The Specifics of Fostering for HDBR

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 foster coordinator 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 how long you have agreed to foster,  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 way, 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 can help train the hound to become a better pet and more adoptable. We also have a trainer who will assist you in helping the dog through any difficult stage.

Heart of Dixie Basset Rescue 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 provides 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 Heart of Dixie Basset Rescue’s foster home coordinator 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 Heart of Dixie Basset Rescue.