we’ll consider compatibility when placing a foster dog.

Golden Bond Retriever Rescue researched the safety of rescued dogs with children and found that most dog bites involve children under the age of ten. To ensure our dogs are given a secure environment and the best chance at a success for all, we decided not to place our dogs in foster families or adoptive families with children under the age of ten.

Living with a Foster Dog

Foster dogs should live indoors and be treated as part of the family. They should not be isolated in a garage, separate room, or left outside.

If you are fostering and want to go away for a weekend or take a vacation and cannot take the foster dog with you, we will work with you to find temporary care for the dog, typically with another Golden Bond Retriever Rescue foster home.

We understand that not every placement works out. If challenges arise, we’ll work with you to find a solution and support both you and the dog.

Adoption & Next Steps

Yes, it is possible. We ask that you make your request to adopt known as early as possible, and before anyone is referred to visit the dog for potential adoption.

You can celebrate knowing you played a critical role in helping that dog find their forever home! And we hope you will want to foster again because it was such a rewarding experience!

Ready to Get Started?

Fostering saves lives — and it starts with one decision.

Still Have Questions?

We’re here to help.