foster a golden

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The most common reasons for giving up golden retrievers are:

• Not enough time to care for the dog.
• Someone in the family is allergic or develops significant health problems.
• The owner dies.
• The family moves into a house or apartment that does not allow companion animals.
• The dog escapes or has other behavior issues.

A foster family is an individual or family who is willing to temporarily allow a golden retriever to live with them until a permanent home can be found.

Foster families need to be willing to provide a safe and loving environment for a dog who may be very confused. Goldens are fun-loving, trusting and can be mischievous. Foster families need to be willing to have fun, provide structure, teach manners, if necessary, take the dog to the vet, if needed, and allow prospective adopters the opportunity to meet their temporary golden. Of course golden retrievers need to be primarily house dogs as they want to be part of the family. Some young dogs may need to go to a foster family whose yard is fenced to allow the dog to get needed exercise.

To become a foster family, either click on the button below to submit your application online or download the Foster Application here .  Then either email it to foster@grrsm.org or send via USPS to Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Maryland, PO Box 6, Great Mills, MD 20634. We ask that you complete the application to ensure the best fit possible between your family and a dog.  We’ll visit your home to answer any questions you may have.*

When GRRSM is contacted to take in a dog that needs a temporary home, we’ll contact you to see if you are available.

*COVID-19 Restrictions are currently in place and all home visits will be conducted virtually.  You will need to have a good internet connection and the ability to show us around your home, both up and down, as well as your front & back yard and fence area.

What if we fall in love with our foster dog and want to adopt?  You can!  Ask your home visitor about our “Foster to Adopt” Program!

Many people say that, but the question is How can you NOT foster and risk a beautiful and kind golden could be taken to Tricounty Animal Shelter?

Foster families can rest assured that Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Maryland is only going to adopt to exemplary families. That doesn’t mean a family has to live in a mansion to qualify to adopt, but it means we feel so good about a prospective adoptive family that we would let our own golden retrievers live there.

That’s the beauty of fostering a golden retriever, there are virtually no monetary costs! Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Maryland provides vet care, flea and heart worm preventative and even food!

The length of time a dog stays with a foster family varies. Every effort is made to adopt dogs to permanent homes as quickly as possible. Young, healthy dogs are typically adopted within a month. Older, special needs dogs take longer.

Download our Foster Family Guide which  provides a detailed description of what’s involved in fostering a golden along with helpful information on how to care for your foster dog.

If you have questions about fostering email our Foster Coordinator at foster@grrsm.org or call 855-477-3728.