FOSTER A PAWS PUPPY

One of the ways to volunteer for PAWS is to become a Foster Puppy Raiser! This is the first step in enhancing the independence and quality of life for a person living with a disability. Our volunteer Foster Puppy Raisers play a crucial part in our mission by providing future Assistance Dogs with a loving home, care, and basic obedience training.

Foster Puppies will live with volunteers until the pup is old enough to begin formal Assistance Dog training. You do not need training experience to foster a PAWS puppy! Our staff and our community of Foster Puppy Raisers will be here to support you every step of the way.

Responsibilities of a Foster Puppy Raiser

  • Provide a loving home for the puppy
  • Meet the puppy’s daily exercise and nutrition needs
  • Attend monthly training classes provided by your local PAWS Puppy Club or PAWS Headquarters
  • Work on training and basic commands at home
  • Keep the puppy’s vaccinations and heartworm medications up to date
  • Remember that the PAWS Foster Puppy Raiser community is here help! We will share tips and tricks, play dates, homes for puppy-sitting, and adorable photos

FOSTER PUPPY RAISING OPTIONS

Our foster puppies need homes from around the age of 8 weeks to 14-15 months. We know this can be quite a long volunteer commitment for some people, so we have a few Foster Puppy Volunteer options that will enable you to raise a puppy in a way that fits your lifestyle! 

One Household

This is the traditional approach where the puppy stays in one home for 14-15 months. The majority of our Foster Puppy Volunteers currently follow this model. 

Co-Raising

Co-raising is an option where two homes share the puppy for the 14-15 month time commitment. Co-raising has become more and more popular over the last few years.  If this is a Foster Puppy Volunteer option that appeals to you, the quickest and easiest approach is for you to find another volunteer in your area to share the puppy raising experience with. We would encourage you to reach out to friends and family who might be interested in raising with you, but if you cannot find someone, please contact us, and we will do our best to match you with another raiser. 

Every co-raising arrangement works a little differently, but we have found that it’s preferable to share with someone who lives relatively close to you. It’s up to you to work out a schedule with your co-raising partner, and to arrange transferring the puppy between you. Some co-raisers work on a “two weeks on, two weeks off” arrangement, others do weekdays vs weekends. You are able to decide whatever works best for both of your schedules! 

Start or Finish

Do you love tiny baby puppies, but don’t want to or physically can’t deal with an energetic, adolescent puppy? Or do you love the more mature puppies, but potty training isn’t your thing? Or are you a snowbird, but would still like to be involved in puppy raising? If it’s a “yes” to any of those questions, then the start or finish foster puppy volunteer option may be for you.   

If you volunteer to be a Starter Home, you will raise the puppy from 8 weeks of age to around 6 months. As a Finishing Home, the puppy would come to you at around 6 months of age and stay with you until turn-in to PAWS at around 15 months of age. For the Start or Finish options, we will find the raising partner and would coordinate transferring the dog between Starter and Finishing homes. 

The Steps to Becoming a Foster Puppy Raiser

Step 1:

Complete an Application

This is the first step to becoming a Foster Puppy Raiser!

Apply Here

Step 2:

Virtual Information Session

Once you’ve submitted an application, we’ll contact you to sign up for a Virtual Information Session.

Step 3:

Background Check

After attending the Virtual Information Session, you’ll receive a link to complete a background check.

Step 4:

Virtual Home Visit

When we receive the background checks, we’ll then contact you to schedule a Virtual Home Visit.

Step 5:

Pick up Your PAWS Puppy!

After completing these steps, you’ll be able to pick up your PAWS puppy!

Foster Puppy Raiser Basics

  • Puppies are sent home with our Foster Puppy Raisers when they are between 8-12 weeks of age
  • We will provide a crate, collar, leash, dragline, and Paws With A Cause cape
  • Foster Puppy Raisers are responsible for the expense of food and any toys or treats they may purchase for the puppy
  • PAWS is happy to provide an donation acknowledgement letter of puppy raising expenses for tax deductions!

Training

  • Foster Puppy Raisers should attend two monthly training classes (1 hour class) provided by PAWS Headquarters or your local PAWS Puppy Club
    • These classes are held several times each month so that you are able to find at least one per month that fits within your schedule. These classes will go over basic obedience training, public access practice, and puppy management tips, and more.
    • We will also give you access to online training curriculum resources to use at home. The resources include articles and videos going over anything relating to obedience training, canine behavior, and more.
  • Support outside of class is offered in many ways! You can reach out to your puppy club leader, PAWS Training Staff, or one of our many mentors (volunteers who have raised several puppies)
  • Outings are organized by PAWS once every few months as an opportunity to expose foster puppies to new environments

Veterinarian Care

  • Vet care is provided free of charge at PAWS Headquarters! Foster Puppy Raisers will also be able to purchase medications such as flea/tick and heartworm preventatives at cost from PAWS
    • We have also partnered with a Veterinarian in the Southeast Michigan that will provide Veterinary care for PAWS Foster Puppies on the first Tuesday of the month
    • If a Foster Puppy Raiser chooses to utilize their own Veterinarian, the expense would be the raiser’s responsibility

FOSTER PUPPY RAISER FAQS

Is PAWS looking for foster homes in specific locations?

What can I expect after I complete my application?

Why does PAWS require a background check for volunteers?

Can I have other pets in the home?

Is a fenced in yard a requirement?

If I work full time outside the home, can I still raise a puppy?

Do I need to take the puppy everywhere I go?

Can I state a preference for a particular breed or sex of the puppy?

How old do I need to be to raise a puppy?

What equipment will I need for the puppy?

Will I know where the dog ends up?

What happens when I return the puppy to PAWS?

Do all dogs become an Assistance Dog?

Additional Questions?

Please contact Early Puppy Development Coordinator, Lauren Harkema, at lharkema@pawswithacause.org or call (616) 877-7297 ext. 461.

FOSTER PUPPY RAISER LOG-IN

Foster Puppy Raisers Log-in