Fostering: Rescue Needs You!

Update 3/15/24 – More dogs have to leave the property. We need fosters to move these dogs along. You can apply to foster here.

1/26/24 – Our volunteers are the first rescue on the scene to a property in Central Tennessee. The count could be over 35 dogs—purebred Great Pyrenees and some mixes. We were able to remove five dogs and will go back and take more as the owner agrees to release them. We are hoping other rescues can help but what we need now are FOSTERS. The dogs are young, between 1 and 3 years old and are fairly well socialized. The goal is to move at least 20 over the next few weeks. Relocation to foster homes in states east of the Mississippi is possible. The work has just begun. We need your help!

Karen has fostered nine dogs for NGPR.

Volunteers are needed for everything we do—sheltering animals, arranging transport and facilitating adoptions. Fosters play an extremely important role in rescue because owner surrenders or dogs coming out of shelters need places to go. Many shelters are full, so rescue groups like ours are needed more than ever to save lives. And we need more fosters—like you. To expedite the approval process, NGPR is now doing virtual home visits via Zoom and Facetime. Approval to foster should come within a few days. If you completed a volunteer form before and were approved, then please email us to let us know of your current interest.

Our foster homes are an integral part of the adoption process, giving dogs loving temporary homes until a suitable forever home can be found. Spending time in a foster home will provide a smooth transition for a dog into their “forever home”. While the dog is with you, your input will help rescue volunteers find the best possible match for the dog. Please read our Fostering Guidelines to understand how fostering works.

NGPR provides our fosters with everything needed for foster care. We will send flea/tick and heartworm medication every month and cover all approved drugs, medical expenditures and vet visits. Let us know if you require food and it will be shipped to you. We cover everything for our foster dogs if the cost is approved in advance.  We will do our best to find the right dog for your situation with regard to kids, cats and other dogs. If the dog is not a good match, we will move the dog to another foster home. Some of the dogs who need immediate foster homes are listed daily on Facebook, so check in there for the latest dogs we are trying to help

The most critical states where NGPR needs fosters are Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida. If you are in another state, please contact the rescue for your state at nationalpyr.org/contacts or fill out the form and we will forward it to your closest Pyr rescue.

If you are interested in fostering, you should be able to answer yes to all the following:

  • Sturdy, visible, above-the-ground fencing, four foot minimum, five foot preferred

  • Pets are spayed or neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations with dogs on year-round heartworm preventative. Your veterinary reference should be able to confirm the status of pets in your household

  • Any children living in the household are six years or older. Prior dog experience, large dog preferred

  • For renters, permission of the landlord is required

Please note that Great Pyrenees can exhibit same sex aggression. It is more likely that two males can cohabitate than two females. This tendency makes us extremely reluctant to place a female Pyr in a household where there are other female dogs. Same sex aggression issues do not only affect Pyrs. You can read more about this here.

Fostering has added benefits for dog owners. Volunteers are alerted to training classes given through the country’s leading animal welfare organizations and our own trainers/behavioralists are available for consults. Fostering through NGPR can help you tune in to the unique behavioral characteristics and nuances of the breed that makes you a better dog owner in general. Please complete our online volunteer application so we can contact you. Completion of the application form and process is required of all new fosters. If you are an approved adopter from NGPR or one of our affiliated rescues, please include the name of the group and dog on the volunteer application so we can expedite your application.