At KGR we are lucky enough to have a small team of foster homes available to us. Let us explain the important role foster homes play within KGR.
The majority of our dogs arrive from Ireland. Some of them have raced but some are just youngsters that have never raced. This could be due to them not being fast enough, having an injury or maybe just broken and shut down. A few come from trainers and owners looking to find them a loving home. The one thing all of these dogs have in common is they are only used to life in kennels. So in an ideal world KGR would love for all of our dogs to go straight into a foster home but it’s just not possible.
We prioritise who is most in need of a foster home. Over the past few years we’ve had a number of dogs arrive with deformities and breaks that need fixing. These dogs are urgent cases.
The foster homes do an amazing job in caring for these dogs and helping with their rehabilitation. Vet trips, wound maintenance, maybe crate rest and medication are all part of the journey back to health for these dogs and to put them on the path to a forever home. Complete rehabilitation!
Then we have the totally shut down dogs, the scared dogs, the worried dogs. They stick themselves to the back of the kennel wall or won’t even look at you when they arrive. Total fear pouring out of them.
Once they get into foster, they hopefully start to turn the corner. They start to understand that the world isn’t quite such a bad place and it’s a real joy to see them start to flourish. At present Tom, Roberto and Olivio are examples of this. A few of you may remember Moher and Riber also. These precious dogs slowly start to turn the corner, it can take lots of time and patience. In fact Tom has been in his foster home for 6 months and took a biscuit treat from foster mums hand for the first time this week! Well done Tom. ???? Roberto has only been in his foster home a couple of weeks and he has totally changed already and showing a cheeky side! ???? Olivio came from Spain and this timid little lad has been on holiday to Wales. ????
Then we have the golden oldies, mainly bitches that have been used for breeding. At the age of 5, 6, 7 or 8 it’s about time these gentle hounds had a home to reside in whilst they wait for their loving forever family. They normally settle very quickly and love the luxury of a warm home for the first time!
The same goes for the few puppies that turn up. Kennels definitely isn’t the right environment for them. Puppies are a totally different ball game though as anyone knows who’s had a puppy. Lots of patience required.
Then of course we have the regular greyhounds ( and sometimes other pointy noses or those who pretend to be and are lucky enough to find a rescue space!). Remember these dogs have only ever known a kennel so they may need house training. They will need to learn about washing machines, vacuum cleaners, televisions, slippy floors, all sorts of appliances and of course sofas! (They normally like sofas the best ????)
They will encounter traffic, people, other breeds of dogs of differing, size, shape and hair style! Noisy children and people, food smells among lots of other things.
However it’s not always easy being a foster parent. You WILL get attached and probably shed a few tears when your foster dog departs for their new life. That being said YOU have played a very important and valued role in setting up your foster doggo for a life in their forever home. The life they have been always waiting for. The end goal essentially.
The advantage for any prospective owner looking at dogs in foster is that a lot of the hard work has been done for you already, also you have an idea of what they are like in the real world.
We are really grateful and thankful for all of our foster families.
If you think you could be one of our fabulous foster team then please visit our website to apply.
www.kentgreyhoundrescue.com