Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida Inc. (LRRoF) always needs foster homes for our rescued Labs. The number of foster homes we have directly determines the number of dogs we can rescue.
The reality is that Labs are frequently turned away or placed on a waiting list until a foster home is available. Unfortunately, some dogs have only days before a shelter will have to put them down.
Steps to Become an LRRoF Foster Home
Apply to Foster
The first step in becoming a foster home is to apply to foster with our organization.
You can find the fostering application link at the bottom of this page. Once we have your application, a volunteer in your area will contact you. Please be patient as we are staffed by volunteers with limited availability. Follow up with us if you don’t hear from us within two weeks.
Home Visit
A volunteer will meet with you in your home to discuss fostering with us.
After your home visit, you will be notified of your approval status. We rarely turn away foster homes. Our ideal foster home has enough room for a dog to live inside comfortably and a fenced area for them to safely roam outside.
Start Fostering
Work with a coordinator in your area to find a dog that is suitable as a first foster dog.
Please be aware that if you have children under 7, you will only be able to foster dogs that have a prior small child history. This is for the protection of your family.
More Information about Fostering
All you need to be a foster home is:
- An appropriate place to keep a dog
- Time to spend with your foster dog
- Patience
- A heart big enough to love a dog that is in the midst of a stressful transition
Many of our rescued Labs are stressed from being in a shelter or having their world turned upside-down. As a foster home, you will watch these stressed and fearful animals relax and become happy again. You will get to meet potential adopters and will have a say in who gets to adopt the dog that you saved.
Many of our dogs need training and extra care while in foster homes. We often perform needed surgeries and our foster parents provide post-operative care. They also sometimes nurse neglected animals back to health. On the other end of the spectrum, some dogs are happy to be out of their current situation from day one. You will see the joy in their faces as they enter your home and realize that their ordeal is over and they are starting a new adventure! Each dog is different. Many are effortless and are an absolute joy to foster and some require more of your time and energy. We respect our foster family wishes and try to only give you a dog that you can handle.
The rescue covers medical expenses of the dogs while in foster care. The foster parents are responsible for providing dog food, treats, and if possible transportation. While in foster care, the dogs remain the property of LRRoF.
Many people are fearful that they will become attached to the dog and it will hurt when the dog is adopted. While this sometimes happens, for most people the knowledge that you gave the dog to a great home is enough to manage those emotions. The only way you will truly know your response is to try. Every dog you save will touch you in a different way.
We don’t treat our foster homes as potential adopters. If you want to adopt a Lab, please fill out the adoption application instead of the fostering application. What we need most in a foster home is someone who is truly dedicated to helping us save the lives of many Labrador Retrievers.