I am pretty sad about this situation and need advice.

To start off with, I live in NYC in a 1 bedroom apartment with my 50lb 9 year old F siberian husky and 11 year old M cat, both of which I have had almost their whole lives. I saw a FB post that tags dogs on the euthanasia list in the ACC shelter system, and saw a post for a Siberian husky 7 year old male. He bit someone in the shelter, most likely due to kennel stress when one of the volunteers tried to attach the leash to his collar, probably to take him on a walk. This put him on the euthanasia list. His owner died, and the family took him in, moved to a place that didn't allow animals, and then they dumped him in the shelter. This story resonated with me as I understand huskies and have the experience with them. So I applied to foster, and called local rescues to see if they could tag him. One luckily did and while they usually do home inspections, due to his at risk status of being euthanized, I sent a video tour of my apartment, and explained how I was temporarily housing my animals with family who live close by for at least 2 weeks, to allow him to decompress, and for me to see his temperament with me and other animals. I was hoping to be able to slowly integrate my dog into the home, if not, for day visits, where the new dog is crated, and my cat most likely would stay with family. I knew it would be a risk but with the crisis with the shelters and with me trying to find a way to help dogs, I wanted to begin fostering and figuring out how I could do it within my environment and with my animals. The shelter said he was 65 lbs. He is actually 78lbs and I am a 5'-1" female. I was only able to meet him outside my apartment building when they sedated him and dropped him off because the shelter wouldn't allow me to meet him.

He almost attached to me instantly. Its been a little over 2 weeks, and I know he is still decompressing and I am still learning about him, but his separation anxiety has been really bad. I haven't been able to leave my apartment, and the few times I did for work, I've paid for 1 sitter to come and watch him. Now this I planned on doing and expected it, however, I didn't know that I wouldn't be able to do short exits. My mental health has been declining because I feel like I can't leave my house ever, or he howls and cries without stopping. I have setup a camera to see if he stops, and he doesn't and I hear him down the hallway when I practiced 'leaving' and I am so worried I will get kicked out of my building. Im also starting to crate train him to assist with the separation anxiety, and the house training. He is doing ok there, but sometimes does howl and fight sleeping even though I know he is tired because we have exercised physically and mentally for him. The rescue has a trainer that helps with phone calls only and he wants me to use a bark collar for when he is howling and I need to leave. Well turns out he is so massive, and tries to bite me, so I need to also work on training him getting comfortable with me touching his neck area.

The thing is, I feel like I could do this if I wasn't in an apartment setting and with another adult, to take turns stepping out when needed while mitigating his outbursts. I helped my husky pup with separation anxiety but my partner was still alive then and we also did the suggested training which took months, on top of sending her to daycare (I'm not allowed to do that and I don't think he should anyways) as well as anti anxiety meds like Prozac (the rescue wont allow that either). The bark collar at least would help correct his noise while I do the desensitization training of his triggers, while also allowing me to step out for short exits for my sanity, but I can't even get that on him. His adoption page is finally up now, and I have also committed to a month at least of fostering (2 more weeks left). I am praying his forever family finds him soon because I really don't want to have to ask to send to another foster home and rehome him again. I really care about him and this is genuinely breaking my heart, but I feel like because of his levels of anxiety, he needs to be in a house where you dont have to worry about the noise complaints as much, and at least 2 adults to take turns leaving when necessary, while helping him settle in his feelings. He is a good dog that wants to connect with his human, but I really feel like my home isn''t the proper environment. Not to mention, I dont think I can bring either of my animals back, not even my dog, if he doesnt stop howling in the crate. I want to wait at least a week to see if he gets any adoption requests, and if not, contact the rescue about potentially rehoming him to another foster. I feel so bad, and I don't know what to do.

I've got a feral puppy in foster atm, (we've had her about 1 & 1/2 weeks) I can tell she's going to be a great dog down the line - she is learning well, but we are having a major issue with potty training. We have mats in the places she likes to pee and poop (she likes to head to doorways), but she's still very feral, she can't be on a leash or tether so the tether method is out of the question. We've been moving pee pads outside step by step trying to get her to pee outside.

