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Fostering

Fostering is a rewarding and extremely helpful way to volunteer for ROLDA. We are always looking for new foster carers throughout the UK as it provides a stable halfway house between the Romanian shelters and their forever home.

Fostering

Foster homes allow ROLDA to offer a seamless aftercare system that supports dogs if their initial adoptive home does not go to plan. Our foster carers step in to provide a temporary sanctuary where our dogs can continue to adapt to a home environment without the use of external kennels. We are proud to put the welfare of each dog that comes to the UK first, which is why we are reliant on fosters to offer a safe haven whilst they get the chance to meet and greet new potential adopters in the UK.

Why do we need foster carers?

● Foster carers give potential owners the chance to meet their dog before adopting, a valuable service that that puts the mind at ease and increases the chance of a successful adoption.

● Foster carers free up valuable space at one of our shelters in Romania which allows us to rescue another homeless dog. By fostering one, you are helping two. Foster carers provide ROLDA with another option if an adoption falls through. For example, some dogs are deemed to be OK with cats but there is a chance they might decide cats are not for them. If you have a cat free house, it would be great to home the dog temporarily with you until we find a permanent, cat free home.

● Our foster carers ensure that we are committed to ethical overseas adoption. We don’t want to see our dogs in UK kennels as we don’t believe this is within their best interests, nor do we believe it is right to add this strain to existing UK shelters. We look after our dogs from our Romanian shelter all the way to their final home and everywhere in between.

What can I expect when I foster a ROLDA dog?

  • All essential costs covered, including any vet fees.
  • Support and guidance from our experienced UK team when it comes to training and getting to know your dog.
  • The satisfaction of knowing you are crucial in helping a dog become one step closer to their forever home.
  • A valuable journey to look back on that includes working with and improving the life of one of our dogs.

Pre-Foster: What do we need from you?

Because some of our dogs are coming from completely different environments and many won’t have experienced a domestic life before, we want to make sure that they have every opportunity to thrive whilst they are in your care.

Age limit

Main applicant to be over 23 years old

Dog experience

Experienced with dogs of varying degrees is a bonus

Other cats

No cats because we can’t be sure our dogs have lived with a cat before

Other dogs

Ideally no other dogs but this will be reviewed on a case by case basis

Child free

All foster carers must be child free homes, this is because we cannot guarantee all of our dogs have had socialisation with children. We ask that the youngest member of your family be 16 years of age

Secure garden

Must have secure garden access, which will be reviewed at home check stage

Car for transport

Must have a car to help transport dog to onward home and any necessary vet appointments

How do I foster?

1. Fill out the form below

Providing us with plenty of detail really helps us find the right foster dog for you!

2. Phone check

A member of our adoption and foster team will call you to discuss your application, this will last around one hour to find out more about you. This is also a good chance to ask questions and find out if fostering is right for you.

3. Home check

Carried out by our adoption team or trusted volunteers, either in person or virtually. This allows us to ensure your home is safe and suitable for one of our dogs. We can also discuss the perfect set up of your home if one of our dogs comes to stay.

4. Final checks and join our community!

We rely on foster carers only if adoptions go wrong, so don’t be disheartened if you don’t get a foster dog straight away – it only means they are settled and happy. There are other ways to join our community and we would love to stay in touch! How about becoming a volunteer home checker for us?

5. Take a dog home

When and if a dog is surrendered back into our care, we will reach out to discuss their needs and check your availability. If all sounds good, we will arrange for the dog to be dropped with you and will be there to support every step of the way.

6. Nurture and care

With the guidance of our expert team, we will help you nurture, socialise and advocate for the dog who is in your care so we can set them up for success in their next home. All dogs are beautifully individual and some may need extra patience and understanding from you. Rest assured, this will be a truly valuable experience.

Complete our foster application form