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Fostering young dogs is crucial to help support healthy bodies and healthy minds that shelter life cannot provide. As a puppy foster, it is your responsibility to help them stay medically sound with timely vaccinations and behaviorally well-rounded by providing age-appropriate socialization. Please review the following guide on how to best care for your foster puppies while they grow into their most adoptable selves!
Puppy Fostering FAQ
Puppy Fostering FAQ
Puppies will be listed for adoption at 6 weeks old, but they cannot be separated from mom or be officially adopted until they are 8 weeks old as required by GA law.
Litters without mom can be separated into smaller groups for fostering but should not be separated entirely from littermates until they are adoptable age.
Puppies must receive age-appropriate vaccinations every 3 weeks at the shelter you are fostering from.
DO NOT hand off your foster pet without explicit approval and confirmation from the adoption or foster team over email!
Puppy Medical Considerations
Puppy Medical Considerations
Puppies must get vaccinations and get dewormed approximately every 3 weeks when they are in foster care until they are 20 weeks old. These will be done at the location your foster pet is from. Please review your welcome email, the veterinary care page, and reach out to your foster team about location-specific instructions and any questions.
One significant part of fostering puppies is keeping them safe from potentially fatal canine diseases while they are still developing immunity. While it might be tempting to play with the puppies in the park, bring to breweries etc. puppies must not walk on any surfaces (such as parks or sidewalks) where another dog may have urinated or defecated in the past. Even if it appears clean it may still be harboring contagious diseases.
It is imperative for puppies to stay in the home until they have been fully vaccinated - which is at 20 weeks / 5 months old. This is around the time their adult canine teeth come in.
The most common symptoms of illness in a puppy are vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and lack of appetite. These may appear in any combination. If your puppy exhibits any of these symptoms, please contact your foster team.
For emergency situations, please call your respective Foster 911 phone number, listed on our Contact page.
Puppy Adoption Event Notice
Puppy Adoption Event Notice
Foster puppies between 8 weeks old and 5 months old can attend LifeLine-run adoption events as long as they are up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations. They cannot touch the ground at adoption events. They can be held or kept in a playpen with a ground covering. They cannot interact with other animals at events, including other foster animals.
Please email your foster teams to ensure your foster is up to date on vaccinations.
Mom & Litter Resources
Mom & Litter Resources
Note: Most mom & puppy resources are designed for breeders so language used may be different than shelter terminology. The websites below are still recognized as reliable care for moms & puppies born and raised in foster homes.
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