Fostering a Service Dog in Training

Fostering: Great for the Dogs, Great for You!

Help us learn how our dogs act in a home setting
Give our dogs a nice place to relax
Learn about training from interacting with our staff
Help a dog on its journey from stray to star!

Schedule

Pick up 4:00 – 4:30 pm
Return 8:30 – 9:00 am
You can foster overnight during the week, over a weekend or holiday or when a dog needs extra attention like after a medical procedure

Your Trainer Tether ~

Text or phone your assigned trainer as needed
Additional Foster Training will be provided for fosters looking to advance their training skills

Foster FAQs

I have other animals. Can I still foster?

What do I need to buy for my foster?

I'm going to miss my dog! How can I give him away?

Givens Family Testimonial

We have been working with SDI since early 2015 as we are so impressed with what they do in rescuing these dogs and training them to be such an important part of someone’s life. The impact the dogs have on others is absolutely stunning.

We decided to foster as we love animals and wanted to give the dogs a chance to be out of the kennel when they were not being trained and to give our lab a “friend” to play with on the weekend. It’s a joyous moment when we pick up the fosters for the weekend and see how excited they are to see us and then the excitement between them and our lab once we get home as they wag tails and run out to play. The dogs are always so appreciative and just want love and affection. You’d think that after spending a relaxing weekend just sleeping, snuggling and playing that they’d think this is the life, but these dogs are ready on Monday to go back to “school” at the SDI training center as they love the trainers and working. They want to learn and help others. I was so touched at the latest graduation where we could see our foster that got placed in their new home. The dogs were so happy and their new owners and their families were so excited to get home with them. Hearing the stories of the people that were blessed to be getting these dogs so that they can lead a more independent life brought tears of joy. Fostering of SDI has really impacted our home in a positive manner and we are so grateful that we’ve been able to play such a small part in helping SDI and the foster dogs.

– Denny and Jackie Givens

To become a foster, please download and review the Foster Manual below. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at office@servicedogs.org to set up your foster orientation.

Foster Application

For volunteers who want to foster dogs.

Date
Name
First Last
Phone
Email
Address
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Availability - check all that apply. These times are not set. You can vary them.
- Week nights
- Weekends - (Friday pm - Monday am)
- Holidays
- Medical recuperation (e.g. during heartworm treatment, after surgery)
1. Why do you want to foster?
2. What fostering experience, if any, have you had?
3. Please describe your yard - size, grass/gravel, deck; fence - height, material, state of repair.
4. Please state the ages and relationship of anyone living with you.
5. Other Pets: If you have animals living with you, please describe: type, age, energy level, how are they with dogs? If you do not have any other pets, please write N/A.
6. Training experience: Do you or any of your family members have any dog training experience? If yes, please describe. Please include any books, videos or T.V. programs you follow on animal training.
7. Other comments or information