NEARR

Thinking about fostering a dog? Wondering if NEARR is the right group for you? Take a moment to look over our the information below. Fostering a dog gives a dog a second chance to find a safe, loving home. At NEARR we strive to place dogs both in foster and forever homes based on matching lifestyles. In order to do so, we need a wide variety of foster homes. If you would like to apply to foster a dog, please contact us.

Madison and Gabriel love sharing their home with a NEARR dog!

Why Foster?

Ever wonder why someone would open their home to a strange dog? Below are some testimonials from some wonderful people who help NEARR.

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NEARR Foster Policies

Foster families can not adopt their foster dog. When you become an approved foster home for NEARR, you are not only providing a valuable service to NEARR, but also to our adopters. Some of these adopters have been waiting patiently for months to adopt that perfect NEARR dog.

Foster homes interested in adopting a NEARR dog can apply for other dogs in the program.

Foster families must provide updates on the dog. The foster mom/dad is the foster dog's "expert." By providing regular updates, the adoption team can better find the perfect home.

What NEARR Provides for Foster Homes

All pre-authorized veterinary care for the foster dog and reimbursements for vet care during dog's stay.
Assistance in reading the foster dog's behavior and reactions to various situations.
Assistance in transporting dog to Meet The Dog events (when necessary).
Support and aid for any and all questions you have along the way.
A crate (when necessary).

Basic Requirements for Fostering a Dog

You will need to provide: food, collar, leash, and dog dishes for foster dog.
If you do not own your home, you need your landlord's written permission to have a foster dog in your home. You also need written permission from roommates.
Some foster dogs will require fenced-in area. This depends entirely on the foster dog's personality and training.
Your own dogs must be neutered/spayed and friendly with other dogs. It is recommended that your dogs be vaccinated for transmissible diseases such as Kennel Cough.
A commitment to help! The average placement time for a dog is 1-3 months. Please make notes of any special occasions/out of town plans at the time of your application.

For more information about fostering, contact our Foster Coordinator at foster@nearr.com.

Contacting the NEARR Foster Group

• Fill out the Foster form
• Leave a message at the NEARR voice mailbox: (617)-824-4278
• For questions, contact the Foster Coordinator

Foster Tails

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I began fostering as a way of getting a yellow lab (hoping I would be able to adopt one that came my way). Oddly enough, I did not have one in my home until several other labbies had crossed my threshold. I had my share of older, shaggy relics that were so full of love and life that it was easy to continue on with fostering.

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NEARR is a well organized community of people who really care so much about these dogs. I have found that since becoming a foster home, I am part of a fun and educational community of people who are as devoted to these four legged friends as I am. I appreciate the time, effort and process that goes into placing each dog, to ensure the best possible placement.

It has been a great learning experience and everyone has enjoyed having and extra buddy around. I have to admit I didn't expect to get quite so attached so quickly. I currently have my first foster dog and am really going to have a tough time saying goodbye to him when he moves on. But the fact that I know he will be going to a well-researched, loving family and home, makes it a little easier. I also realized that I did need to take some measures to maintain a sense of "normalcy" for the pets I already have, as they adjusted to this new house guest, who sometimes demands extra attention.

My current foster has required some extra visits to the vet, as well as some research and extra attention. I have completely enjoyed this experience. It has given me a chance to learn a lot more about dogs and actually get to know this dog a little better. We have become good friends with our vet, who has taken a special interest in him. She frequently calls to ask after him and offer literature to check out or suggestions. Although he has required a little more time and energy, I really have enjoyed the experience. And now that we are solving some of his problems, I really have a great sense of accomplishment, knowing that I am helping him to have a better, more comfortable life in his new forever home.

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I started fostering for two reasons. First, because I really wanted to adopt a third lab and there was some disagreement in the family about that. Second, because I had recently learned about puppy mills and could not look at my two angelic Lab puppies without wondering what their mother had go through n order for me to get them. Was she locked in a little crate all day long? How many of their siblings died on the way to the pet store? I figured if I helped other unwanted retrievers, I might start sleeping again.

I keep fostering because after our first foster dog, I was hooked. Foster dogs are a gift. They are so grateful! In most cases, they have behaved better than my dogs! Most of our fosters have been special needs dogs. Through them I have learned the value of perseverance. We've had a dog who had such bad itching, she never was able to sleep through the night. Imagine! Every minute or every day (and night) having a horrible itch that never stopped and you have no way to alleviate the pain without literally ripping your skin off! Yet she kept fighting and trusting in the people around her. When she finally responded to treatment (she had food allergies), her personality was able to come out.

I was honored to have played a part in making her life better. And that's why we continue to foster.

NOTE: Fosters can opt to take special needs dogs or not.

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I foster because I feel that every dog deserves a chance to be happy, healthy and loved. I try to make each dog I come across feel welcome and loved, whether it is my own dog, a foster dog, or simply a dog I meet while walking my own. Labs and other retriever breeds hold a special place in my heart. Being raised in a Southern family that has always had various packs of hunting dogs around, you could say that my father's Labs were my earliest playmates! They were gentle and protective of me as a young child and they were faithful and true. As I grew, I always had a Lab by my side. Beagles, Cockers and Coons were also around, but it was the Labs that found the special place in my heart. Big, goofy, over-grown children looking for hugs, kisses, love and an extra treat wherever they can find one. Sloppy drinks from the bowl led to a trail of water on the floor and big, wet sloppy kisses. The big trail of fur on the couch that was off limits, but became the place of vivid puppy dreams when their people weren't around. A full-body hug at the first sign of a tear. Seriously, what's not to love about these furry friends?

NEARR is a safe haven for retriever breeds in need. All types of circumstances can place a dog into a situation where it is in need. The death of an owner, behavioral problems, special needs like blindness, divorce, lack of owner commitment and abandonment are a few of the reasons that the group sees on a regular basis. NEARR places each dog with a foster home that can help it adjust and function as a good canine citizen. Special care is made to make sure that the dog's needs are being met. The foster families bring the dogs into their lives and give them all that they need and they help place them in the best possible forever home. Foster families also provide support after adoption. As a foster parent, know that I have done what I can to make the world a better place for my canine friends. I feel good about the help I give.

Each foster dog comes with a unique set of experiences, personality traits and challenges. Chance came to use after having been in a kennel for 6 months. He was friendly, outgoing and ready to be a part of a family. He was somewhat unsure of himself when he got to our house. He was greeted by another Lab that outweighed him by several pounds and an American Eskimo puppy that, at the time, was 7 lbs of testosterone induced terror. He adjusted nicely and by the end of the day it felt as if he had been with us forever. During the first week we found out that he had some things we needed to work on. He liked to be clean and would jump into the bathtub if he felt he needed grooming. That would be great most of the time, but when your 6 year old is in the tub up to her neck in Power Puff Girls Strawberry scented bubbles, it can be a problem.

Bill was somewhat unsure about being a foster family and went into it declaring that he could never get attached to a dog in a short time and treat it as well as his own dogs. Well, you would be surprised. Chance won him over within days and when Chance went to his forever family, Bill is the one that got the most upset. He couldn't come upstairs and see him off when he left. He moped for a few days because his buddy was gone. At one point during Chance's foster stay, Bill had suggested adopting him, but I reminded him that NEARR doesn't place foster dogs into forever homes with their foster families.

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Jonathan & I are VERY new to fostering, but I wanted to tell you how great the experience has been. Your ideas about fosters communicating with each other is a good one. I imagine we would have lots of things in common.