Day in the Life of a Dog Foster Parent: Foster Diaries

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to foster a dog for the Humane Society of Utah? Join us to explore what a typical day in the life of a dog foster may look like!

Rise and Shine!

When you think of the morning, events such as preparing a nice breakfast, brewing a pot of coffee, or going for an early hours jog may come to mind. Sans the coffee (can you imagine the chaos of a puppy who’s had caffeine?!), many of these activities may overlap for your foster dog!

AM’s in the life include feeding your foster dog breakfast, taking a potty break, and maybe going for a nice walk. One luxury foster pups have that we humans often do not is the option to take a mid-morning snooze. This may also play a part in your morning routine.

Puppy fosters in particular may experience some variety as their foster dogs grow up. Liz Fonua, a longtime HSU foster, explains.

“The needs of the pup are always evolving. So, if we have tiny puppies that are still growing, they nap so much in the beginning, but between weeks 6-8 before they are ready for adoption, they become fun little terrors as they chomp, chew, and need more play time.”

Afternoons in the Life of an HSU Foster

The middle portion of the day is often somewhat less structured. Afternoons may fluctuate based on your schedule and the needs of your foster. Activities may include playtime, naps, potty breaks, or even adventures like going on a hike together.

In some cases, a hybrid foster program may be available. One HSU foster, Misty Johnson, speaks to this:

“Our last foster had pretty bad separation anxiety, so after a week of leaving her home alone while I went to work, I called and worked out a plan to drop her off in the morning and pick her up after work,” Misty said. “It worked out perfectly for me since I work near by, and it worked out perfectly for her with her separation anxiety. She was so excited to see me every day when I picked her back up from HSU.”

Fostering can also be a family affair. Liz explained how fostering has helped her teach her teenagers valuable life skills.

“Anytime we are considering taking a new foster into our home, I am able to have a discussion with my children about the dog, the needs, and what we anticipate the responsibilities each person will need to take on in order to make it work will be,” Liz said. “This communication has been a good skill for my children to learn; to evaluate a situation and what would be expected of them before saying yes or no.”

“It has been amazing to see my children become comfortable with giving medication, recognizing needs through behaviors, sacrificing by getting up early or staying up late, and snuggling doggos in need of safety and comfort. It’s been an amazing launch pad for us to teach. We’ve had 83 fosters to date and each and every one has had different needs.”

Winding Down

As the sun begins to set, evenings offer an opportunity for both you and your foster pup to wind down after the day. In addition to tasks such as giving any necessary medications, you may develop a routine to get to know your foster dog’s personality.

“Generally, we work on socialization that will prepare foster dogs to be able to be adopted into a variety of homes,” Liz said. “We touch their toe beans, tug on the tails, play with their ears, get our faces close to give kisses, and engage in all the sensory types of activities we can to help them be ready for their forever home.”

“If there are behaviors or traits that we notice, we communicate those to the foster team so it can be added to the notes to help ensure that when they are adopted, it is the best fit for both the doggo and the humans.”

Once your nighttime routine is complete, it’s time to settle in for a good night’s rest! You can sleep easy knowing your day of hard work will make a true difference in the life of your foster pup!

Why Foster?

Although a day in the life of a foster parent may vary, the impact fostering makes is life changing!

“Seeing the pups grow in the ways they need is my favorite part,” Liz said. “For the littles, it’s all their firsts, like climbing stairs or starting to roam the yard further away from the safety of the pack. For other dogs, its mourning from surrender or the shock of an unexpected injury that changed their lives. It is hard work and sometimes inconvenient, but to see the dogs learn to trust us and find safety in human care is such a precious experience.”

We asked Liz and Misty what they would say to someone considering becoming a foster, and if they had any advice for newbies.

“Do it!” Liz said. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions and find a niche for where you can help. You can fill a need without having to fill all the needs.”

“Fostering is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done, but it is very hard to let a pet go when they’re ready to be adopted,” Misty said. “All of the employees at HSU are amazing and do everything they can to make your foster experience enjoyable. They check in on you and the animal often. They ask how they’re doing, offer training classes, swimming classes, food, toys, collars, etc. I absolutely love HSU and all of the employees and will forever continue fostering and adopting from them.”

Eager to explore what your own foster day in the life entails? Submit your foster application today at utahhumane.org/foster!