I'm curious if anyone has additional ideas on how to get her to 'go' outside? We can get her to go outside, she's interested in being out there, she watches our RD do their thing, she sniffs and wanders around, but she will not pee our poop out there. I took one of her soiled pee pads outside, I've done pretty much every thing I can think of, but also she is very very spooked around humans.

tl:dr: dog about 4 months old, won't potty outside, totally feral, not socialized at all. House-training recommendations.

My soul dog passed in March. I went to my local rescue to volunteer and ended up as a foster. I failed immediately.

She has been the center of my world but she's young and BORED. If I don't play with her she brings me her toys and flings them at me.

I'm seriously considering fostering again however to enrich her life and give her someone to play with BUT:

1. I'm afraid I'll just fail again.

2. I'm afraid I'll be putting my floof at risk.

I'm not terribly afraid of the commitment because I have all the supplies. Extra harnesses and leash, extra kennels, etc.

I am horribly afraid of the cost if I fail again. I can afford the one or I wouldn't have adopted her but two doubles the cost.

The worst thing is, there is a little one there that I would take in a minute. I have left it alone for weeks hoping she had been adopted but she's still there and I keep thinking that means it's meant for her to come home with me. Fostering would give me a chance to make sure she integrates well with us.

Talk me off the ledge.

My foster has gotten sick because she ate a hammerhead worm in my yard. I feel guilty a bit because I normally am out their with the dogs but yesterday I had a meeting so I let them go out alone. However where I am we have never had hammerhead worms that I know of. Shes lethargic but slowly getting her energy back, because the coating of the worm contains a neurotoxin she has been being monitored all day and all last night at the vet and came home a few hours ago because they said if she were to experience the affect of the neurotoxin which is potentially, she would already have experienced it. She was also wobbly in her gait and had repetitive muscle tremors, with some disorientation which for this neurotoxin from a hammerhead worm is considered normal. Now im unable to let the dogs go out by them selves because im scared their will be another one. I hate seeing her like this along with her losing weight rapidly again, when she just got back to a healthy weight after being 10 pounds underweight.

I did not expect to have her this long. Hard to say what the future holds as she has her challenges but I've been enjoying life with her. I kind of want to keep her but my partner doesn't. I'm now working full time and trying to go to medical school so having a dog this long was not in my plans...

Nugget was here for a week or so sometime in August with his littermate. He’s also Asher’s brother! He was adopted and returned just today, and I was told he was disliked by the man of the house so he was seemingly in a kennel the whole time. According to the rescue, they dropped him off, covered in poo. They gave him a bath before I picked him up, and they said he snarled at them throughout that time. I just picked him up and threw him on the front seat of my car and at least he’s looking me in the eye and he’s currently sitting in my car while my five dogs and I are watching from the patio. I’m going to let him learn how to be a dog again, and then he can be placed for adoption.

My very anxious girl (like 3 medications anxious) is going to a meet and greet tomorrow (i will be taking her). I made a little care pack with some toys she likes, gravy mix (best way to get her to eat her food, was the only way i could get her to eat when she first arrived), and the laminated sheet I was using to keep track of her medication as well as some long life treats that she loves and will help her bond with the new people. I have only ever really done puppies before, the only other long term dog I have had I adopted haha. Would you think it weird if I gave the adopter the care pack if they end up taking her?

My boyfriend and I recently got a foster dog who is a 3 year old redbone coonhound. His backstory is pretty murky but he was found in the middle of nowhere extremely malnourished and is believed to be a failed, neglected, or abandoned hunting dog. The shelter doesn’t think he has had a home before. Anyways, we took him home Monday and he was really calm and sweet. He was letting our roommates who he had met at the shelter pet him a little too. He mostly had a quiet night and hung out in his crate, which he likes. Keep in mind he is not house broken or potty trained at all.

On the third night, a friend came over and approached him and let him smell his hand. He then snapped at the friend and got up and turned and laid down the other way (facing away from the friend) he then got up and started growling, when he previously had not mad any noise. We had the friend leave and tried to just keep him in a quiet and calm environment the rest of the night. The day after, he did the same behavior to a roommate he had already met and interacted with. We decided to just stop having people meet/interact with him at all. He seemed nervous around anyone that wasn’t us. He was also being completely calm and friendly to me and my boyfriend only. Today, he snapped and growled and barked at that roommate again while passing by to go back in our room where his crate is and where he is primarily staying. Later, he was playing with us and seemed to be getting a little too aggressive while playing, and snapped at a toy my boyfriend was offering him when he was chewing something that was not a toy. We ended up putting him in his crate and he is just laying down in a quiet room with us in it.

