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Facts on Fostering

If you have always wanted to do something abou the horrific euthenasaia rate at the shelters, but have not felt you were ready for a dog full time, fostering presents an opportunity to save lives on an ongoing basis.

1. The Commitment
   Emotional: It takes a very special person to open their hearts to one of these dogs, to love and nurture them for a period of time, and then give them up when their new permanent home is found.
   Financial: Bill Foundation will continue to provide for the dog’s expenses, including medical, food, grooming and supplies.
   Time: We ask for a minimum of a two week period. Are you a teacher, a studio employee, an actor or someone who has time available occasionally? If you can handle the responsibility of a dog, a few weeks makes a huge difference.
   Foster to Adopt: This is a special BF catagory. If you are a prospective first time dog owner and are not really sure you’re ready for the responsibility, or have other pets and want to make sure that the new dog is compatable, a “foster to adopt” is a great opportunity to share your home without the long term commitment of a permanent adoption. See more on Foster to Adopt.
2. Application to Foster
   Just go to our adoption application and make sure to check the “foster” box. Fill out application now.
3. Agreement to Foster
   This delineates the responsibilites of both Bill Foundation and those of the foster home. Click here to see the Agreement to Foster.
4. Home Check
   As with our adoption process, we also do a home check. If it is a house, we look for a safe environment such as a fenced yard free of debris and harmful areas. If you live in an apartment, please remember many dogs, and not just small ones, do very well in an apartment. However, time does become a factor for apartment dwellers and fostering should only be considered if your schedule allows enough time to take the dog out on a regular schedule.
5. Emotional Support & Socialization
   We ask that you give your foster the emotional support necessary to help them transition through this phase. Often this involves helping to socialize them, making them feel more secure and good about themselves (see Joys of Fostering). In short, we ask that your foster becomes part of your family. 
6. Personality Observations/Medical Issues information to us
   Help us update your foster dog’s bio with information such as: Are they housebroken? OK with cats? Likes other dogs or perfers to be an only dog? The more we get to know about the rescue through the observations of the foster parent, the better the chance of a successful forever home.
7. Help, I’ve fallen in love!
   Fosters have the “first right of refusal.”  We would never accept an application for a dog who is fostered without first discussing the placement with their foster.
8. Congratulate yourself
   It is easy to say “I want to help” or “I’d like to take them all” but by taking ONE needy dog into your home, you are making the difference between life and death. Your commitment creates a space for us to take another dog out of the shelter. Thank you.

Phone: (310) 860-0171
Fax: (310) 860-9362
PO Box 5202
Beverly Hills, CA 90209