TRI-STATE BASSET HOUND RESCUE
FOSTERING PROGRAM

One of the critical volunteer positions for any rescue is the foster home. Foster families provide a home environment while evaluating the basset's personality and behavior around other dogs and pets, adults, and children. By observing and reporting on the Basset's personality, attitude and temperament, the foster home is able to help our adoption coordinators place the hound in the right home.

A foster basset may be in the foster home for any period of time from a couple of days to several months, depending upon the age of the basset, the time of year, the amount of eligible adoptive families, and the general temperament and health of the dog.

Many of the hounds need help in some ways, whether it is with house-training, separation anxiety, shyness, jumping on people or just plain house manners. While not expected to handle serious problems, the foster home cam help train the hound to become a better pet and more adoptable. We also have a professional trainer who will assist you in helping the dog through any difficult stage.

Tri-State pays for necessary medical expenses such as vaccinations, heartworm testing, spaying or neutering. Foster homes provide the basset with the essentials such as food and water, but also provide the patience and love these homeless hounds desperately need. Should an emergency arise, such as if the hound displays signs of bloat, gastric hemorrhaging, or a severe laceration, the foster home should seek immediate vet care for the hound and contact Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue’s adoption or foster home coordinators as soon as possible (before taking the dog to the vet, if able to do so without putting the dog at risk.) The medical expenses will be paid for by TSBHR.

Becoming a foster home is very similar to being screened for adopting a Basset. Potential foster homes are requested to complete an application similar to the one that our adopters do. Once the application has been approved by our foster home coordinator, a fostering contract is signed with TSBHR. The foster application can be submitted online by clicking here, or it can be downloaded and printed for mailing by clicking on one of the buttons at the bottom of the page. If you have trouble downloading and printing one of them, please call or email us with your mailing address and we’ll gladly put one into the mail for you.

Some people are hesitant to foster because it is easy to grow attached to a rescue Basset and it can be hard to see them leave. So what is the worst thing that can happen? You might have another wonderful addition to your family and you will have given your foster the gift of lifetime love and a permanent home. There are many of us who have "failed" fostering by adopting a Basset that we fostered. That's not such a bad thing.

Although letting your foster go to their forever home can be difficult, there's nothing more satisfying than seeing them again at the BoardWaddle or other TSBHR functions healthy, happy and loved. It's a great feeling to know that you played such an important role in that dog's life ... not to mention the joy you helped to bring into their new family’s lives!

We recognize that bringing a new dog into your home is a big step that requires thoughtful consideration and commitment. Thank you for taking the time to explore the possibility of fostering a needy Basset. Please feel free to contact volunteer@tristatebassets.org if you have any additional questions.