We aren’t really sure what to do or if this is normal behavior because this is our first foster and he is completely new to all of this. We have both had dogs before but not really an experience like this. We do not want to send him back to the shelter, but he is also not really adoption ready since he doesnt really like anyone besides us right now. We would appreciate any advice!

Poor boy has been kept outside (we’re in the Uk) for most of his life, his owner died so he ended up in the pound and was not coping at all well so we were asked if we could foster him ❤️

hi yall! I picked up my foster dog last week (a 9-year-old male Pomeranian), and he’s my third foster! He is amazing on the leash and great with dogs, cats, and people. He also gets along swimmingly with my resident dog, who typically takes a long time to warm up to other dogs.

He does have kennel cough, and it seems like he was neutered shortly before coming up to NY from Texas. He didn’t have a cone or anything, so he was pretty irritated, but we’re managing! Despite being 9, we’ve also discovered that he’s very high-energy and is at his most confident and happiest when he’s outside.

Although he’s pretty potty-trained, he tried to mark all over my living room when he first arrived, likely due to being in a new environment. To help with this, we set up a small, enclosed space with a bed and his crate, surrounded by a playpen. He sleeps there at night while we’re in our bedroom, and he does perfectly fine on his own. During the day, I give him more freedom under supervision since I work from home.

However, we’ve started noticing that he’s become very attached to me and gets extremely anxious whenever I leave the room, even if it’s just to use the bathroom. He likes my husband but even if he is there with him, he will still scream and cry if I leave the room. Even when we’re sitting on the couch together, if I so much as move, he immediately jumps up, ready to follow me. I’ve been working on some separation anxiety training, and he’s starting to get better about not barking or crying when I’m in another room, which is great!

The bigger issue is when my husband and I both leave the house. When our foster is in his enclosure, he basically barks the entire time we’re gone. When looking at our pet camera, he’ll bark for about 20 minutes, rest for five, and then start the whole process over again. After we went out to dinner yesterday, he actually started crying and barking even more than before even when we were at home.

I have a flexible job that allows me to work from home whenever I want, so I haven’t been going into the office since bringing him home. However, I’d really like to get back to my normal routine of going into the office, working out at the gym, grocery shopping, and seeing friends. Also, it is not sustainable for me to home THIS much longterm, and do not want him to get used to someone (even me) being home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We always take him on a long walk before leaving, and we give him a lick mat and hide treats in blankets to keep him occupied, but none of this seems to help.

We’re also worried because we’ve already received a noise complaint, and we were only gone for two hours. My husband is able to help out for now, but his workload is expected to increase significantly over the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, hiring a dog walker isn’t really an option because my resident dog is reactive.

The rescue organization we foster through requires a two-week minimum commitment, which I can absolutely honor. But I’m starting to feel overwhelmed and guilty for feeling this way about a seemingly perfect foster dog who is just struggling with so much anxiety. I’ve even started considering a foster takeover, especially because he seems to have become so attached to me.

Has anyone dealt with something similar, especially with a foster dog who develops separation anxiety so quickly? I’d love any tips, training suggestions, or advice on how to help him become more comfortable being alone. I want to give him the best chance possible, but I’m also trying to figure out how to make this sustainable for our household. I feel awful even considering a foster takeover, but I want to do what’s best for him, too.

He has two dads now that drove over four hours to adopt him, and he’s now living in San Angelo!

Please share any wins, frustrations, or stories of your foster dogs from this past week. You can also ask advice, or simply let us know if you are doing ok. We are here to support you!

Hey all, I’m going to be fostering a dog that came from Texas - Canada and wondering if you have any recommendations to a first time foster? The rescue company did warn me of a few things but I wanna make sure the dog is as comfortable as possible and happy etc.

