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!
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?
PAWS places puppies across Michigan as well as Chicago and Phoenix. We place puppies in locations where the required monthly training class is offered. Foster Puppy Raisers can attend training classes at PAWS National Headquarters in Wayland, MI, or we have puppy clubs providing classes in the following locations:
- Ada
- Muskegon
- Ludington
- Lansing
- Saginaw
- Grand Haven
- Kalamazoo
- Novi
- Belleville
We also provide classes in Phoenix, AZ and Chicago, IL. Puppy Raisers are required to attend a PAWS class at least once per month so we can help identify and solve problems along the way.
What can I expect after I complete my application?
Once you’ve completed the Foster Puppy Raiser Application, a PAWS Representative will contact you to schedule a Virtual Foster Puppy Information Session. After the information session, a link will be provided for a criminal background check. When we receive the background check, we will then schedule a Virtual Home Visit to help you prepare your home for a puppy. After the virtual visit, you will be able to pick up your puppy!
Why does PAWS require a background check for volunteers?
PAWS requires a criminal background check on all foster puppy raisers and any members of the household that are over 18 years. This is to ensure there is a safe environment for our puppies, staff, and volunteers. When making a decision whether or not to allow service by a prospective volunteer with a criminal history, PAWS will consider:
- The nature and gravity of the offense or conduct
- The time that has passed since the offense/conduct and/or the sentence
- The nature of the volunteer position sought
Important Documents:
Background Check Policy FAQ
Fair Credit Reporting Act – Summary of Rights
Background Screening Authorization Form
Can I have other pets in the home?
Yes, other pets are welcome in the home while raising a PAWS puppy! However, other dogs must be at least one year of age and there cannot be more than three other dogs in the home.
Is a fenced in yard a requirement?
No, but anyone without a fenced yard should use secure tie out or be able to leash walk the puppy for break times. PAWS dogs are not allowed to run free unless they are in a completely fenced area to ensure the dog’s safety. We do not allow raisers to use an invisible fence with the puppy.
If I work full time outside the home, can I still raise a puppy?
Yes, most PAWS Foster Puppy Raisers do work full-time outside the home! For the first couple months, arrangements would need to be made to let the puppy outside. There are lots of ways to make this work—some people choose to stop by home at lunch, or they arrange for a trusted friend or neighbor to let the puppy out.
If your workplace allows it, you may also take the puppy to work with you when it is older. In this setting, the puppy would need to wear their cape and practice good manners.
Do I need to take the puppy everywhere I go?
No, we prefer that Foster Puppy Raisers take their time bringing puppies into public spaces. Puppies should be gradually exposed to energetic settings by starting in quieter spaces before getting out in more heavily trafficked spaces.
Can I state a preference for a particular breed or sex of the puppy?
PAWS breeds and trains Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and a mix of the 2 breeds. We also occasionally have litters of Standard Poodles or Papillons. While we are happy to accommodate your preferences, but please be aware that you may need to wait longer for a puppy depending on what litters we have at that time.
How old do I need to be to raise a puppy?
We have Foster Puppy Raisers of all ages! All raisers under the age of 18 must have the consent and support of their parents or guardians.
What equipment will I need for the puppy?
PAWS provides a crate, collar, leash, drag line and a small bag of food to get you started. Foster Puppy Raisers will need to provide a food and water bowl for the puppy, and we strongly recommend that you pick up a large size Kong and Nylabone for your puppy to help satisfy chewing urges! We are happy to help you find toys and equipment that are right for your puppy.
Will I know where the dog ends up?
Yes! PAWS will keep the Foster Puppy Raiser updated as their dog goes through the training process until they reach their final placement.
What happens when I return the puppy to PAWS?
We will schedule an Intake Day, which is usually the first Monday of the month. Returning the puppy is hard, but it helps to remember that your puppy is going to go on to change someone’s life. We hope you take pride in your work helping them reach this milestone.
When the puppies come back to PAWS, we have a crew of volunteers waiting to welcome them! Volunteers snuggle the puppies, play with them, spoil them with cookies, and help them get acclimated to their new program. The returning puppies also receive a complete physical from the Veterinary Staff, have a spa day with the groomers, and play outside with new friends. During this time, the PAWS Training Team starts their evaluations to decide what career is suitable for the the dog.
Within two weeks of their arrival at PAWS, most dogs will enter one of PAWS’ five prison programs for further training. The assigned inmate handlers and our Prison Coordinator will continue working on the training curriculum and help solidify the skills the puppy learned with their raiser. The puppies remain in the prison program for 4–5 months, then return to PAWS to continue with the training process.
Do all dogs become an Assistance Dog?
An Assistance Dog career is not always the best fit for all dogs. It’s our goal to place each dog in a career that fits their skills, abilities, and interests. This can include working as a Facility Dog or a arson, explosive, or electronic detection dog.
Additional Questions?
Please contact PAWS National Foster Puppy Coordinator, Julie Thorington, at jthorington@pawswithacause.org or call (616) 877-7297 ext. 451.