If you are interested in fostering an IG for us- we provide all medical expenses and stay connected with you during the foster experience. What you provide is lots of TLC, food, and a patient and understanding environment for iggies that come from all kinds of backgrounds. Sometimes we do not know what a particular IG's needs are until the foster home has spent some time with him or her. If you are not familiar with the breed, we will help with that too, and will attempt to place an IG with a known background as your first foster dog. Our wonderful volunteer and foster home base is a wealth of knowledge and support.
All adopters are thoroughly screened by our Adoption Application team, as are our volunteers, and once the adopter is approved we start looking for IGs in our program that are a good fit for their lifestyle. Foster parents are always involved in the selection of adopters for their fostered IG-after all...you know them best! We take much pride in our adoption success rates. Last year we placed close to 100 IGs in safe loving homes across the states of Texas and Oklahoma. Many of our adopters stay connected with the group by becoming volunteers themselves or joining us for IG play dates and events that happen regularly during the year. That is always a special bonus for foster families.
A little more info about us:
We are a 501(c)3 non-profit VOLUNTEER organization that rescues and re-homes Italian Greyhounds in need. We operate here in Texas and Oklahoma as part of a National group affiliated with the Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation. All of our IGs live as part of a family until they are adopted-there is no boarding facility where one can go 'meet them all.' There are 2 primary Representatives for Texas, and 1 for Oklahoma. Texas is so big, and we have so many IGs in Rescue here, that we had to split into 2 territories. The 2 branches for Texas are run out of Dallas-Ft Worth and Houston.
Getting Started:
There are a couple of applications that will need to be completed to foster. The volunteer application is very general and just addresses in which areas you are most interested in helping, however, the foster application is more detailed and identical to our application to adopt. If you are interested in fostering we will need the volunteer application and the foster application completed.
Once we receive your applications we will begin processing them as soon as possible-this includes checking your references and coming out to visit with you in your home. We also have a great phone chat to fill you in on foster home expectations, find out what your expectations and questions are, and to do some breed education. Once approved, you will receive our 'foster home guide.' It is full of all sorts of wonderful and helpful information for reference along the way. You will also be granted access to our Volunteer YaHoo group-this is where we communicate needs within our Rescue community and share tips and advice between volunteers.
When it is time to place a foster in your home, we will stay engaged with you throughout the entire experience. We are always available for support and assistance, and have several avenues of communication for your convenience.
There is also a great need for folks to help temporarily foster/vacation foster our rescued IGs-this would require you to complete applications and get approved to foster as well.
PLEASE NOTE- DUE TO TRAGIC YET PREVENTABLE ITALIAN GREYHOUND DROWNING DEATHS, WE ARE NO LONGER PROCESSING ADOPTION APPLICATIONS OR FOSTER APPLICATIONS FOR ANY HOME WITH A DOG DOOR THAT LEADS TO AN AREA WITH AN UNFENCED POOL. If you have plans to permanently secure your pool with a fence or other acceptable barrier, we will be happy to process your application when that is complete. For further details about IGs and pool safety, please click the IG Safety tab above.
Please be sure to fill out a Foster Application AND a Volunteer Application. Both are required for Foster homes.
A Poem To My Foster Dog
I am the bridge
Between what was and what can be.
I am the pathway to a new life.
I am made of mush,
Because my heart melted when I saw you,
Matted and sore, limping, depressed,
Lonely, unwanted, afraid to love.
For one little time you are mine.
I will feed you with my own hand
I will love you with my whole heart
I will make you whole.
I am made of steel.
Because when the time comes,
When you are well, and sleek,
When your eyes shine,
And your tail wags with joy
Then comes the hard part.
I will let you go - not without a tear,
But without a regret.
For you are safe forever -
A new dog needs me now.
by Diane Morgan/Copyright 1999
Why We Do It
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