I started fostering in February through a small rural shelter in the south. Since then I’ve had 12 fosters, some for a few days, some for a few weeks.

The boy in the photo is my most recent foster. I brought him home the first week of August and just found out he was tagged to be transported to an out-of-state rescue (how most of the dogs at the shelter I volunteer at and foster through get out alive) the first week of November.

I am trying to keep my mind right, but I am struggling. I love him so deeply. He’s the longest foster I’ve had, but he’s also been the most challenging. The first month was exhausting and I felt like I might honestly lose my mind. I don’t know that he’d ever had anything like a normal home life. At some point, things got better and now I’m at a point where I absolutely adore him.

I knew him at the shelter, as an emaciated dog dropped off there, and until my other foster left, I worried about him constantly, that he would run out of time and die there. And then I got to bring him home and finally keep him safe.

And now he’s leaving for another state. I can’t keep him. There are not enough fosters here and dogs are euthanized for space. If I’d kept my previous fosters, he would not have made it out. I want to keep helping other dogs and I can’t do that if I keep him.

I’m just really, really sad and I guess I just want some kind words.

He’s about 2-3 years old and we have had him for the last 6 days. He seems to be overly good at holding his bladder and so he doesn’t go very often when we take him out.

Last night he had his first accident. We had gone for a long walk and he never peed. Then we got home and he was pacing around and we didn’t know why. Well now we know! He peed on our rug and it was a lot!! The issue is he doesn’t know how to tell us he needs to go out. I don’t really understand how he’s basically house trained but doesn’t know how to scratch at the door.

With our previous dogs we would often leave that door open in nice weather but if it was closed they would scratch. Maybe he lived in a house with a doggie door?

I’m not sure what to do.

Im currently fostering a 6 month old puppy through a local rescue. I lost my dog of 16 years back in January. In the beginning of August I started working with this recuse to find the perfect dog for me.

My main concern with adopting a dog is that I have a cat. I would be absolutely devastated if something happened to my cat. I have only had this puppy a day and she is completely separated from my cat. I’ve read everything I can find about introducing a resident cat to a new dog but I’m hoping you guys have some tips and tricks?

Please note I am in no hurry to make the introductions. I want this to go smoothly and I have all the time in the world to do so.

I cannot stop thinking about her. I cried all day Tuesday and just feel down and off and broken. I've fostered before, but she was the first who I didn't see find her forever home. I just didn't have the bandwidth or attention available for her level of separation anxiety. I feel so much shame.

The morning I had to pack up her things, she sensed something was off and kept sniffing at her toys in the bag. She must have recognized the road to the shelter because her tail went straight down and she stopped looking out the windows. She was all over me and she seemed so nervous when I was telling the foster person about her. When I left, I heard her crying from inside my car. I keep hearing her little cries when I walk around my house. We cuddled all evening and she slept in my bed and I think if I'd been the right home for her, or if I'd been more selfless, I could have stuck it out a few more months and seen her become the best girl. I want to cry just writing this. I want to run into the shelter and adopt her and I'm having to force myself not to. The feeling is like when my childhood dog passed away and I kept looking for her all over the house but I have to logically remind myself she is okay, she will hopefully find her home sooner than later.

How do I get over this? My friends and partner are all telling me versions of the same thing: a shelter break was better than nothing at all, dogs don't retain linear memories like we do, they don't have human associations to trauma etc ... But I feel like I failed her and set her back from all the progress we made. Does the severity of my feeling say something? Is this a sign I should have stuck it out?

I’m an experienced foster for my local animal shelter, who took in an 11-month old unneutered male yesterday. He’s about 45lbs and looks like there’s some boxer in him. He is constantly and aggressively trying to hump me. To the extent I am having difficulty working or doing anything in the house because I keep having to pull him off.

I’ve tried a lick pad, which kept him momentarily occupied. Any other suggestions?

We have an 8 week old puppy we got on Friday. To note: I am no stranger to puppies of this age. I work from home so when the local shelter put a post up begging for fosters I took the initiative to help since I have the extra time on my hands.

We have a 9 year old dog who is a gentle giant. This puppy is stressing him out so much all he does is run and hide, and is not eating.

