Welcome to the foster crew!
This is your virtual foster manual with tips and tricks as well as procedures you will need to know to foster with The Good Dog Rescue.
Section one: Foster Manual
Section two: How to Write a dog Profile
Section Three: Photo tips
Section Four: Adoption Process
Click her for : The Good Dog Rescue - Foster Manual
Contact Protocol
For emergencies, please call one of the directors immediately
For non emergency medical concerns, you may email/fb message immediately or call during
business hours
For behavior concerns, please contact Jayson via email
If you need more supplies or are interested in taking in a new foster please contact Veronika via
email/fb message
Contact Information
General inquiries thegooddogrescue@gmail.com or thegooddogrescueadoptions@gmail.com
(both boxes are monitored by several people)
Director of Behavior - Jayson A Email: thegooddogproject@gmail.com Phone: 303-921-7924
Executive Director - Veronika P Email: veronika1110@gmail.com Phone: 303-653-1264
How to write a profile
Type a paragraph explaining their personality, their favorite activities, if they know any tricks
etc. Try and avoid stating anything negative - if they have bad habits put a positive spin on it
like I could still use some work on my potty training, but am making progress! We want this to
be like a resume - talk them up but also be honest
include things like:
Super outgoing ______ I’m friendly ______ I’m a bit shy ______
A marathon runner ______ Like long walks on the beach ______ Slow strolls ______
Housebroken ______ So close to being housebroken ______ Still need some work ______
Good with large dogs ______ Good with Small dogs ______ Good with Cats ______
Good with children ______ Crate Trained ______
My ideal home would provide: (change these to fit your dog)
A lot of love and attention
Gentle corrections - I get scared if you raise your voice too much
A warm bed - I love to snuggle in it
I need to live with another doggie friend / I would be fine as a single dog
A house with a yard / I would do ok in an apartment
Some basic obedience training
Continued socialization with dogs and people - I’m just a pup, still so much to see and do!
Examples of how to best showcase your foster dog in photographs!
Examples of pictures that will be hard for potential adopters to picture these dogs in their homes and could have a hard time knowing what your dog looks like.
Non-Event Adoption Process
Posting your dog for applications
1. Take some good pictures. At least one should be a close up head shot. Then a few others that
show their personality - playing with a toy or another dog, snuggling etc. Have them sit and then
whistle, make kissy noises or roll your tongue to get them to look at you and hopefully put their
ears up. We have posted a few examples
Option 1: write your own profile (we usually do it from the first person - “Hi my name is
Rupert”). Include: things they like/dislike, how they’re doing on training, what their
ideal home looks like etc. More info posted below
Option 2: We can write your profile. Please send bullet points of the above info
2. Send the pictures and info to Veronika via messenger or to
thegooddogrescuefoster@gmail.com .We will then get them added to Petstablished which will
add them to our website, Petfinder and Adopt-a-pet. They will likely also get a Facebook post
Reviewing Applications
1. We will do a basic review to make sure they appear to be good dog owners. If they are:
2. We will send you the application for your opinion.
3. Start interviews / narrowing down who you want to meet with
Option 1: If you’re comfortable doing so, you can do a phone interview with your top
candidates. We have a cheat sheet of common topics copied below
Option 2: A Good Dog Volunteer can do the interview. It’s a little harder since we don’t
know the dog as well, but we can at least get a feel for their lifestyle.
4. Keep us up to date on who you like, who you don’t, who you talked to etc. We make notes in
the system
Schedule meet and greets
Option 1: If you’re comfortable doing so, you can do this on your own. You can have
them come to your house, go to their house, or meet in a park. Please do keep the GDR
team up to date on who you are meeting and when - we track all of this
Option 2: If you would like a Good Dog member to attend the meet with you we are hap
py to do so. We will all need to schedule together and find a central location
NOTE: If the inquiring family has a dog already, make sure they bring them so we can
ensure the dogs get along.
Finalizing the Adoption
1.If it’s a good fit for dog and humans, we can move forward with the adoption.
Text/Call/Message Veronika or Jayson and we will generate the adoption contract through
Petstablished. The adopter will receive an email with the contract link and the payment links and
amounts.
2.Once we get both pieces back we will finalize the adoption in the system. This will send them
another email congratulating them and has a video they can watch with all the info they need! It
will also show them how to pull up the dog’s medical records. We will register the microchip
over to them - they don’t need to do anything.
3. Take a family pic with them and the dog
4. They are now free to take their new baby home!
Foster - to - adopt
This can be an option for harder to adopt dogs or if we aren’t sure how they will do in the
situation. In order to do this, they need to bring a video walkthrough of their home (or you do the
meet at their house) and we need to fill out a home visit form. We can either print and fill out, or
do online through SmallPDF
Extra notes:
*When scheduling meets - it’s always best to kind of leave things open ended. Don’t make
promises about adoption. It’s better to set low expectations and then exceed them!
*If you want to meet 2 people before making a decision you can do so, you just need to
communicate it appropriately. Feel free to ask for suggestions
*If you’re in a meet with someone you liked on paper but are uncomfortable with in person,
there is nothing wrong with just ending the meet and telling them you will be in touch after you
talk to the rescue. We can be the bad guys if needed.
*Always feel free to call Veronika (303-653-1264) or Jayson (303-921-7924) if you need help
during a meet
Interview Topics
1. Tell me about your daily routine:
2. What do you see you and your dog doing together:
3. Have you had dogs before, tell me about that
-Was there something that your old dog did that you want this new one to do.
- was there something your old dog did that you don't want your new one to do
What's your plan for working on those things
4. (If they haven't had dogs before) What got you interested in getting a dog now?
Talking Points
1. Socialization - importance of socializing their dog with people, dogs, children - anything they think the
dog will experience in its life. With puppies - talk through keeping them safe and healthy. No dog parks
or interactions with unknown dogs until fully vaccinated - but socialize with friends and family’s dogs
that you know are vaccinated and healthy.
2. Training puppies - puppies are blank slates. What you teach them and show them is how they are going
to be later in life. Bad habits are easier to prevent than to train out. Suggest puppy socialization classes
and basic obedience classes.
3. Training adults - Suggest basic obedience classes or private lessons. Adopter should continue training
and socialization with their dogs.
4. Exercise - Help them understand the exercise needs their dog may have. For very high energy dogs we
want to make sure their needs are being met. Walks, Runs, Bike rides, hiking, puzzle toys, flirt pole etc.
5. Safety - Dogs can get themselves into a lot of trouble if left unattended. Suggest crate training. Dogs
preferably should not be left outside in the yard when not home - too many incidences of dogs jumping or
digging under fences.
6. Dog introductions - If dogs already in the home talk about slow introductions. Adult dogs should be
walked together and meet away from the home. Make sure they understand resource guarding - pick up
bowls, toys, bones etc. Feedings should be done separately - either in kennels or other rooms. Dogs
should not be left alone together for the first few days/weeks - crates or separate rooms when not home.
7. Cat introductions - if there are cats in the home talk about slow introductions. Dogs should not be left
alone with cats for the first few weeks - use crate to contain dogs when not home.