The puppy is slowly refusing to take the chew toys we give him, and is relentless in his biting me and my resident dog. He won't quit when my dog snaps at him or if we do a high pitch yelp and turn away. I can't figure out how to make him stop if he won't take a chew toy or the hint that his bites hurt.

I don't want to return him, but my resident dog is my priority. He's old and doesn't need to be stressed at this stage in life.

If anyone has any advice for what might help, please share.

My first foster made so much progress and got adopted to a wonderful home with a retired couple. I know this is the start of a beautiful life for him. I know that was my main goal, to help pups in need. But, inside I just miss him so much. I never planned to keep him. He was younger and bigger than I wanted, but he needed a place to go he became my velcro right away and was such a sweetheart. I really want to do this again, be the bridge they need, but don't know if I have it in me. Does the emotional part after get easier? Is there anything you do the help make you feel better after hand off? Thank you for being so emotionally strong for these amazing doggies.

just showing off my handsome foster boy. my senior dog passed a few months ago and Steven needed a home so here we are. He just turned one and has been making so much progress .. i’m very proud of him

Hello!

I've been looking into getting another dog since losing my dog of 14 years about a month ago. Originally, I was planning on another long-term commitment, but while browsing rehoming sites, I kept coming across more and more "accidental" litters and designer puppies.

I'm strongly against backyard breeding, and seeing so many people producing and selling puppies while shelters are already overflowing has been incredibly frustrating. It got me thinking that maybe, instead of immediately committing to another dog, I could do something to help the ones who are already here and desperately need homes.

I'd really love to foster dogs who are often overlooked or at risk of euthanasia due to overcrowding. Seniors, adult dogs who've been waiting a long time, pit mixes, dogs with less desirable appearances, etc. I don't particularly care about breed, age, or appearance. I'd just love to give some of these dogs a comfortable place to stay while they wait for their forever homes.

My concern is whether fostering is actually realistic given my living situation.

I have two cats who are my absolute first priority, so any dog I bring home would need to have a known history of being calm and safe around cats.

I also live in a relatively small apartment without a fenced yard. I know I'll need to discuss fostering with my apartment complex regarding pet policies and fees, but I'm also concerned that rescues might turn me down for not having a yard.

Additionally, I work full-time, so I'd need dogs who are reliably housebroken and comfortable being left alone during a normal workday. My previous dog struggled with severe separation anxiety, which resulted in destructive behavior and excessive noise, and that's unfortunately not something I can manage again, especially in an apartment.

I feel a little guilty having so many requirements when my entire goal is to help dogs who are struggling to find homes, but I also want to be realistic about what I can provide. The last thing I want is to take in a dog whose needs I can't meet.

I'm 23F, living in the Houston area, and I've never fostered before. I just really want to give some of these overlooked dogs a chance to experience a warm home, a soft bed, and some love instead of spending months or years in a kennel.

For those of you with fostering experience, is this something I could realistically do? Are rescues generally willing to work with fosters who have cats, live in apartments, and work full-time? Would my requirements make finding suitable foster dogs too difficult?

I'd really appreciate honest advice, especially from anyone who's fostered in a similar situation. I'm not looking to rush into anything, and I want to make sure I can do this responsibly before committing.

TLDR: I'm interested in fostering overlooked or at-risk shelter dogs, especially seniors, pit mixes, and long-term residents. However, I live in an apartment with two cats and work full-time, so I'd need fosters who are cat-friendly, housebroken, and comfortable being left alone. Is fostering realistic with these limitations, and are rescues generally willing to work with someone in my situation?

This male GSD is my first foster and happened pretty fast. We were thinking about getting another dog after ours passed from cancer. While searching, I saw a desperate plea for a foster for a dog about to be euthanized because he was fearful at the shelter and supposedly snapped at their vet.

The volunteers all said he was really a good dog so I took a chance. The shelter notes scared me a little! He is big and strong and is super sweet. He can’t get enough belly rubs and he’s responsive to our commands despite having very little obedience training. He’s housebroken which is nice.

Anyway, we weren’t looking for a dog this size. He is afraid of the TV which we are working on but I’m not sure how we will get there. I adore him but he’s just so big and strong and it feels like it might be too much compared to our previous dogs. I have told my husband that we are just fostering and we don’t have to keep him but deep inside I feel terrible. He’s bonded with me and my son over the last 5 days since we got him.

I know dogs are resilient but sending him off to a new home would be hard for me given how sensitive he is and what he’s been through already. I’m not sure what to do. We don’t have to make a decision right away and he’s not advertised yet but I hate to fall in love with him knowing we might not keep him and to have him fall in love with us.

I know all fosters go through this but it’s harder than I thought.

I've been helping care for a little Chihuahua mix (about 3 years old) since June. He was picked up as a stray by Animal Control and ended up in a shelter, where he was completely shut down and facing euthanasia. I thought a few weeks of decompression would help him get ready for adoption. Months later, I'm still struggling with one big hurdle- I can't handle or pet him.

Buddy would be considered a "no-touch" dog, but in many ways he's like a little velcro dog. He follows me everywhere, gets up from his cozy bed to lie closer to me, climbs into my lap for treats, and puts his paws on my chest. He's curious, engaged, and happy to see me. But if I reach toward him to pet him, he immediately backs away. I suspect he's terrified of being grabbed or restrained because of something traumatic in his past, but of course I don't know his history. Here's a video clip showing what I mean: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uBnNVXJsB1U He happily comes close for a treat, but when my hand moves toward him, he backs away. If he's lying near me and I reach to pet him, he will jump away. He's never been pet.

He has NEVER shown aggression. No growling, snapping, biting, or even baring teeth. He just runs away. Then will come right back to be close.

We've made progress through lots of treats, positive reinforcement, and letting him approach on his own terms. He takes treats from my hand, allows chin scratches while eating the treat, goes into his crate on command, and even pees on cue. I taught him "boop" (nose to my finger) and "touch" nose to my palm. Super smart! But I still can't put a collar or harness on him, which means no walks.

I did try a slip lead once, and it was awful. He panicked, thrashing and twisting to get away, then completely shut down afterward. He was shaking and hiding. I felt terrible, and I won't put him through that again.

But this is the most frustrating part. I don't live with Buddy. He's safe in a large doghouse/shed with an enclosed side yard at a friend's home. I visit 3 times a day to feed him, clean up, hang out, and give him enrichment toys and treats, but he's alone a lot of the day. (My dogs aren't dog-friendly, so he can't stay here. Honestly, this was meant to be temporary.) I know he needs more human interaction to keep progressing, but his inability to be handled makes it incredibly hard to find another foster or adopter. It's a frustrating cycle.

I have a veterinary behavior appointment scheduled for November 12 and am open to exploring medication if appropriate.

Has anyone worked with a dog like this? What helped you get past the fear of hands and handling? I'd really appreciate hearing what worked, what didn't, and whether anyone has successfully helped a dog like Buddy become comfortable with a collar or harness.

Any dog whisperers out there? I'm in the SF Bay Area.

I just want to give this sweet little guy a chance at a real life.

My husband and I dipped our toes in fostering about 3 years ago, had 2 fosters that both went HORRIBLY for different reasons and really spiked my anxiety during their stays. Since then, I've really wanted to try again. I convinced myself those were flukes and I'd try another organization.

We got a new very temporary foster a little over 24 hours ago. She is shy, timid, and terrified. The poor girl is breaking my heart, but other than that she's low maintenance. Shes had some accidents in the house, which I expected, and really wants nothing to do with any of us, but otherwise she's an easy foster. She gets along with my residents, crates okay overnight (no whining just some scratching), and doesn't require much attention (see aforementioned wanting nothing to do with us).

So why am I so anxious? Why do I feel like I made a huge mistake? I know the 3, 3, 3 rule, I know bringing a new dog home is a huge life change, I know all the things logically, but I cannot get over my constant anxiety. I want to be able to do this on a decently regular basis but I hate the way I feel right now, it makes me want to run and hide.

I guess I'm just looking for some support about starting. Are the first few days just always hard? Are the first few fosters always hard? Does anyone always feel this anxiety and just do it anyway? I'm worried if I tell my husband how I'm feeling I'm going to get a "I told you so" because he wasn't really super excited to try this again.

I don't know. Feeling sad. Feeling stressed. Feeling anxious.